Chicano Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chicano Park |
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Chicano Park logo, originally by Rico Bueno. La Tierra Mía means "My Land".
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| Location | Logan Heights, San Diego, California |
| Area | 32,000 m2 |
| Created | April 22, 1970 |
| Operated by | Chicano Park Steering Committee |
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Chicano Park
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| NRHP reference No. | 12001192 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | January 23, 2013 |
| Designated NHL | December 23, 2016 |
Chicano Park is a special park in San Diego, California. It covers about 32,000 square meters (that's almost 8 acres!). You can find it right under the huge San Diego–Coronado Bridge in a neighborhood called Barrio Logan. This area is home to many Chicano (Mexican-American) and Mexican families.
This park is famous for having the largest collection of outdoor murals in the United States. These are big, colorful paintings on walls and pillars. You'll also see cool sculptures and other art pieces here. All of this art celebrates the rich culture and history of the community. Because these murals are so important, the park became an official historic site in 1980. Its murals were recognized as public art in 1987. Chicano Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. This was because of its strong connection to the Chicano Movement, a time when Mexican-Americans fought for their rights. In 2016, it was named a National Historic Landmark.
Like Berkeley's People's Park, Chicano Park was created when community members peacefully took over the land. Every year on April 22, or the closest Saturday, people celebrate the park's birthday. This event is called Chicano Park Day.
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Why Was Chicano Park Created?
The area where the park is now was first called the East End. In 1905, it was renamed Logan Heights. The first Mexican families moved here in the 1890s. More arrived after 1910, escaping the Mexican Revolution. So many Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans settled here that the southern part became known as Barrio Logan.
Losing Access to the Bay
The neighborhood used to reach all the way to San Diego Bay. This meant residents could easily get to the waterfront. But during World War II, the Navy built bases that blocked this access. This made the community feel upset with the government.
Changes to the Neighborhood
In the 1950s, the area was changed to allow both homes and factories. Junk yards and repair shops moved into Barrio Logan. This caused air pollution, loud noise, and made the area less pleasant for families. The community's frustration grew even more.
In 1963, Interstate 5 was built right through the middle of the barrio. Then, in 1969, the tall ramps for the San Diego–Coronado Bridge divided it even more. These huge concrete structures changed the look of the neighborhood.
The Rise of the Chicano Movement
For a long time, Mexican-Americans felt left out of decisions about their communities. But this started to change. The Civil Rights Movement was happening, and people were fighting for fairness. In Barrio Logan, people became more aware of their rights and felt stronger together. This was part of the larger Chicano Movement. This movement worked to support Mexican-American rights. Leaders like César Chávez and Dolores Huerta fought for farmworkers' rights. Groups like MEChA pushed for better education. People also wanted their culture and history to be recognized.
The city council had promised to build a park. This park would make up for the loss of over 5,000 homes and businesses. These homes were removed to build the freeway and bridge. The park would also help with the ugly look of the overhead freeways. In June 1969, the park was officially approved. A spot was chosen, but nothing happened to build it.
The Community Takes Action
The community decided they had waited long enough. On April 22, 1970, a student named Mario Solis saw bulldozers where the park was supposed to be. He learned they were building a parking lot and a police station instead of a park!
Mario quickly told his neighbors and classmates. Students from San Diego City College printed flyers. At noon, Mexican-American high school students walked out of their classes. They joined other neighbors gathering at the site. Some protesters linked arms around the bulldozers. Others started planting trees, flowers, and cactus. Mario Solis even used a bulldozer to flatten the land for planting. They also raised the flag of Aztlán on an old telephone pole. This showed they were taking back land that was once part of Mexico.
Many young people and families were part of the protest. When the crowd reached 250 people, construction stopped. The community stayed at Chicano Park for twelve days. During this time, they met with city officials to talk about creating the park. People from Los Angeles and Santa Barbara came to support them. The Chicano Park Steering Committee was formed by Josephine Talamantez, Victor Ochoa, Jose Gomez, and others. They didn't trust the city completely. So, they kept people on the sidewalks to share information. They said they would come back if the talks failed.
On April 23, a young artist named Salvador Torres shared his idea. He wanted to paint beautiful artworks on the freeway pillars. He also imagined a green area with trees stretching to the waterfront. People sometimes call him "the architect of the dream." Finally, on July 1, 1970, money was set aside to develop a part of the land for the park.
Building the Park and Murals
The park's creation truly began the day of the takeover. The community started making small improvements. But the famous murals didn't start until 1973. However, some artists like Guillermo Aranda and Victor Ochoa began adding colors to the walls and pillars in 1970.
The artists and their groups often raised money themselves. They bought supplies like special cleaners and paints. Victor Ochoa remembers that on March 23, 1973, he brought 300 brushes. Nearly 300 people helped paint that weekend! The Centro Cultural de la Raza in Balboa Park helped train many of the mural artists. Even non-Chicano artists, like Michael Schnorr, joined in. About 16 artists became dedicated to finishing the murals. Famous Chicano artists, including members of the Royal Chicano Air Force, also participated. Over time, more plants were added to create a cactus garden.
The first group of murals took almost two years to finish. The murals at Chicano Park tell the story of Mexican-American and Chicano history and culture. They show themes like immigration, women's rights, and important civil rights leaders.
In 1978, there was a "Mural Marathon." Over twenty-one days, artists painted about 10,000 square feet of murals!
The park has grown over the years. It now reaches almost "all the way to the bay." This phrase was a rallying cry in a 1980 campaign to extend the park. The Cesar E. Chávez Waterfront Park was started in 1987 and finished in 1990. This finally gave the community access to the beach again. Most of the original goal of having a community park with waterfront access has been achieved.
On April 24, 2010, Chicano Park celebrated its 40th Anniversary. The theme was: "40 Años de la Tierra Mia: Aquí Estamos y No Nos Vamos" (40 Years of My Land: Here We Are and We're Not Leaving).
In 2014, lights were installed in the park. This made it brighter and safer at night, creating a more family-friendly place.
A Special Historic Place
Because the murals are so important, Chicano Park became an official historic site in 1980. Its murals were recognized as public art in 1987. Josephine Talamantez and Manny Galaviz worked hard to get Chicano Park added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. This was because of its strong connection to the Chicano Movement.
In 1997, Josephine Talamantez started the process to get Chicano Park listed on the National Register. She wanted to protect the murals from damage when the Coronado Bridge was being updated. After many years, Chicano Park was officially named a National Historic Landmark in December 2016. Talamantez also helped open the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center. It's in a nearby city building that used to be a learning center.
Chicano Park Museum
The Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center opened on October 8, 2022. Its first exhibit was called "Stories of Resilience and Self-Determination." Like the park, the museum is a community space. It often works with other local non-profit groups.
Inside the museum, there is a gallery for local Chicano artists. They can show and sell their artwork there. The museum also has a main exhibit area, a room for historical records, a community room, and a gift shop. In the gift shop, you can find many art pieces made by California artists.
The museum's first exhibition ran until September 9, 2023. It highlighted important groups and parts of the Chicano Park Movement. These included the Brown Berets, Centro Cultural de la Raza, the Chicano Park Steering Committee, and different dance groups. It also featured lowriders, music, and stories from the Kumeyaay people. The goal of the exhibits is to teach people about Chicana/o, Latina/o, and Indigenous culture and history.
Murals: Art and History
Projects to restore the murals began in 1984. The murals have been worked on almost constantly since then. A big restoration project happened in 2012. Many of the original artists came back to work on their art. Twenty-three murals were restored. Artists like Victor Ochoa took part in this project, which lasted 13 months. Ochoa was known for organizing artists to paint murals at Chicano Park in the 1970s. He even edited a guide on how to restore the murals. By 2013, all the murals were fully restored. This was just in time for the park's 43rd Anniversary Celebration.
On June 25, 2023, a new mural was revealed in Barrio Logan. This mural honored a California Supreme Court ruling from 1975. This ruling banned "el corito," a short-handled hoe. This tool forced farm workers to bend down for hours, causing back problems. The mural celebrates the hard work and sacrifices of farmworkers. It was created by artists Mario Chacon, Ariana Arroyo, and Gary Hartbur.
Chicano Park Day
Every year around April 22, Chicano Park holds an anniversary celebration. This event celebrates the day the community took over the area. The park hosts traditional music and modern bands. You can also see ballet folklorico (folk dancing), lowrider car shows, and art workshops.
- 40th Anniversary Theme: 40 Años de the Tierra Mia: Aquí Estamos y No Nos Vamos (40 Years of My Land: Here We Are and We're Not Leaving)
- 43rd Anniversary Theme: Chicano Park: Aztlan's Jewel & National Chicano Treasure
- 44th Anniversary Theme: La Tierra Es De Quien La Trabaja: The Land Belongs To Those Who Work It...
How People Use the Park
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The park is used for many different events and groups all year. Various groups who practice and perform Aztec dance use Chicano Park. They prepare for ceremonies and other events here. The park is also used as a skate park.
Inspiring Words
"The takeover of that land underneath the bridge in the barrio, that was a political expression. That was an expression of the community saying, 'Hey, we're not going to take it anymore. We're going to decide what's going to happen with this land.' And out of that political expression came cultural expression."—Veronica Enrique
"The community spirit and pent-up energy exploded in free, uncomposed murals of bright color."—Victor Ochoa
Gallery
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Public restrooms at the park
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Korean couple visiting the park
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Murals and sculptures
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"All the Way to the Bay"
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Mural in Chicano Park, San Diego stating "All the way to the Bay"
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"Hasta La Bahia!!"
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Image of Emiliano Zapata with English translation of famous quote "Es mejor morir de pie que vivir de rodillas."
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"Better to die standing up, than to live on the knees"
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"United in Brotherhood"
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"Mi Gente"
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"Yes I did it!"
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Virgin de Guadalupe mural: "In Love everything is possible"
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"Strength Willpower and Love"
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"Indigenous Beauty"
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"Blue Race"
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"Super Gladiator"
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Aztec Warriors mural
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Birth of a Child
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Skeleton sculpture
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See Also
In Spanish: Parque Chicano para niños
- List of parks in San Diego
- Carmen Linares-Kalo
- Chicano murals
