Walking eastward across the Cabrillo Bridge, you are inside Balboa Park, the largest urban cultural park in the U.S.  Today 14 million visitors enjoy the park each year.  This is an amazing number, but not many visitors know how the idea for this park was conceived by citizens of vision.  I didn't know, either, until I read this.

"On May 26, 1868, a 1,400-acre tract of nine city pueblo lots was set aside as a public park by the Board of Trustees of the City of San Diego following the recommendations of a far-sighted citizens committee.  The State Legislature ratified the grant on February 4, 1870 at a time when San Diego's population was 2,301 people and there were only 915 houses.  For much of the remainder of the 19th century, the Park, known as 'City Park' remained a fairly wild preserve of hilltops, canyons, and arroyos, forever preserved for future generations of San Diego and visitors." (Source: City of San Diego website)


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Media: original watercolor
Image Size: 11.5 x 8.25  in. (on 12 x 9 in. paper)
Price: Sold


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