Mission Trails Regional Park
Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) encompasses more than 8,000 acres of both natural and developed recreational areas, from rugged hills to open valleys. Established in 1974, Mission Trails Regional Park has become one of the largest urban parks in the US and offers a natural escape from the urban hustle and bustle of downtown San Diego. This project seeks to expand Mission Trails Regional Park through land acquisition, an initiative that will protect biodiversity and increase public access to the regional park.
About This Project
Who is proposing this project?
Lead Organization: The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation
Website: https://mtrp.org
Supporting organizations:
What is proposed?
Using a $2M grant from the San Diego River Conservancy, the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation is working to acquire land to expand Mission Trails Regional Park. This land acquisition, combined with the City of San Diego’s recent purchase of 25 acres, will add more than 100 acres to MTRP.
The land to be purchased is currently privately owned, and is located in the East Elliott Community Planning Area north of State Route 52. After the MTRP Foundation acquires this land, they will donate it to the City of San Diego to become public land as part of the MTRP.
This expansion effort is a crucial part of regional efforts to preserve land essential to local plants and animals. Acquiring this land and expanding the regional park will improve habitat conservation and protection of wildlife corridors in the San Diego River watershed, in addition to increasing the public’s ability to enjoy the area’s natural beauty.
Project Location
Mission Trails Regional Park is located eight miles northeast of downtown San Diego. The expansion is focused on land in the East Elliott Community Planning Area.
Why is this project on the 30×30 list?
Julia Richards, Executive Officer of the San Diego River Conservancy funding the project, explains: “The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation’s land acquisition supports the State of California’s and the Natural Resources Agency’s path to conserving 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030.” In addition to habitat conservation, the project meets the 30×30 initiative’s goals of protecting biodiversity, increasing public access to nature, and increasing climate resiliency.
Mission Trails Regional Park is currently home to a highly diverse set of plant and wildlife species, including at least 26 mammals, 101 birds, and over 600 invertebrate species. Expanding the park will not only protect these plants and animals from development, but will also work to build and expand wildlife corridors to maintain critical pathways for the natural communities in the area.
As a centrally-located park, Mission Trails Regional Park provides an important escape to nature for many San Diegans. This expansion provides an opportunity to work collaboratively with trail user groups to restore trails and increase public access to the park’s natural areas and historical sites, such as the Old Mission Dam. This acquisition will also help the Kumeyaay enjoy increased access to their ancestral land.
Finally, protecting more green spaces from development is a crucial part of reducing climate change and mitigating its impacts. Green cover and open land provide natural cooling of air, absorb carbon, and support water management in nearby urban areas.
How will this project be completed?
In September 2022, the MTRP Foundation received a $2M grant from the San Diego River Conservancy to acquire the land. The Foundation estimates that the acquisition process will take two years, during which the Foundation will work to secure additional funding to support other land acquisition opportunities in the East Elliott Community Planning Area. Right now, there are about 600 additional acres that are privately owned that could be purchased to include in Mission Trails Regional Park.