Letter to the Editor: Fix the Road Into Border Field State Park

I'm frustrated that I am not able to visit .

As someone new to the area, at first I thought how lucky we are that we have such a park, and then how lucky we are that the park is getting a facelift.

My frustration grows as I read that this park is not only getting a facelift, but a new fence on the border at the ocean, while money to fix the road to the park is not available.

Does the park service really believe that we’d rather have picnic sites and turf than a road?

This park has a lovely stretch of beach, unspoiled and removed from the helicopter noise of the beach north of the river, but is basically off-limits to U.S. citizens because a variety of government agencies are not working together to plan to fix the road. News of park renovations and the new fence is scarce and government websites are little help.

I admit that there is a lot about the agencies involved that I don't understand. The Border Patrol has eliminated binational accesss to the popular Monument Mesa or Friendship Park in spite of pleas from the community and our elected officials. We have state parks renovating the park that is closed a large part of the year.

Clearly there is money for fences, tables and turf, but not for road repairs?!

There is no mention of the cost for the current renovation, nor are there illustrations or information regarding public input on the California State Park website.

It is beginning to feel like we’ve lost a park, and the goodwill that the park stood for.

Border Field State Park has managed to stay off the list of state park closures but we can't have access to it because of the road. I understand that the road floods when it rains, but the road is closed for months every year. Service reductions have limited vehicle access to the park; however, the park remains accessible to pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians. 

Why doesn’t the state just remove the gate, allow cars to park in the lot, and have beach access? What would be the harm? Walking almost two miles to gain access to the beach isn’t a reasonable option for the very young and our seniors, who can’t easily walk that distance. I believe that the public is entitled to better and more consistent access. 

Border Field State Park is an important wildlife habitat within the .

Managing agencies are California State Parks, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). In addition, several regional agencies and local municipalities share ownership and management responsibilities at the Reserve.

It would seem that these agencies may jointly be responsible for public access. I think that each agency should have a plan for appropriating a portion of the funds necessary to make the roadway improvements for public access so that we can enjoy the new park renovations.

Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve’s website remarks about the park’s facelift:

”We think this will attract more people to Border Field State Park, resulting in more people falling in love with the estuary and more advocates for its protection and further restoration. Unfortunately, until we can find $4 million to raise the entrance road, even this renovated Monument Mesa will not be accessible to the pubic by vehicle for part of the year due to flooding.”

They are not going to “find” the money. They are going to need to plan for it and budget the money.

The Border Patrol should share in funding the road work. They were able to find $4.3 million to extend a nearly quarter-mile barrier 300 feet into the Pacific Ocean and remake one of the more scenic spots on the border.

They took Friendship Park and created a no man’s land between two fences, changing the look and feel of this park. It seems only right that they give something back.

The public has been patient too long. I suggest that all the involved government agencies meet to make a plan to identify funding sources and address the roadway improvements to provide year-round access to our state park and our coastline. We’d like more information posted about decisions made that impact this park. We want year-round access to enjoy the views and the beach in our special corner of the world.

Got something you want to tell IB Patch and the community about? Send your letter to the editor to khari.johnson@patch.com