San Diego, CA
Federal Funding Cuts Could Impact SD’s Natural Areas | San Diego Magazine
A reader recently reached out to tell me that a few weekends ago, she went to Joshua Tree National Park for a weekend of hiking and camping. This was after the news that the federal government was cutting funding to national parks, and that Joshua Tree would lay off six employees, leaving its job vacancy at about 30 percent. She said there was a very long line of cars to check into the park, and they had to wait about 40 minutes to get in.
I wasn’t able to reach anyone at Joshua Tree to see if this long wait time is unusual or whether there’s a link to the reduced staffing. However, according to a spokesperson for the National Park Service, “The [NPS] is hiring seasonal workers to continue enhancing the visitor experience as we embrace new opportunities for optimization and innovation in workforce management. We are focused on ensuring that every visitor has the chance to explore and connect with the incredible, iconic spaces of our national parks.”
Unfortunately, this still left me with questions, so I checked in with Mark Eller with the nonprofit Leave No Trace who says it’s clear that funding cuts are impacting hiking and camping across the state and around the San Diego region.
“A lot of frontline workers that normally would be doing trail maintenance work to keep trails in good shape for the public may not be available, or might be getting pulled to other duties,” says, Eller. “We’ve definitely heard from a lot of our land manager partners that they’re concerned. Of course, there’s no clarity yet because the cuts are still subject to some lawsuits, and we’re not really trying to prognosticate who’s going to get cut or if it’s too early to say.”
Another example he’s heard repeatedly is trash piling up and overflowing in park trash cans. When staffing is reduced, everyday activities like getting litter into a receptacle can be more complicated. This can lead to stuffed trash cans and, when visitors are in the park, they’ll need to start carrying their own trash out themselves. Eller suggests bringing plastic or garbage bags with you the next time you visit.
“This has a big impact on the health of wildlife. If there’s trash being left out that normally would be emptied by a land manager, be prepared to deal with it yourself,” he says. “You don’t want to add to it because that’s going to draw in new wildlife trying to find that food, and that’s not healthy for them.”
Additionally, there will be no expansion to new lands and the cuts could also have a ripple effect to local and state parks. “Parks and natural areas around the country get different types of assistance from federal funds, or states can get into financial trouble in times like this, and they may have to divert resources from one thing for another,” he says.
Cabrillo National Park’s Tidepools
In San Diego, it’s unclear whether there has been an impact on places like Cabrillo National Monument—a spokeswoman for the foundation says they can’t comment and referred questions to the federal national parks system.
Jennifer Morrissey with the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the park, says during times like these, local governments can lean more on nonprofits.
“The MTRP Foundation has provided more than $15 million in support to the park since our founding in 1988,” Morrissey says. “Some of this funding has been for capital projects and, more recently, for land acquisition, but we are a consistent source of funding to ensure Mission Trails can continue to be maintained and improved. With the city’s current budget shortfall, we will be able to help keep park projects going and fences mended.”
Eller says lean times are also good opportunities for people to think about how they personally impact trails and parks. He encourages locals to continue getting outdoors and spending time in natural areas but to be mindful of how they are protecting the places they love most.
One way to do that, he says, is to follow the seven principles of Leave No Trace including planning ahead, camping on durable surfaces, and disposing of waste properly. He adds that volunteering with your local park is a great option, too, and make sure that you’re always staying on designated paths.
“People [should] stay on the trail or walk in the middle of the trail, as opposed to taking switchbacks or taking shortcuts, [because] those behaviors just add to trail erosion. A lot of people come to parks [with an] attitude of, ‘Well, somebody else will fix it,’” he says. “But that’s increasingly not true. And every time you do a little bit better in terms of your leading the safe behaviors, that helps protect the natural world from the impacts of people out enjoying it.”
San Diego County will be the center of NASCAR nation this weekend, with fans flocking to Naval Base Coronado for three days of events.
This is the first-ever Cup race held in San Diego County and the NASCAR community is also presenting it as its way of celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy.
Tickets are completely sold out, but locals can still get in on the fun at various event and activities taking place across the region.
Here’s what to know about this one-of-a-kind weekend in San Diego. Full coverage of NASCAR San Diego Weekend can be found at sandiegouniontribune.com/tag/nascar.
What is NASCAR San Diego Weekend?
The three-day event begins with Friday’s Craftsman Truck Series race, continues with an O’Reilly Auto Parts series race on Saturday and wraps Sunday with the Anduril 250.
Grandstands with a capacity for 40,000 fans have been erected, with another 10,000 spectators expected to occupy standing areas around the grounds.
Here’s a turn-by-turn look at Naval Base Coronado’s race circuit
When is it taking place?
Parking lots, which are on base, open each day at 7 a.m. and gates open at 9 a.m.
The Craftsman Truck Series takes place Friday at 4 p.m. The O’Reilly Auto Parts series race blasts off at 2 p.m. Saturday. The main event, NASCAR Cup Series Race, happens Sunday at 1 p.m.
A race-by-race look at NASCAR’s San Diego Weekend
Each day will also feature entertainment, driver Q&As and other activities.
Where is it?
Naval Base Coronado will host the weekend’s activities. All fans in attendance must carry a valid government-issued photo ID at all times.
Going to this weekend’s NASCAR races in Coronado? Here’s what you need to know
All event parking will be located on Naval Base Coronado. There is no event parking available within the city of Coronado.
Who is racing?
Shane Van Gisbergen, Tyler Reddick, Mike McDowell, Chase Elliott and Ty Gibbs are just a few of the names to expect this weekend. A full lineup can be found at nascarsandiego.com/nascar-san-diego-mission-lineup.
These 13 Cup racers could all win Sunday’s Anduril 250 in Coronado
How to watch on TV:
Craftsman Trucks Series race: 4 p.m. Friday on Fox Sports 1
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race: 2 p.m. Saturday on The CW
NASCAR Cup race: Sunday at 1 p.m. on Prime Video
Local events:
San Diegans have a range of options for getting in on the fun of NASCAR weekend in Coronado, including meet and greets with drivers, watch parties and fan zones.
Your guide to fan events during NASCAR San Diego Weekend
More coverage:
CORONADO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Final preparations are underway for NASCAR’s historic race weekend at Naval Base Coronado, where stock cars will compete on an active military installation for the first time in the sport’s history.
Crews, race teams, military personnel, first responders and event staff spent Thursday putting the finishing touches on the temporary road course as thousands of fans prepare to descend on the base for the inaugural event.
“The countdown is on,” as organizers work to transform portions of the installation into a race venue unlike any NASCAR has hosted before.
“It’s a very proud moment for NASCAR and myself and my company for being part of it,” said Jordan Litchko, a NASCAR production partner with ignition production. “It’s the America 250, so what a year to celebrate and be here on the naval base.”
Officials say the event marks the first time a NASCAR national series race has been held on a military base, bringing one of America’s most recognizable motorsports directly onto a working military installation.
Unlike traditional oval tracks, competitors will tackle a temporary road course built specifically for the event.
“It’s a road course race, which adds way more excitement, so it’s going to be ultra challenging,” Litchko said.
Thursday’s preparations included long lines of team members, vendors, staff and emergency personnel picking up credentials and completing security and base access requirements ahead of race weekend.
Meanwhile, drivers and crews got their first close look at the unique layout, which winds through portions of the base and presents a challenge far different from a conventional speedway.
With large crowds expected throughout the weekend, organizers are encouraging fans to plan ahead and allow extra travel time. Traffic delays are anticipated around Naval Base Coronado and nearby access points as spectators arrive for the event.
After months of planning and construction, the wait is nearly over.
On Friday, engines will roar to life aboard Naval Base Coronado, marking a milestone moment for NASCAR and creating a new chapter in the sport’s history. By the weekend’s end, fans will witness a race unlike any ever held before — stock cars competing on a military base in the heart of San Diego.
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – The City of San Diego is beginning to install 286 metered parking spaces this week in downtown San Ysidro in an effort to increase parking turnover, it was announced Thursday.
To develop the plan, city leaders worked with the San Ysidro business community. Revenue collected from the meters is reserved for transportation, parking and safety improvements in San Ysidro.
“Feeding parking meters feeds neighborhood repairs, and we can’t wait to get to work for the San Ysidro community,” said Naomi Chavez, interim director of the city’s Transportation Department. “This new parking zone will bring long overdue change that will help support local business activity and generate revenue that will be reinvested directly into improving neighborhood quality of life in San Ysidro.”
Crews began preparing the bases for the meters last week and installation work is expected to last through June. According to the city, these will be multi-space meter kiosks and drivers should be aware that they will need to go to the nearest kiosk to pay for parking since there won’t be a meter at each space.
Metered parking goes into effect on July 1 and will be enforced 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays. The parking rate is $2.50 an hour, with a maximum time limit of four hours.
City-led parking studies determined vehicles were parking on the streets of the neighborhood for hours or days at a time, making street parking for the area’s businesses scarce.
Drivers who customarily use free street parking when traveling across the border to Mexico are encouraged to use “one of the many paid off-street parking lots in the area,” a city statement read.
“The findings [of the parking study] clearly demonstrate the need for action. High parking occupancy on unregulated segments, along with data showing that 37% of vehicles exceed the existing two-hour limit and an average parking duration of over five hours, indicate that current conditions reduce turnover and limit access for local businesses and visitors,” wrote Alfredo Ripa, president of the San Ysidro Community Economic Development Corporation. “The proposed introduction of approximately 286 metered spaces, along with better signage, clearer designations and continued enforcement, represents a thoughtful and data-driven approach to improving parking availability and supporting economic activity in the community.”
Areas where the meter kiosks will be installed include:
— East San Ysidro Boulevard between Border Village Road to Camino De La Plaza (both sides);
— Border Village Road between East San Ysidro Boulevard (north) to East San Ysidro Boulevard (south), (both sides);
— Front Street between Border Village Road to end of cul-de-sac (south side);
— Bolton Hall Road between East San Ysidro Boulevard to Border Village Road (south side);
— Louisiana Avenue between East San Ysidro Boulevard to end of cul-de- sac (south side);
— Virginia Avenue between East San Ysidro Boulevard to Border Village Road (both sides); and
— East San Ysidro Boulevard between Willow Road and East Park Avenue (south side).
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