Tag: success

Cool idea: San Diego Bay to Balboa Park Skyway!

Conceptual art displayed by County of San Diego Supervisor Ron Roberts at CityFest shows proposed aerial skyway from downtown to Balboa Park.
Conceptual art displayed by County of San Diego Supervisor Ron Roberts at CityFest shows proposed aerial skyway from downtown to Balboa Park.

I just got back from walking through CityFest in Hillcrest. Lots of cool pics are coming! But first, I saw some conceptual artwork being displayed by San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts that has renewed my enthusiasm for a proposed transportation project.

The proposal, which I read about months ago, is for an aerial tramway, or skyway, which would connect downtown San Diego to Balboa Park. It’s an idea that’s both visionary and practical!

San Diego is an extremely popular tourist destination. There are many great things to see, including beautiful, amazing, enormous Balboa Park. Balboa Park, over a mile (to its center) from downtown, is often said to be one of the two best urban parks in America, along with New York City’s Central Park. But there’s one problem. If you don’t have a rental car, you must reach it on foot, by rented bicycle, taxi, or by city or tour bus. For some tourists this might be impractical, too time consuming, or unappealing. A skyway linking downtown’s many hotels, attractions and convenient trolley network to Balboa Park, I believe, would be wildly successful.

Can you imagine all the folks who work in offices downtown, easily heading up to Balboa Park during lunchtime? Can you imagine how visually unique and appealing such a project, tastefully designed, might be? Forget a Ferris wheel or tower on the waterfront, I say. That’s been done elsewhere.  Let’s create something that’s both fun and extremely useful!

Living atop Cortez Hill, directly between downtown and Balboa Park, I can’t tell you how often I’ve given directions to lost San Diego visitors. They drive north only to reach a dead end at Tweet Street Park. They have to navigate confusing one way streets to find their way across Interstate 5, then figure out how to enter Balboa Park and locate a parking place. An aerial tram would help solve that problem, as well!

According to some literature I picked up from Ron Roberts, the San Diego Bay to Balboa Park Skyway, powered by a 500 horsepower electric engine, could carry up to 2400 people per hour.

The views of downtown, San Diego Bay and Balboa Park would be breathtaking.  The ride itself would almost certainly become one of San Diego’s top tourist attractions.

From what I’ve heard so far, the idea is awesome!

The cool San Diego Bay to Balboa Park Skyway would travel from the Gaslamp up Sixth Avenue, covering two miles in 12 minutes.
The cool San Diego Bay to Balboa Park Skyway would travel from the Gaslamp up Sixth Avenue, covering two miles in 12 minutes.

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Faces of victory at Rock ‘n Roll run in San Diego.

Mickey hands greet runners at the 2015 San Diego Rock 'n Roll Marathon.
Mickey hands greet runners at the 2015 San Diego Rock ‘n Roll Marathon.

This morning I headed down through East Village to view the finish of the San Diego Rock ‘n Roll Half Marathon. I was rooting for our local running legend Mebrahtom “Meb” Keflezighi, who many years ago went to San Diego High School about a mile from where I live. At 40 years old he’s one of the greatest long distance runners on planet Earth! He was running the half marathon this time. For 2015, United States Track & Field chose this popular San Diego race to be the home of its Masters Half Marathon National Championships.

As I headed over to Park Boulevard and then wound my way south, I saw that the marathoners were well underway. At about the 4 mile mark, their course curled through downtown before heading back up north. Both the full and half marathons ended near Petco Park, and I eventually planted myself one block short of the finish line, at the corner of 13th and J Street. Would Meb win?

Please enjoy some cool photos!

Marathon participants at the mile 4 marker, racing through downtown San Diego.
Marathon participants at the mile 4 marker, racing through downtown San Diego.
Someone is holding up a big Meb face!
Someone is holding up a big Meb face!
Many flags, signs and costumes were seen all along the race course.
Many flags, signs and costumes were seen all along the race course.
Less than a mile from the finish line, no runners have arrived yet.
Less than a mile from the finish line, no runners have arrived yet.
The runners will be crossing this cool Rock 'n Roll Marathon graphic on 13th Avenue.
The runners will be crossing this cool Rock ‘n Roll Marathon graphic on 13th Avenue.
Some photographers sit idle, waiting for the race to come their way.
Some photographers sit idle, waiting for the race to come their way.
LUCK is created in the mind. A crowd has begun to gather not far from the finish line.
LUCK is created in the mind. A crowd has begun to gather not far from the finish line.
One block from the finish, and the half marathon runners should be here in a couple minutes!
One block from the finish, and the half marathon runners should be here in a couple minutes!
Here come Meb Keflezighi and Jordan Chipangama side-by-side! Who will win.
Here come Meb Keflezighi and Jordan Chipangama side-by-side! Who will win?
The top half marathon runners are now arriving on this cloudy San Diego morning.
The top half marathon runners are now arriving on this cloudy San Diego morning.
Faces contain strain, determination and elation as the finish line nears.
Faces contain strain, determination and elation as the finish line nears.
Meanwhile, flowers are being sold to onlookers beside the race route.
Meanwhile, flowers are being sold to onlookers beside the race route.
Here come more runners. Is it the top women's finisher.
Here come more runners. Is it the top women’s finisher?
It's the women's half marathon winner, Eri Hayakawa!
It’s the women’s half marathon winner, Eri Hayakawa!
Triumphant faces at the 2015 San Diego Rock 'n Roll runs.
Many triumphant faces at the 2015 San Diego Rock ‘n Roll runs!

The winner of the men’s half marathon, with a final burst of speed, was Jordan Chipangama at 01:02:24. Meb Keflezighi came in second at 01:02:26, just two seconds behind!

The women’s half marathon winner was Eri Hayakawa at 01:10:47.

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San Diego school students do amazing things!

This Italian chalk art will be admired by tens of thousands on Sunday.

While wandering about San Diego taking photos for my blog, I’ve often been privileged to see school students doing really amazing things. From the very young to the college-aged, youth in San Diego are accomplishing more than just learning. They’re creating public art, publishing amazing work, beautifying the community, becoming champions, serving neighbors and people around the world, and working to build a brighter future.

Here are some past blog posts that provide inspiration.

To read click:

Students interview veterans for USS Midway exhibit.

High School students create cool graphic novel!

San Diego museum honors Little League Champs!

School students create amazing chalk art at Festa!

Urban Corps mural shows an optimistic future.

Help Westview High School Music Outreach succeed!

Kids explore science, engineering at STEM event.

Murals of San Diego history in an Old Town alley.

San Diego kids paint beautiful tile benches.

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