North Park, San Diego facts for kids
North Park is a lively neighborhood in San Diego, California, United States. It's also a larger "community" area defined by the City of San Diego for planning. This neighborhood has clear boundaries:
- on the northwest, it's next to Park Boulevard and University Heights
- on the west, it borders Florida Canyon, University Heights, and Hillcrest
- to the southwest, you'll find Balboa Park
- to the south, it's bordered by Switzer Canyon and the South Park neighborhood
- on the east, it's next to Interstate 805 and City Heights
Before Interstate 805 was built, North Park was thought to end at 35th Street. That area is now part of City Heights.
North Park includes smaller areas like Burlingame, Altadena, and the Morley Field area. The Morley Field area is home to the Dryden Historic District. North Park is part of California's 50th congressional district and San Diego City Council District 3.
The larger "community" of North Park, used for city planning, includes University Heights to the north. It stretches south to Juniper Canyon, reaching as far southeast as Cedar Ridge Park.
You can see the North Park sign at 30th Street and University Avenue. This intersection is often called the heart of the neighborhood.
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History of North Park
In 1893, a San Diego merchant named Joseph Nash sold 40 acres of land to James Monroe Hartley. This land was northeast of Balboa Park. Hartley wanted to start a lemon grove there. His family worked hard to clear the land for the trees. But getting enough water for the young trees was always a challenge. They had to bring barrels of water from downtown San Diego. They used a wagon trail that later became Pershing Drive.
As San Diego grew, it reached Hartley's original lemon grove. This area eventually became bordered by Ray Street to the west and 32nd Street to the east. University Avenue was to the north, and Dwight Street was to the south. Hartley called his land "Hartley's North Park." Years later, the City of San Diego officially named the new suburb North Park.
In 1911, Hartley's oldest son, Jack, and his brother-in-law, William Jay Stevens, developed the area. They turned it into one of San Diego's first places for homes and businesses. In 1905, they started Stevens & Hartley, North Park's first real estate company. In 1912, Jack and William built North Park's first "high rise" business building. It was called the Stevens building. It stood on the northwest corner of 30th Street and University Avenue. Today, it's the "Western Dental" building. The intersection of "Thirtieth & University" became the main spot in North Park. Within 10 years, it was the center of the community.
Later in the 1910s, North Park became connected by Class 1 streetcars. These were part of a big public transit system in San Diego. The system grew because of the Panama-California Exposition in 1915. John D. Spreckels built it. These streetcars were a common sight in North Park until they stopped running in 1949.
North Park was also the site of a significant aviation accident in California's history.
Architecture in North Park
North Park has many different building styles from various time periods. One special area is the Morley Field area. It's named because it's close to Balboa Park's Morley Field Sports Complex. This area has many Craftsman Bungalows and California Bungalows from the early 1900s.
Many of these homes were designed by a famous builder named David Owen Dryden. Because of this, the area is now called the "Dryden Historic District." This historic area includes homes along 28th and Pershing Streets. These streets are bordered by Upas Street to the south and Landis Street to the north.
On June 23, 2011, the City's Historical Resources Board officially approved the North Park Dryden Historic District. They also recognized Edward F. Bryans as a "Master Builder." He built more than a dozen homes in the district. Out of 136 homes in the district, 104 were approved as important historical buildings.
People are becoming more interested in North Park's history, especially its architecture. The North Park Historical Society helps with this interest. It's a local group of volunteers. They have a website with articles about historic places, people, and events. They also offer walking tours of North Park. Some articles on their site were written by Donald Covington, an expert on Dryden and North Park history.
Arts, Culture, and Food
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In 2012, Forbes magazine called North Park one of America's best "hipster" neighborhoods. They noted that North Park has a mix of cultures. It features Craftsman cottages, cafes, coffee shops, and several small breweries. You can also find unique boutiques and the North Park Farmers Market. The North Park Theater and the Ray Street Arts District are also important creative spots.
The Los Angeles Times newspaper said that North Park has everything to be a "cool" place. It has diverse cultures, art galleries, and trendy bars. These bars offer special cocktails and local beers. There are also many highly-rated restaurants.
You can find a wide variety of restaurants and independent coffee shops along 30th Street and University Avenue. The area also has many bars and nightclubs that attract different kinds of people. For example, Crazee Burger is a restaurant that serves burgers made from unusual meats like alligator and camel.
Downtown North Park is home to the Ray Street Arts District. Ray at Night is a special event held on the second Saturday of every month. During this event, art galleries open their doors for visitors. It is the biggest and longest-running art walk in San Diego's history.
Nearby, The Observatory North Park is a concert venue. It used to be the Birch North Park Theatre. This historic theater was once home to Lyric Opera San Diego. The theater was greatly updated in 2005. In 2015, its permanent seats were removed for its new use as a concert hall.
North Park also has a farmers' market every Thursday. It is located on North Park Way between Granada Avenue and 30th Street. In spring and summer, it's open from 3 PM until sunset. In fall and winter, it's open from 2 PM until sunset. The market features over 35 local sellers. You can find fresh produce, flowers, diverse foods, arts and crafts, and books. Often, there is live music too.
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The San Diego Music Foundation holds a big music festival called North Park Music Thing. It happens in the fall on El Cajon Boulevard. This festival helps North Park be known as an arts community in San Diego.
Every December, North Park has a holiday parade called the North Park Toyland Parade. The North Park Lions Club presents this fun event.
Like other city areas in San Diego, North Park has a lot of people walking around. This is more common here than in other parts of San Diego County.
Getting Around North Park
You can reach North Park using Interstate 805. You can get on or off the freeway at the University Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard exits.
University Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard are the main roads that go east and west through North Park. University Avenue goes west to Hillcrest and east to City Heights and La Mesa. El Cajon Boulevard goes west to Washington Avenue and Mission Hills. It continues east to the city of El Cajon.
Florida Street connects North Park to downtown San Diego. It goes through Florida Canyon in Balboa Park to the south. To the north, it connects to Adams Avenue and University Heights. 30th Street connects North Park to Adams Avenue and Normal Heights to the north. To the south, it connects to South Park and Golden Hill. Texas Street goes north directly into Mission Valley.
There are many bus services in North Park. Bus routes 1, 2, 6, 7, 10, 11, and 215 connect to downtown San Diego. They also connect to the transportation center in Old Town. The busiest bus route in the San Diego area, the University Avenue transit corridor (routes 7 and 10), goes through North Park.
North Park Organizations
- North Park Main Street: This group helps businesses in North Park. It is a "business improvement district."
- North Park Community Association: This group helps the people who live in North Park. It's run by volunteers. They host free Bird Park Summer Concerts. They also have a "Stop Graffiti Now!" campaign. They help neighbors connect and support local businesses.
- North Park Planning Committee: This group (NPPC) speaks for the community on land use and development issues. They give advice to the City of San Diego.
- North Park Historical Society: This group focuses on the history of North Park. They offer educational programs and events. These include an annual car show and walking tours. Their website is http://www.northparkhistory.org.
Books About North Park
The book North Park: A San Diego Urban Village tells the story of how the neighborhood grew from 1896 to 1946. You can find copies of this book from the North Park Historical Society and online bookstores.
See also
In Spanish: North Park (San Diego) para niños
