Future of Fiesta Island Debated

If you’ve ever stopped on Fiesta Island, you can understand why some folks admire its raw isolation and others perceive it as a smelly dumping ground. Now a new plan for developing Fiesta Island is in the works and city planners are seeking public input. A lengthy questionnaire is available at the Mission Valley library. But some community members oppose any development. Fiesta Island is the City of San Diego’s largest undeveloped coastal park. It sits just west of I-5 next to Sea World. 

Fiesta Island is a 485-acre peninsula surrounded by the waters of Mission Bay Park. There are no facilities on the island other than a road leading in and looping 4.2 miles around the property. In its current state, it’s not necessarily inviting – the waters are often smelly and polluted and litter is often scattered around the empty land. But it’s a popular spot for those who appreciate the solitude: runners, cyclists and dog-owners who can let their pets run off-leash. The city also makes money from the island’s regular users, including the Boy Scout Youth Camp. Host Gloria Penner speaks to proponents for and against Fiesta Island’s development.

Guests:

• Robert Ottilie, Mission Bay Park Committee member.
• Donald Peterson, Old Mission Bay Athletic Club member and Over the Line Tournament director.