Clean California sign at the future Boston Avenue Linear Park site in Barrio Logan, currently under construction. Photo by Alex Lai.

A breath of air for Barrio Logan

The Boston Avenue Linear Park is being built in the Barrio Logan neighborhood of San Diego to help offset some of the poor air quality and negative health impacts it has on residents

Poor air quality is something residents of Barrio Logan have been dealing with for decades. The Environmental Health Coalition said Barrio Logan is in the top 5% of the most pollution burden areas in California.

Some Background

When it comes to diesel pollution, the area is ranked higher than 99% of communities in the state. Diesel particulates are tiny particles that are emitted whenever diesel gas is burned, according to the EHC. When they are inhaled, they get lodged in the lungs. This has led to extreme health issues such as asthma hospitalizations, lung disease and cancer for residents in the area.

Nicholas Paul is an air quality advocate for the Environmental Health Coalition. He said the pollution is caused from port industries, ship repair work, the naval base and freeways around and in Barrio Logan. He said there are industrial businesses and biofuel plants that are right next to senior housing and preschools.

“Industries, cars, trucks,” Paul said. “It’s all kind of compounding on top of each other to create a neighborhood that is just really, really burdened.”

Construction work on the Boston Avenue Linear Park site on 29th Street and 32nd Street. Photo by Alex Lai.

Taking Action

That’s where the Boston Avenue Community Improvements Project comes in. Clean California is a local grant program from the California Department of Transportation. CalTrans said the grants go toward beautifying and improving streets, roads, parks, tribal lands and transit centers. Clean California has invested $2.5 million to transform 3.5 acres of land between 29th Street and 32nd Street, along Interstate 5 freeway. CalTrans said the park is intended to serve the Barrio Logan and Logan Heights communities.

Paul explained the reason greenery helps with air quality. The trees and bushes act as a filter for the diesel particles in the air. CalTrans said the project will provide urban green spaces for residents, a community area, transportation and increased air quality.

The Boston Avenue Community Improvements Project will upgrade lighting and sidewalks and provide disability ramps at the location. It will also create an open green space and a bike path. CalTrans crews are working on the site to replace the soil and build the foundation of the park.

Nancy Cruz is the organizing director for the EHC and is a Logan Heights resident. She hosted workshops and collected surveys about what community members want to see at the park. The EHC worked with over 150 residents to compile a list of amenities they want.

“It’s really being developed in a way that allows our community to dream about things that we haven’t had before, we haven’t had a space,” Cruz said.

The main things community members asked for was a place to take their dogs, a gathering area, basketball courts and splash pads for kids. The design was shared with CalTrans, who owns the land.

“Being able to have more green space is life saving for our community,” Cruz said. “So being able to have a place where we can walk to and also be able to have a place to take children.”

[embed]A video package by Alex Lai on the Boston Avenue Linear Park Project.

What do residents think?

Raquel Ascancio lives in Barrio Logan. She said there are a lot of big trucks and traffic in her neighborhood.

“There’s a lot of construction everywhere, and it’s all the time,” Ascancio said.

Chicano Park is the only existing park in the neighborhood currently. She said it will be beneficial for Barrio Logan to have another community area. However, not all community members agree.

Rayban Surbina lived in Logan Heights from 2007- 2014. He helped create the original murals in Chicano Park. He said Chicano Park is important because it represents Mexican and Chicano roots, culture and identity. He said Chicano Park should be the focus of Barrio Logan and Logan Heights because of the art and work put into the park.

“All kinds of parks are special and parks are good, they need to keep the reason why they do it,” Surbina said. “If they don’t tell you something, some nice story about anything, it’s nice and a beautiful park but nothing special.”

A rundown of the future park along with details in an infographic. By Alex Lai.

What’s Next?

CalTrans is expected to be finished with the foundation of the Boston Avenue Linear Park in August. The City of San Diego is expected to receive $44 million to restore environmental justice communities in San Diego. Cruz said the EHC is waiting on the funding to be approved so the city can begin building the park when CalTrans is done. She said the park is expected to be completed sometime in 2024.

This project was produced by Alex Lai as a published learning experience in JMS 550 Digital Journalism, part of the Journalism and Media Studies Program at San Diego State University.