Opening the San Diego Outdoors to All Communities

What are you most excited about doing in San Diego this summer?

Chances are it has something to do with the outdoors – camping with family or friends, exploring San Diego’s beaches and bays, or hiking and biking through the region’s parks and trails.

If so, you’re not alone.

Thousands of San Diegans told us in Our Greater San Diego Vision that being able to access and enjoy San Diego’s spectacular outdoors is one of their top values, and for many is a primary reason why they live in San Diego.

Reflecting that value, some 45% of the total land area of San Diego County is green space.

Equal Access to the San Diego Outdoors

While the region as a whole is park-rich, not all San Diegans have equal access to the outdoors. As highlighted in the 2010 Parks for Everyone report, the most park-poor communities in our region are also low-income neighborhoods that have the highest rates of childhood obesity.

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Enhancing access to the San Diego outdoors, with trails and safe places to bike, walk and play will offer many benefits to our communities.

Working Together

This spring, The San Diego Foundation is proud of our collaboration with local donors to support nonprofits working in South County and throughout the region to connect and protect nature, build trails, create outdoor spaces and enable more kids to enjoy the great outdoors.

Some of these organizations and projects include:

• Earth Discovery Institute: Helping to develop a natural habitat and garden at Anza Elementary School in El Cajon and hosting educational field trips throughout the community that tie directly to schools’ science curriculums.
• San Diego Audubon Society: Introducing San Diego Unified School District and Chula Vista students to natural spaces in their communities through field trips and hands-on training that will create a stewardship ethic.
• San Diego Canyonlands and Ocean Discovery Institute: Working together to restore the natural habitat and complete the trail system in Manzanita Canyon, connecting east and west ends of the City Heights and providing residents with a safe and accessible way to enjoy the outdoors.
• BAME CDC: Turning a vacant lot in Logan Heights into a vibrant community garden and park by enlisting the input and support from local South County leaders.

So join us this summer. Grab a friend, get outdoors and support one of the many nonprofits working to make the outdoors easily accessible from any San Diegan’s doorstep.

Learn More

About Nicola Hedge, MPIA

Nicola leads implementation of The San Diego Foundation’s environmental initiatives, working with donors, nonprofits, business and government partners to advance community efforts that protect our region’s clean air and water, natural resources and quality of life. Nicola joined The Foundation after working as a field research manager for a World Bank research project in rural Malawi and earning a master’s degree from UC San Diego’s School of International Relations and Pacific Studies.

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