Border Field State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Border Field State Park
Border Field State Park sign
Border Field State Park Location in California Show map of California Border Field State Park Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	San Diego County, California, United States
Nearest city	Imperial Beach, California
Area	1,316 acres (5.33 km2)
Established	1972
Visitors	62,000 (in FY 2014/2015)
Governing body	California Department of Parks and Recreation

Border Field State Park is a special place in California, United States. It's a state park right on the border between the U.S. and Mexico. You can find beautiful beaches and important coastal areas here. The park is located in Imperial Beach, in San Diego County. It's even next to a Mexican city called Playas de Tijuana. This park holds the southernmost point in all of California! It's also part of a bigger area called the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, which protects important natural habitats.

Inside Border Field State Park, you'll find International Friendship Park. This park is very close to where the border meets the Pacific Ocean. Right next to it is a special monument that marks the very first point of the border between the U.S. and Mexico.

Discovering the Park's Past

The story of Border Field State Park is linked to the Mexican–American War. This war between the United States and Mexico ended on February 2, 1848. It ended with a special agreement called the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

Setting the Border

This treaty decided that a new international border was needed. So, a team from both the U.S. and Mexico worked together. They were called the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey. Their job was to map out the new border. They started their important work right here at Border Field. During World War II, this area was also used as a base for the Navy.

• Evolving border barrier at Border Field State Park
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  1974 border

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  2008 border. (Border Patrol vehicles present in image)

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  2014 border

Exploring the Park's Wildlife

Border Field State Park is a very important place for animals and plants. Much of the park is part of the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve. This reserve is a vital habitat for many creatures.

Home for Birds

The park has areas of both salt and freshwater marshes. These wet lands are like a safe home for many birds. You can see waterfowl that are migrating, meaning they are traveling long distances. You can also spot wading birds that live here all the time. Some of the birds you might see include black-necked stilts, American avocets, green-winged teals, American wigeons, and pelicans.

Fun Activities at the Park

Border Field State Park offers many ways to enjoy nature. You can go hiking on its trails. If you like horses, there are horse trails too. Many people enjoy surf fishing here, trying to catch fish from the ocean. It's also a fantastic spot for birding, which means watching and identifying different kinds of birds.

Park Visitors

Many people love to visit Border Field State Park. In the fiscal year 2014–2015, about 61,799 people came to explore the park. This was a good increase from the 45,633 visitors in the fiscal year 2011–2012.