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Otay Valley Regional Park
Otay Valley Regional Park (OVRP) is a multi-jurisdictional planning effort by the City of Chula Vista, County of San Diego and the City of San Diego. In 1990, the jurisdictions entered into a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement for coordinated planning, acquisition, and design for OVRP.
The OVRP will provide residents and visitors recreational opportunities ranging from playing fields and picnic areas to hiking, biking, and horse trails. At the same time, the park will protect open space, wildlife, historic, agricultural, and archaeological resources.
Park Area
The OVRP will represent one of the largest open space areas within the South Bay of San Diego County, linking south San Diego Bay with Upper and Lower Otay Lakes. It will extend about 11 miles inland from the southeastern edge of the salt ponds at the mouth of the Otay River, through the Otay River Valley, to the land surrounding both Upper and Lower Otay Lakes. View a map of the planned area here.
Concept Plan
The Concept Plan for the OVRP was adopted in 2001. You can view the Concept Plan (PDF) here.
Currently, much of the land within the Concept Plan boundaries is privately owned and a portion has development potential based on existing zoning or other land use plans. The Concept Plan does not change existing zoning, land use plans or add new development regulations. It also does not preclude private development. It does, however, provide policy direction for the jurisdictions for coordinated land acquisition and development for the regional park within this framework of private property rights.
This Concept Plan does not call for specific types of recreational
development or give detailed design plans for specific areas. These development decisions will be made as master plans and site specific development plans are prepared.
Park Planning
Each jurisdiction within the park area is represented on a three-member Policy Committee (PC) of elected officials.
Current Policy Committee Members:
City of Chula Vista
Pamela Bensoussan, Councilwoman
619-585-5614
County of San Diego
Greg Cox, District 1 Chairman
619-531-5511
City of San Diego
Ralph Inzunza, Councilman 8th District
619-236-6688
Staff from each jurisdiction work closely together on the regional park planning effort. Joint Staff provides technical park planning support and administrative assistance to the Policy Committee as well as to the CAC. The County of San Diego has the lead for administrative responsibilities and maintains the official records.
Current Joint Staff Members:
A 30-member Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) advises the policy committee on matters relating to the planning, acquisition, and design of OVRP. CAC membership traditionally represents community organizations, property owners, developers, businesses, residents, and recreation and environmental interest groups.
Park Development Status
Currently there are limited active or passive recreational areas in the park, including the County-owned and operated Otay Lakes Park and the City of San Diego-owned and operated fishing facilities at Lower Otay Lakes. There are plans for multi-use areas and an extensive trail system within the park's boundaries, and the various jurisdictional agencies are now actively pursuing land acquisition for the park.
Construction drawings are being prepared for trails and staging areas within the western portion of the park, between Interstate 5 and Interstate 805. It is anticipated that the initial construction of trails will begin in this section by Spring of 2006. Additionally, design standards and guidelines for implementation of the entire park have been drafted.
For additional information, please see the Friends of OVRP web site at www.ovrp.org.
Current Projects
Finney Overlook
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