A group that's been fighting for public access to San Diego's Friendship Park along the U.S.-Mexico border wants to make sure park visitors can go right up to the border fence. The group wants federal officials to remodel the access area they just built.
Federal authorities sealed off Friendship Park when they built more border fencing earlier this year.
For decades, friends and family gathered at the park to visit through the fence. Activists have fought to restore public access to the park.
Federal authorities recently built a gated area that may eventually allow people back into a small patch. However, it keeps people about six feet from the border fence.
John Fanestil is with the group Friends of Friendship Park. He says that's unsatisfactory.
"I've seen people greet their newborn grandchildren through that fence. I've seen lovers make out through that fence. And removing those kind of human interactions, it really guts the park from its historic purpose."
U.S. federal border officials won't offer any information about the new gated area. They don't know if or when the it will open.
