Tag: parks

Happiness in Dave’s Rock Garden in Encinitas!

Anyone having a bad day should step into Dave’s Rock Garden in Encinitas.

Thousands of colorfully painted stones in the garden radiate with happiness and positivity. For those with an open heart, it’s an awesome, uplifting experience.

Dave’s Rock Garden can be found at the corner of B Street and 2nd Street, a short distance from Moonlight State Beach. Paths into the garden invite people who might be walking down the nearby sidewalk.

“Bringing Unity to our Community” states the website that describes Dave’s Rock Garden. Bringing unbounded creativity and joy would also be appropriate!

The garden had a humble beginning. In 2015 David Dean picked up trash and pulled weeds on this sliver of abandoned public property. A painted stone that he discovered led to inspired efforts that have resulted in what visitors see today.

What did I see when I visited earlier this year? I took photos…

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Hunt for hidden treasures in a La Mesa park!

Collier Park in La Mesa contains hidden treasures!

Those who explore the city park might come across 18 coin-like plaques that feature images of local plants and animals.

If you would enjoy a fun outdoor treasure hunt, head over to La Mesa’s historic Collier Park, walk along its easy nature trail and begin your search.

Make the treasure hunt a game! Challenge your family or friends. Who can find the most?

Explore the park to find the hidden treasures of different plants and animals! Find all 18 emblems below!

Sage, Poppy, Skunk, Frog, Hummingbird, Snake, Squirrel, Beetle, Hawk, Sycamore Leaf, Raccoon, Butterfly, Rabbit, Spider, Ladybug, Dandelion, Oak Leaf, Sparrow

By strolling around Collier Park, you can also discover a bit of history.

As the city of La Mesa’s first park, Collier Park has long served as a community gathering space.

Kumeyaay – The Kumeyaay Tribe of Indigenous peoples have a rich history in the area, harnessing nature’s local resources. The natural spring in the park once served as a seasonal stopping place for the local Kumeyaay.

David C. Collier – Colonel David Charles (D.C.) Collier, a pioneer community developer in La Mesa and throughout San Diego County, was responsible for donating the land to the community for what would become the City’s first public park after incorporation in 1912.

In the next photograph, you can spot La Mesa’s historical Spring House. Curious? I blogged about it here.

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

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Day at the Park to be held on San Diego Bay!

This coming Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 11 am to 3 pm, the Port of San Diego is hosting a free event at César Chávez Park (in Barrio Logan next to San Diego Bay). A Day at the Park will feature multicultural entertainment, fun kids activities and food trucks!

I see performers include Soaring Eagles Native American Indian Cultural Dance Group, Polynesian Dancers, Mariachi Victoria de San Diego, and Ballet Folklorico Ti Pa.

Sounds like a great lineup! I put it on my calendar!

In addition, the Port of San Diego will be gathering public input at the event concerning improvements to the southeastern, waterfront area of the park.

If you want to learn about this event hosted by the Port of San Diego, check out their website by clicking here!

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

The League of Wives Memorial Statue in Coronado.

A little over two years ago I posted a blog about a project that was being undertaken in Coronado. A bronze statue was to be created by artists Chris Slatoff and Elisabeth Pollnow that honors military spouses.

Yesterday, as I walked into Star Park for the Coronado Memorial Day Service, I was excited to see the finished League of Wives Memorial Statue!

The beautiful sculpture was surrounded by chairs for the Memorial Day ceremony and a few people were already sitting nearby, so I self-consciously, very quickly took only three photographs.

You can learn more about the project by revisiting my old blog post here. It includes the statue’s plaque verbiage.

Here’s from March 2023, when money was being raised for the project:

And here’s the finished sculpture, from yesterday:

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

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Blue Star Memorial By-Way marker in Lakeside.

Sharp-eyed people walking through Lindo Lake County Park in Lakeside might notice an old marker in the grass, on the south side of the lake, not far from a large shelter structure. A close examination reveals that it is a Blue Star Memorial By-Way marker, placed by the Lakeside Garden Club. It is dedicated to the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

The marker was placed here almost 40 years ago. This Facebook post recalls: Fourth of July 1986, the Blue Star By‑Way Memorial Marker and star pine were dedicated in Lindo Park, Lakeside, California as part of the opening ceremonies of the Centennial Celebration of Lakeside. As the red, white and blue balloons were released into the sky at the end of the dedication. I think we all felt pride in a job “Well done”.

I noticed that earlier this year, when I spotted the marker, a new tree had been planted near it. Was this the location of the star pine? Anyone who knows more about this history, please leave a comment!

What is a Blue Star Memorial By-Way? Check out this Wikipedia page for an explanation.

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

History of National City’s Elizur Steele House.

A few weeks ago, during another walk through National City’s historic Heritage Square, I noticed a plaque in front of the Elizur Steele House. Years ago I blogged about the house, which according to information I’d found was then commonly called the Steele-Blossom House. My blog post concerning the handsome old Victorian house and other nearby structures can be found by clicking here.

I don’t know when this plaque appeared, but it contains additional information and historical photos. I’ll share it…

The Elizur Steele, Crandall-Ennis House (1879) is a Queen Anne style home and was one of the first three homes to be build in National City by Elizur Steele. Elizur and his brother John built 12 homes in the city as well as the once popular and glamorous Royal Hotel, which sat at the corner of 8th St. and National City Blvd.

According to information I once found, the house was moved to its present location in Heritage Square in 1976.

Elizur Steele was the real estate agent of Frank Kimball, who built nearby Brick Row in 1887. To learn more about Heritage Square, visit my old blog post here.

Does the Elizur Steele House appear familiar? It is used in National City’s official logo!

If you’re knowledgeable about the history of National City and have memories or more details concerning this house (or Heritage Square), please leave a comment below!

My most recent photographs, from early 2025…

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Spring beauty in the Sri Chinmoy Peace Garden.

It’s springtime in San Diego, and the Sri Chinmoy Peace Garden in North Park is in full bloom!

Sri Chinmoy was a spiritual leader from India who taught meditation in the United States. What better place to meditate but in a place of tranquil beauty.

The Sri Chimnoy Peace Garden was established in 2013 and includes a statue of the spiritual leader and benches for quiet sitting.

The small garden, located off Adams Avenue just east of Arizona Street, has been maintained by the San Diego Sri Chimnoy Centre, which according to Google is permanently closed. As a sign explains, the natural setting is intended to enhance the beauty of the area and offer the community a place for reflection.

Spring is a time for renewal–perhaps for the soul as well.

Sri Chinmoy – STUDENT OF PEACE – CHAMPION OF THE INDOMITABLE SPIRIT OF MANKIND

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

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Monument to William Heath Davis, Jr. unveiled!

A very special event was held today in San Diego’s Pantoja Park. A monument to downtown’s original founder, William Heath Davis, Jr. (aka Kanaka Davis) was unveiled during a beautiful ceremony!

The monument is in the form of a bronze bust. During the ceremony many leis were hung around its neck by organizations instrumental in creating the historical monument. Representatives were from Ahahui Kiwila of San Diego, Kaha I ka Panoa (Hawaiian Civic Clubs), Hui o Hawaii of San Diego, Pacific Islander Festival Association and The Samoan Association San Diego. Other organizations at the event who helped to make this monument a reality included the Gaslamp Historical Foundation and the Asian Pacific American Coalition.

William Heath Davis was born in Hawaii and eventually made his way to early San Diego. With a vision of the future, great courage and much energy, he strategically created the initial version of “New Town” on San Diego Bay, where downtown is today. Read his history here.

Traditional Hawaiian dance was performed during the ceremony, and numerous speakers expressed pride in having a monument to Davis placed in Pantoja Park–the city’s first park, not far from where he himself lived. Two of the speakers were descendants of Davis.

The event brought many members of the local Asian and Pacific Islander community together. As caretakers of their culture and creators of the monument, they now have this visible tribute to San Diego’s past for younger generations to see. As one speaker said, We Are Here. The Spirit of Kanaka Davis Lives On.

Toward the end of the ceremony an impersonator of William Heath Davis spoke. He recalled the life of one of San Diego’s most important historical figures.

I took photos of more history being made…

UPDATE!

During a later walk in the park, I took a good photo of the historical plaque…

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

La Mesa’s historical Spring House.

I asked a gentleman at the La Mesa Community Center if there were interesting places to visit in the neighborhood, and was told about Collier Park and its Spring House. He told me the historical house was undergoing restoration. Curious, I headed over to investigate.

I walked around the somewhat dilapidated old Spring House and found a sign that describes its history. I was surprised to learn about the origin of the name Spring Street–an important nearby street that runs through downtown La Mesa.

Collier Park – Spring House – City of La Mesa Landmark #3

The Spring House was constructed for Colonel David Charles (D.C.) Collier in 1907. The original plan for the Spring House to be a commercial bottling operation of the natural spring water was never realized. The natural springs were also what attracted stock rancher Robert Allison to purchase the area in 1869. The bottling works plant captured water from the adjacent natural spring and contained a storage reservoir for the water. It was constructed with locally quarried stone blocks. Water from the spring was pumped to the civic fountain at the La Mesa Railroad Depot from 1915 until the late 1960s. After the establishment of Collier Park, the Spring House has been used for pool dressing rooms, meetings, classroom and event space.

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Improvements coming to Heritage County Park!

Substantial improvements are being made to Heritage County Park near Old Town San Diego. The grassy upper area will soon feature a new outdoor meeting space/classroom, new walkways, trees and shrubs, and a new event gazebo perfect for weddings. The project is scheduled to be completed this summer.

I took photos over the construction fence a couple days ago. Hundreds of potted plants are in position and ready to be planted.

The historic Victorian-era structures in Heritage County Park will also be improved according to the park’s website.

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!