The San Diego Council voted unanimously to approve a long-delayed updated master plan for Mission Trails Regional Park that calls for expansion to nearly 10,000 acres.
The park would grow through incorporation of 2,600 acres of open land called East Elliott that is located north of Route 52, and future land acquisition is envisioned.
Councilmember Scott Sherman, whose district includes the park, applauded approval of the wide-ranging plan, saying it will guide investment in “this natural treasure.”
The plan was originally funded in 2008 and scheduled to be completed in 2013. However, coordination with state and federal wildlife agencies caused a lengthy delay.
“Mission Trails is a special place for me, just as it is for thousands of other San Diegans,” Sherman said after the vote on Tuesday. “The area was my playground as a child even before it became an official park, instilling a deep appreciation for the outdoors that I still carry today.”
Mission Trails is one of the largest urban parks in the country. There are more than sixty miles of hiking, mountain bike and equestrian trails, a rock-climbing area, a 14,000-square-foot visitor center, and the Kumeyaay Lake Campgrounds.
