The Mira Mesa Recreation Council and the City of San Diego currently have $5 million to spend on “improving” Canyon Hills Open Space, the area located directly behind the Woodcrest Hills and Westview communities.  According to the Mira Mesa Recreation Council, there is a desire to change Canyon Hills Open Space into a resource-based park.  In addition to simple trail improvements and new signs, their plans include constructing a “mountain high” bathroom, installing lighting, cutting new switchback trails into the hill, and adding a parking lot with entry access, all behind the communities of Woodcrest Hills and Westview. 

We, the residents of Woodcrest Hills and surrounding communities, are concerned that the proposed changes will have several direct negative impacts on our communities, including:  

• Increased fire risk.
• Increased trash and vagrancy.  

• Increased burglary risk due to easier access provided by new trails and entry areas to the park.
• Increased parking problems when those who access trails use our streets as a parking lot.  
• Further destruction of native chaparral habitat.  
• Further threat to animals that use Canyon Hills as a travel corridor.  
• Increased noise pollution from the drastically increased number of people walking around behind our community, accessing the park by automobile, and having late night parties.  
• Increased light pollution from any lighting installed on the hillside.

We urge the Mira Mesa Recreation Council, the City of San Diego, and Council Member Chris Cate NOT to construct bathrooms, install lights, construct a parking lot (especially behind Branicole Lane), allow automobile access, cut new switchback trails, and implement other large-scale changes when deciding on "improvements" for Canyon Hills Open Space. We ask residents of Woodcrest Hills and surrounding communities (such as those around Westview Parkway) who feel similarly to sign this petition.  We also urge all concerned residents to attend the September 13 Mira Mesa Recreation Council meeting.  

Please make certain your address is included when you sign the petition so that City Council Member Chris Cate knows you are from the surrounding community.  

The September 13 meeting takes place at Lopez Ridge Recreation Center, 7245 Calle Cristobal, San Diego, CA 92126, from 7:00pm-8:30pm.  According to the office of City Council Member Chris Cate, the main focus of the September 13 meeting is to solicit feedback regarding changes to Canyon Hills Open Space, so please plan on attending!