The City is planning a new community park on a site known as Lower Sweetwater. It’s located on approximately 19.7 acres of City-owned land just west of Interstate 805 and south of State Route 54 and the Sweetwater River. The park is currently in the early stages of planning and design, and the City is exploring funding opportunities.

The Lower Sweetwater site planned for the park has been vacant for most of the City’s history.

The site was bisected by the Sweetwater River before the river was realigned and channelized through several public works projects in the 1970s, including the construction of State Route 54 and Interstate 805.

The Chula Vista General Plan, adopted in 2005, identified Lower Sweetwater as a future park site. The City’s Parks & Recreation Master Plan in 2016 also identified Lower Sweetwater as a future community park and provided a list of recommended park amenities based on community needs at the time. 

In October 2023, the City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Landify ECT Corp., a private company that “upcycles” tested and clean excavated soil to create a revenue stream to support the construction of new parks in collaboration with local governments. The MOU established an agreement between the City and Landify to study the potential of using Landify’s model to support the development of a community park and other potential future park sites in Chula Vista. Since 2023, Landify and City staff have been evaluating the Lower Sweetwater site. Next steps include moving forward with design and community outreach processes. 

Beginning in late 2024 and continuing through 2025, community members will be invited to participate in a park planning process to identify and prioritize desired amenities, such as playing fields, playground equipment, and restrooms. The process will include gathering input through online surveys and in-person meetings for community members to provide ideas and feedback on preliminary design options. Estimated costs for various amenities, and an estimated budget for the project as a whole, will help determine the options available.

The community engagement process will inform the creation of a new Park Master Plan for the site. When complete, the Park Master Plan will be presented to the Chula Vista Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council for discussion and approval. 

If you would like to be involved in the planning and design process, please sign up for email updates.