Switzer Canyon is a canyon in San Diego, California. It is situated to the east of Balboa Park and serves as the boundary between the neighborhoods of North Park and South Park in Central San Diego. [1] [2] Switzer Canyon remains an oasis of natural vegetation between some of the city's most urban neighborhoods and is a prime example of San Diego county's unique canyon-laced topography.
Switzer Canyon was named after E. D. Switzer who moved there in 1869 and occupied a five-acre farm at the downtown extremity of the canyon. [3]
The remoteness from downtown San Diego allowed Switzer canyon to be used as an isolation camp during the city's smallpox scare of 1887. At the bottom of the canyon east of 30th Street was a group of small houses outfitted to receive patients who were afflicted with the disease. [4]
San Diego's first suburbs began appearing in the late 19th century, including South Park in 1870 and North Park in 1893. The development of the area of East San Diego called the "Steiner, Klauber, Choate and Castle Addition", now known as City Heights, was facilitated by a railroad which began service in July 1888. This Park Belt Motor Line ran through Switzer Canyon three times per day. The train was actually a steam-propelled street car with a horse-car hooked on behind. [5]
In 1905, the Bartlett Webster developing company extended streetcar service through South Park, ushering in a period of rapid growth. Also in 1905, North Park's first high-rise, known today as the Western Dental Building, was built on the corner of 30th Street and University Avenue. [6] To accommodate transit between these quickly developing neighborhoods, the 30th Street trolley bridge, a wood and steel truss bridge, was built in 1908.
In 1956, the aging original bridge was demolished and replaced in 1957 with the 30th Street causeway that remains to this day. This causeway was constructed of landfill material that was transferred from Nile Street in North Park, and its poor soil conditions allowed few plants to grow. [7] Since 1957, Switzer Canyon has been divided in half by this fill dirt, except for a drainage tunnel connecting the eastern and western halves.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, different proposals for developing sections of the canyon were floated before the city council. The Burlingame Homeowners' Association formed in 1980 with a primary objective of canyon preservation. [8] All development proposals eventually failed, and in 1987 Switzer Canyon was purchased as an open space preserve by the city of San Diego.
In 1998, the city planned to build a sewer line maintenance road along the floor of the canyon. A grassroots organization of residents of North Park and South Park teamed up with the Sierra Club to both protect the canyon and rehabilitate its wildlife habitat. [9] The Friends of Switzer Canyon organization became a model for what is now over 40 groups dedicated to canyon preservation in San Diego county, and continues to organize canyon cleanups and invasive species removal events. [10] [11] Between 2000 and 2005, the group installed information kiosks along the trails on the canyon floor, and the western slope of the 30th Street causeway was rehabilitated with native plants that mitigate storm erosion.
Managed by the city of San Diego's parks department, today Switzer Canyon has 2 walking trails and 3 trailheads. [12]
Switzer Canyon is a coastal sage scrub habitat that shelters the threatened California gnatcatcher. [13] It is also home to dusky-footed woodrats, rabbits, coyotes, and numerous indigenous plant species including yerba santa, black sage, and evening primrose. [14]
The College Area is a residential community in the Mid-City region of San Diego, California, United States. The College Area is dominated by San Diego State University, after which the area is named. Several neighborhoods in the College Area were developed in the 1930s, with others becoming established in the post-war period. The College Area is bordered on the west by Kensington and Talmadge and on the east by the city of La Mesa. El Cajon Boulevard is a busy shopping district; additional retail, entertainment and dining establishments are located in a new housing and commercial complex known as South Campus Plaza on College Avenue at Aztec Center. The College Area includes the neighborhoods of the Catoctin Area, Dennstedt Point, East Falls View Drive, Saranac-Mohawk, and an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in the area near Congregation Beth Jacob Orthodox Synagogue on College Avenue. The region includes Alvarado Hospital, a 306-bed acute care facility, and the College-Rolando branch of the San Diego Public Library.
City Heights is a dense urban community in central San Diego, California, known for its ethnic diversity. The area was previously known as East San Diego. City Heights is located south of Mission Valley and northeast of Balboa Park.
Normal Heights is a neighborhood of the mid-city region of San Diego, California.
Golden Hill is a neighborhood of San Diego, California. It is located south of Balboa Park, north of Sherman Heights, Grant Hill and Stockton /Highway 94, and east of Downtown.
Bankers Hill, also known as Park West and formerly known as Florence Heights, is a long-established uptown San Diego neighborhood near Balboa Park. It is bordered to the north by Hillcrest at Upas Street, to the south by Downtown, to the east by Balboa Park, and to the west by Interstate 5, Little Italy and the neighborhood known as Midtown. A more constricted definition of the neighborhood sets its eastern boundary as Fourth Avenue and its western boundary as First Avenue.
South Park is a neighborhood in San Diego, California adjacent to the southeast corner of Balboa Park. It stands out in San Diego for its tree-lined streets and walkable business district.
University City (UC) is a community in San Diego, California, located in the northwestern portion of the city next to the University of California, San Diego. University City is bordered by La Jolla and Interstate 5 to the west, Miramar and Interstate 805 to the east, and North Clairemont and Highway 52 to the south, giving the community a triangular-shaped boundary. University City is a part of District 1, which is represented by Councilmember Joe LaCava on the San Diego City Council.
Downtown San Diego is the city center of San Diego, California, the eighth largest city in the United States. In 2010, the Centre City area had a population of more than 28,000. Downtown San Diego serves as the cultural and financial center and central business district of San Diego, with more than 4,000 businesses and nine districts. The downtown area is the home of the San Diego Symphony and the San Diego Opera as well as multiple theaters and several museums. The San Diego Convention Center and Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, are also located downtown. Downtown San Diego houses the major local headquarters of the city, county, state, and federal governments.
Clairemont is a community within the city of San Diego, California, United States. It has a population of about 81,600 residents and an area of roughly 13.3 square miles (34 km2). Clairemont Mesa is bordered by Interstate 805 on the east, Interstate 5 to the west, State Route 52 to the north, and the community of Linda Vista to the south. The community of Clairemont Mesa can be subdivided into the neighborhoods of North Clairemont, Clairemont Mesa East, Clairemont Mesa West, Bay Park, and Bay Ho.
Cortez Hill is a neighborhood located in the northeast part of Downtown San Diego, California.
Burlingame is a neighborhood in San Diego, California, bordered by North Park to the north and east, and by South Park to the south, and is located within the boundaries of the Greater North Park Community Planning Area.
30th Street is a major north–south road in San Diego, California on the east side of Balboa Park. It connects several of the densest urban communities of Central San Diego and has a high rate of pedestrian activity. In recent years, 30th Street has become known nationally for its prominent craft beer culture.
Balboa Park is a 1,200-acre (490 ha) historic urban cultural park in San Diego, California, United States. In addition to open space areas, natural vegetation zones, green belts, gardens, and walking paths, it contains museums, several theaters, and the San Diego Zoo. There are also many recreational facilities and several gift shops and restaurants within the boundaries of the park. Placed in reserve in 1835, the park's site is one of the oldest in the United States dedicated to public recreational use. Balboa Park is managed and maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of San Diego.
Shelltown is a neighborhood located within Southeast San Diego, approximately 5 minutes from downtown San Diego by car and 25 minutes by bicycle. It is bordered by National City on the south, Interstate 5 and Barrio Logan on the west, 43rd Avenue on the east, and Gamma Court and the neighborhood of Southcrest on the north. Prior to the 1980s the northern border of Shelltown was National Ave and many residents still consider that the northern border.
The Moreton Bay fig tree in San Diego's Balboa Park is one of the largest trees in California.
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