The 14.3 acre Civita Park – featuring amenities that include an amphitheater, game area, plaza, community garden, and splash pad – opened to the public recently. Hundreds of people gathered at the site during opening day for festivities varying from live concerts to children’s soccer drills and basketball competitions. Understanding the importance of social engagement, local leaders and designers celebrated the opening of the 14.3 acre park with great excitement. Civita Park will be the flagship park and will provide these numerous amenities and much more for the Mission Valley community.

Before cutting the ribbon in the heart of Mission Valley San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer stated, “Parks and open spaces defines us in San Diego. Parks are where we make memories”. With that in mind the project, which is the last big urban infill project within the City of San Diego, will transform 230 acres in total into a sustainable, walkable, high-density urban village. Schmidt Design Group, Inc. is currently providing landscape architectural services for nearly 17 acres of parks and over 40 acres of open space within this new development.

As much buzz as the opening day celebrations stirred, the Mission Valley community can anticipate more stimulating additions to Civita with a military tribute area and a recreational center expected to open later this summer. Along with those summer additions, the second phase will include two playgrounds, a bocce ball court, a “Mining Relic Terrace” with historic mining equipment, a Caterpillar D8 bulldozer, and three gardens featuring native plants and ones that attract butterflies. A future museum, exploring the influence of the San Diego River on the city’s history, is in the project’s foreseeable plans as well. In extension, construction on a reclaimed water treatment plant is expected to start this summer that will supply water to keep the grass healthy and green.