Next Monday morning at 10:30 Mayor Jerry Sanders, City Council Member Toni Atkins and representatives from the City of San Diego’s Park and Recreation Department will be announcing (near Sixth and Upas) the establishment of a park-wide system of nature and exercise trails for runners and walkers of all levels. The first in a series of gateway signs is located at the intersection of Balboa Drive and Sixth Avenue, on the northwest corner of the park.
A satellite image-based map has been merged with a series of GPS-documented routes, a significant advancement in park signage designed to highlight topography, incorporating park landmarks to help guide the user and gauge the level of difficulty of the trails. The routes are clearly marked with color coded, numbered signs, which inform users of the distance, degree of difficulty and change of route direction. This is one of a series of projects designed to increase safety and usability within the many canyons and natural areas of the park, adhering to the Balboa Park Master Plan. The project was paid for in large part by a generous grant from the Balboa Park Trust at the San Diego Foundation. A committed group of community volunteers envisioned and developed this system in partnership and with guidance from the City of San Diego’s Department of Park & Recreation and the Balboa Park Committee.
