photo by John C.R. Jones

"The fence has been removed, decomposed granite placed, fitness equipment ordered, picnic tables installed and landscaping planned," says city manager Andy Hall.

Six months after the celebratory announcement of a "pocket park" in Imperial Beach that was supposed to turn an eyesore into a community area for this summer, the local nonprofit organization that donated $10,000 is questioning the use of its money and the progress of the plan.

"We were excited to support the city again, as we did through many other projects," said Erika Lowery, treasurer of IB Beautiful, the nonprofit organization that responded to the city's request for the $10,000.

"Then there was a delay, then we got two benches installed, and now we are starting over," she said, referring to a public input meeting that has been announced by the developer, 4Walls International, for today (August 18th).

"The president of the [IB Beautiful] board feels that there's not really a project, it is still a dirt lot," Lowery said via email. "He stated that he didn't feel that our money was being put to good use."

"There isn't even any shade covering" at the site, Lowery said. "At the same time, the city requested $8000 for an additional project that hasn't moved," she said, referring to the beautification of the former AT&T building at 1288 Palm Avenue.

"The city has hurt their relationship with IB Beautiful with these numerous delays with no follow-up and no communication [except for asking for more money for more projects]," Lowery said.

IB Beautiful is meeting with city manager Andy Hall about their concerns at the end of this month, Lowery said.

Hall would not comment on the issue of the funding but said that IB Beautiful’s director of community outreach, Kimberly Paris, “is very aware of how the money has been and will be spent…. She is very, very pleased with the project.”

Paris, reached by telephone and email, said she did not want to be quoted on the subject. 

According to Lowery, IB Beautiful is under the impression that the local developer 4Walls International was to receive their grant money from the city. "Now 4Walls supposedly got a grant for this project and are using recycled materials. How much is this park going to cost?"

Steve Wright of 4Walls International said, "We don't have anything to do with the $10,000" that IB Beautiful donated to the city for the pocket park.

Wright said his company, which is also a nonprofit organization, is getting its support for the pocket-park project from grants and other help from San Diego Gas & Electric, the Opening the Outdoors program, and Imperial Beach Arts Bureau, a volunteer group of arts supporters.

According to their website, 4Walls International “empowers socially and environmentally degraded communities to turn trash into the building blocks for community centers, schools, creative gathering places, infrastructure improvements, affordable housing and other infill development projects."

A trailer belonging to Foundry Athletics is parked on the lot.

photo by John C.R. Jones

About the involvement of 4Walls International, Hall said via email that "Four Walls is only augmenting" the site. He did not elaborate but said that other work has been accomplished at the site.

"The fence has been removed, decomposed granite placed, fitness equipment ordered, picnic tables installed and landscaping planned," he said via email.

A trailer belonging to Foundry Athletics is parked on the lot. According to Hall, the city has an agreement with the company to utilize the site, where it "conducts exercise classes on the vacant parcel and have agreed to provide maintenance of the lot (weeding, trash removal, etc.) in return for using a small portion of the parcel."

Lowery said having the exercise company at the site in exchange for free maintenance was a positive. "It's kind of a win-win until they make a formal park."

"My understanding that things are continuing as has been planned," Wright of 4Walls International said. "Things are on schedule. As soon as the funding was received we started moving."

The pocket park project had a festive start last January when city officials held a fence-destroying celebration at the site. The absentee owner agreed last summer to let the city use the site and the city council approved the plan last fall.

The plan was to improve the previously trash-filled lot, described as an "eyesore," directly across from the Marriott Pier South Resort hotel, and the project has generally been considered a positive event in public-private cooperation.

Mayor Serge Dedina, contacted by email, refused to comment about the progress or funding of the pocket park.

Last March, a public meeting was held to get citizen input on the plans and according to published reports 4Walls International was chosen to develop the park. Assistant city manager Steve Dush said at that time the park would hopefully be ready for this summer and he gave a presentation about the plans to the city council in April.

Wright said that 4Walls has not yet done work at the site, and that there was more to be done in working with the community, including a design workshop at the August 18th meeting, before his company begins actual construction. "We're going to get even more of a data set, we're facilitating collaboration between diverse stakeholders."

"We accelerated our timeline and we're acting very quickly" to have the park ready before the end of summer, Wright said. "In the winter, things slow down in IB."

Wright made it clear that the development by his company will have to have the temporary nature of the park in mind, so if the owner ever sells the property, the investment can be moved to a new location.

"It has to be heavy and strong and yet moveable park infrastructure," he said. "And it's got to be beautiful.… The city is hyper-aware that everything has to be moveable."

He described the project as "a big opportunity but big risk. Our reputation is on the line." 4Walls International received positive attention for their recent project at the Border Field State Park, he said.

"We can do some hardscaping, according to what the community desires," he said. "There are some restrictions; it can't be a dog park." Wright said there is strong demand for a dog park in Imperial Beach.