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Join Us for the Exciting Day of the Child Event in Downtown Chula Vista!

Chula Vista Blog
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Join Us for the Exciting Day of the Child Event in Downtown Chula Vista!

Get ready for a fun-filled family day at the upcoming Day of the Child Event in Downtown Chula Vista! This free community celebration offers resources and activities to help keep children safe and healthy.

The Chula Vista Community Collaborative is hosting this wonderful event at Memorial Park on Saturday, April 19th. This is your chance to learn about all the resources available to families in South Bay while enjoying a beautiful spring day outdoors.

The Day of the Child Event Has Activities for Everyone

Families will love all the cool activities throughout the event. Your family can enjoy:

  • Entertainment by local schools and talent
  • An impressive car show featuring lowriders and classic cars
  • Face painting
  • Interactive games
  • Special giveaways
  • And vendor booths

Last year, the car show was the biggest hit, with amazing vehicles lining Third Avenue. This year promises to be even better!

Chula Vista Day of the Child
Last year, the Day of the Child event was a lot of fun, and so many people came out to enjoy it. Along with all the vendor booths, they also had live entertainment at two stages in Memorial Park.

A Growing Community Tradition

The Day of the Child Community Fair has been expanding each year. Last year’s event featured more than 100 booths and attracted approximately 5,000 children and families. The continued growth shows how important this celebration has become to our community.

Follow them on Instagram to learn more about the program and see event photos.

Honoring Children Worldwide

While the United Nations established World’s Children’s Day on November 20th, Mexico celebrates “El Día Del Niño” on April 30th. Our local celebration brings this tradition to Chula Vista, creating a day where children can play, learn, and enjoy special activities.

About the Chula Vista Community Collaborative

The Chula Vista Community Collaborative (CVCC) began when the South Bay Human Services Council and Vista Square Elementary staff identified community needs that required more than traditional school resources. In January 1993, they applied for a Healthy Start Planning Grant and received it in May 1993.

The collaborative later became part of the Chula Vista Elementary School District. With support from the Social Security Administration, City of Chula Vista, South Bay Family YMCA, Episcopal Community Services, Head Start, Vista Hill, and Human Services Council, they created a network to provide better support to families in need.

Renamed the Chula Vista Community Collaborative on its 10-year anniversary, CVCC has spent over 30 years connecting families with essential resources. These include family support and advocacy, parenting resources, health insurance enrollment, food assistance, and more.

At CVCC, we believe all students deserve an equal opportunity to succeed. We understand this starts with happy, healthy families and strong communities.

Join the Celebration!

Bring your family to Memorial Park for this special event on Saturday, April 19th. It’s a perfect opportunity to connect with community resources while creating wonderful memories with your children.

Keep following our blog for more updates about family-friendly events in Chula Vista. Share this post with friends and family so everyone can enjoy this special day!

Burger Kook in Bonita Is Fire

Kurt Bunch
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Burger Kook in Bonita Is Fire

Every time I make a video about burgers in Chula Vista, many of you send me great spots to check out. One of them caught my eye: Burger Kook in Bonita. I initially thought this was a restaurant tucked away in a corner of Bonita, but it’s actually a house. The family operates this spot out of their garage, and WOW! The food is amazing. You should definitely check them out. They’re located at 5114 Central Avenue in Bonita, California.

Burger Kook in Bonita
The hamburgers were so good. I loved the fries cooked in beef tallow. Be sure to get out there and support them.

Next time you’re in the area be sure to stop by and support this locally owned spot. The family is amazing and they love welcoming you to their place. You can also find them on Instagram here. Give them a follow.

If you visit let me know what you thought.

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Sweetwater Park Debuts in Chula Vista: 39 Acres of Trails, Playgrounds, and more

Amanda Contreras
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Sweetwater Park Debuts in Chula Vista: 39 Acres of Trails, Playgrounds, and more

The long-awaited Sweetwater Park is finally open! This is the one a lot of you have been asking about. After years of planning, this beautiful 39-acre recreational space is now welcoming visitors to South San Diego Bay. As the Port of San Diego’s 23rd and largest park, Sweetwater Park offers residents and visitors a unique natural setting with plenty of amenities.

What Makes Sweetwater Park Special

“This is really a special park,” said Port of San Diego Vice Chair Ann Moore at the recent ribbon-cutting ceremony. “It’s an area where people can come, enjoy the quiet, look at the natural resources surrounding it. There’s no other park like that in the bay.”

The park stands out with its focus on natural habitat and passive recreation. Visitors can enjoy:

  • 2 miles of walkways and bike paths (triple the previous amount)
  • Nature-themed playgrounds with educational displays about local wildlife
  • Sand dunes and native plants
  • Perfect spots for bird watching and other quiet activities
  • Kumeyaay signage throughout the park

Be sure to visit the Port of San Diego’s website for more information on the park.

Sweetwater Park Debuts in Chula Vista
One of the things we love the most are all the walking trails. They also have areas to sit and enjoy the park.

Art Meets Nature

A highlight of the park is “Rigors of Flight,” a public art installation by Roberto Salas. This impressive 25-foot-tall sculpture of a wishbone pays tribute to the birds that fly through the area, adding cultural significance to the natural beauty. I wish they would add a plaque about the sculpture. Many visitors asked about it when I was at the grand opening.

Sweetwater Park Debuts in Chula Vista
Celebrating “Rigors of Flight” public sculpture by artist Roberto Salas and the opening of Sweetwater Park along the bay in Chula Vista, I hope they add a plaque explaining what it represents.

Part of a Bigger Vision

Sweetwater Park is just one piece of the ambitious 535-acre Chula Vista Bayfront redevelopment plan. This master plan aims to create a world-class destination in South Bay where people can live, work, and play.

The nearby Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center, set to open on May 15, represents a major $1.35 billion investment in the area. The resort will feature:

  • 1,600 rooms
  • A convention center with four ballrooms
  • Three levels of meeting space
  • Two outdoor event lawns
  • Multiple restaurants and recreational facilities
Sweetwater Park Debuts in Chula Vista
You can see the brand new Gaylord Resort & Convention Center from the new park. It’s getting close.

Economic Growth for the Community

“It is going to bring people in throughout the country to be able to spend their money, so we can invest in infrastructure and improve our city,” explains Chula Vista Mayor John McCann.

The Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center is expected to create more than 4,000 permanent jobs and potentially expand the local economy by as much as $500 million each year by boosting tourism in South Bay.

A Community Asset Already in Use

Within hours of its opening, Sweetwater Park was already filled with families enjoying its many features. The $20 million investment (partially funded by the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Program through the National Park Service and the California Department of Parks and Recreation) has clearly struck a chord with locals.

Visit Sweetwater Park Today!

Head down to South San Diego Bay to experience this beautiful new space for yourself. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful nature walk, a family playground outing, or simply a place to connect with the natural environment, Sweetwater Park offers something for everyone.

Share your Sweetwater Park experiences on our Facebook page! We’d love to see your photos and hear about your visits. Keep following our blog for more updates on the exciting developments happening along Chula Vista’s Bayfront.

Eucalyptus Park Redevelopment: Major Upgrades Coming to Chula Vista’s Oldest Park

Chula Vista Blog
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Eucalyptus Park Redevelopment: Major Upgrades Coming to Chula Vista’s Oldest Park

It’s finally happening, Chula Vista! After years of planning, the long-awaited redevelopment of Eucalyptus Park is officially moving forward. This long-standing community space is about to get a massive makeover, bringing modern amenities and much-needed upgrades.

On Friday, March 21st, at 1:30 PM, the City of Chula Vista will hold a groundbreaking ceremony, marking the beginning of the project. Residents are encouraged to attend and say their goodbyes to the outdated structures before the park closes for construction. The transformation won’t be quick—the estimated completion date is summer 2026—but the wait will be worth it.

What’s coming to Eucalyptus Park? Exciting Upgrades Ahead

Once completed, Eucalyptus Park will feature:

  • Interactive splash pad
  • Skate and scooter plaza
  • Bike skills area with jump section
  • Multi-purpose field with lighting
  • Four pickleball courts with lighting
  • Perimeter walking path with fitness equipment
  • New accessible ramp from Menzel Field
  • Modern playground equipment and surfacing
  • Expanded dog park areas
  • New park monument and fencing
  • Stormwater improvements
  • Additional parking at the softball field
Eucalyptus Park Chula Vista Redevelopment
It will be nice to finally have a skate park on the northwest side of Chula Vista. This is something that has been asked about quite a few times by the residents. (Photo Courtesy of City of Chula Vista)

Why This Revamp Matters to the Community

For years, Eucalyptus Park has been in decline. With broken equipment, limited accessibility, and aging facilities, it was clear that an upgrade was necessary. The park opened in 1926 and is a vital green space in northwest Chula Vista, especially for families living in nearby apartments and condos.

I remember when the rock band P.O.D. helped a local group put in a new playground and clean up the park. That was a big deal to the community. I wish I could find the photos from the event.

Many residents, like Alejandro, a longtime park visitor, are eager for the changes. “The park is loved and is always busy on the weekends,” he shared. “You will always see so many families out here having a party or just getting out and enjoying the day.” While the extended closure will be inconvenient, the enhancements will make the wait worthwhile.

Chula Vista oldest park is Eucalyptus Park on 4th and C Street
This park is 100 years old, and it is really starting to show its age. The new Eucalyptus Park will be amazing when it opens in 2026.

Funding and Timeline

The $7.1 million project is being funded through state grants, with $1.9 million allocated for design and $5.95 million for construction. The city has also secured funding to repurpose the former YMCA building next to the park into an intergenerational art gallery, Casa Casillas, honoring former Mayor Mary Casillas Salas’s mother. I have been watching the progress of this building for a long time.

City consultant KTUA is leading the redevelopment, which incorporated community feedback into the design. The goal is to improve accessibility, safety, and recreational opportunities for all visitors.

What’s Next? Stay Connected!

Are you excited about the new Eucalyptus Park? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Please share your comments on our Facebook page and let us know which other Chula Vista Parks could use a refresh. We’ll keep you posted with updates, photos, and videos as construction progresses. Stay tuned!

Drone photo provided by the City of Chula Vista

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