CHICANO PARK BORN FROM PROTEST IN 1970

In April 1970, residents of Barrio Logan occupied land beneath the Coronado Bridge to stop construction of a California Highway Patrol station and to keep the parcel as a neighborhood park. Chicano Park was placed on National Register of Historic Places in 2013.

From The San Diego Union, Friday, April 24, 1970:

‘WE’LL HAVE OUR PARK,’ CHICANOS SAY

YOUTHS CONTINUE OCCUPATION OF BAY BRIDGE SITE

The demands of young Mexican-americans for a Chicano park under the San Diego approach to the bay bridge was bucked to the city yesterday, but not before state and city officials were told emphatically by Chicanos, “We will have our park.”

The report that the problem is in the lap of San Diego officials came from Councilman Leon Williams, who was in touch with state officials in Sacramento during the late part of an angry meeting about the problem at Neighborhood House, 1809 National Ave.

Most of the angry young people had left to take part in a vigil under the bridge when Williams emerged from a telephone conversation with James Hall, a state director of transportation.

CONSTRUCTION HALTED Williams said Hall had told him that: 1. The property the Chicanos want for a

park belongs to the Highway Patrol

2. It is up to the city of San Diego to negotiate with the Highway Patrol for it.

3. There will be no further work on construction of a Highway Patrol station at the site.

The construction of the patrol headquarters was what aroused the Chicanos, most of them from junior high to college age, and prompted them to descend on the site Wednesday. Construction was halted to avoid a confrontation.

VIGIL CONTINUES

The youths were still on the site last night. At Neighborhood House yesterday public officials heard any angry vows that the issue was settled, that the site will be a park because that is what the people of the community want.

One speaker said, “The only way to take that park away is to wade through our blood.”

The youth who said that identified himself as Jose Gomez, vice president of the student body at San Diego City College.

Present to hear the remark were Williams, Jacob Dekma, district manager for the Division of Highways; D.T. Donaldson, supervising inspector of the Highway Patrol; Capt. Vincent J. Herz and Lt. Larry Watkins of the Highway Patrol; Pauline Desgranges, city director of the parks and recreation, and Clinton Mckinnon of the San Diego Urban Coalition.

Carlos Gonzalez, president of the community Action Council, said government officials at all levels had been informed years ago that the people of the community wanted a park under the bridge.

Mike Amador, executive director of the Harbor Community Action Council, said: “In 1967 I asked for all the land under the bridge approaches for parks.”

Williams said the problem had been pressed on him by citizens of the area ever since he has been a councilman and that he had been unable to get results from public officials at any level

Young people who surged into the meetings stamped their feet in rhythm and shouted “Viv la raza” in response to an impassioned speech by Salvador Roberto Torres, who identified himself as an artist, and vowed that Chicano artists and sculptors of the community will turn the great columns of the bridge approach into things of beauty reflecting the Mexican American culture.