Going Down the Rohr Park Rabbit Hole

Photo from Adobe Stock

This article started out innocently enough. I was just looking for additional history of Rohr Park when the following popped up.

This "information" appeared on the City of Chula Vista website but is a little disingenuous. It leads the reader to believe that Rohr Park was a generous gift from Frederick Rohr, but it was not. The City of Chula Vista purchased the Rohr Manor and 27 acres. Next, the County of San Diego gave Chula Vista the parcels on either side of the manor for a whopping 59 acres. All the documents may be found in "Bonita Resident Researches and Shares Documents About History of Rohr Park".

Who Uses the Rohr Park Equestrian Arena?

The site also is a little loosey-goosey with the next details.

First of all, it's an arena not a ring. Barnum & Bailey Circus used "rings" to contain their live animal acts. No lions or tigers here, just horses.

Yes, the arena is used by Sunnyside Saddle Club for horse shows/competitions approximately six to eight times a year. It is also used (daily/weekly/monthly) by Bonita Valley Horsemen, Serenity Bonita (a Horse and Human Development Center) and many, many riders who keep their horses in their backyards or at boarding place without the benefit of an arena.

History

Bonita Valley Horsemen donated the accompanying round pen, twice in fact. The first one was stolen by thieves who grinded off the cemented posts and carried it away in the darkness of night.

I have been told that Muriel Watson was a force of nature and the guiding light for getting the Rohr Park Equestrian Arena constructed. I don't believe she would have approved of the exclusion of riders that has taken place over the past year and a half. In addition, I am almost certain she would be livid that another city would be stealing her arena away from Bonita's horse country.

Rohr Park Master Plan Workshops with Details

Here is a list of existing recreational amenities as they appeared in the City of Chula Vista's Rohr Park Master Plan presentation on August 14, 2025. The images that follow are from the same presentation.

You will note that the equestrian arenas are the only item on the August 14th list above to be removed from the plan. This deception was not discovered until Bonita resident Karen Henry wrote Rohr Park Draft Master Plan: Horses Are Out; Lighted Fields Are In on September 29. I had personally confirmed with Parks & Recreation Director Frank—at the Sweetwater Community Planning Group on September 2—that the Rohr Park Horse Arena would remain in the new Master Plan.

[Update: At the November 20 Final Master Plan Meeting, Mr. Carson denied saying the Horse Arena would remain. I reminded him that I had a recording of our public conversation. At this past Tuesday's SCPG meeting, I asked those in attendance if they remembered Mr. Carson's statement that the Rohr Park Horse Arena would not be touched. They did.]

Following are the Preliminary Goals for Rohr Park as presented by Chula Vista Parks & Rec:

On the Visioning Survey Input slide, please note that 65% of the participates live near Rohr Park. In addition, 42% visit the Park weekly while others visit several times a month and some daily.

Progression of Rohr Park Plans

Rohr Park Master Plan 1 - Workshop held on May 29, 2025 | Equestrian Arena shown on this map as item 12 | Click on image to enlarge

Rohr Park Master Plan 2 - Workshop held on August 14, 2025 | Two drafts were presented: The Light Tough and the Active Community Hub. The horse arena is shown on both maps | Click on image to enlarge

Rohr Park Master Plan 3 - Workshop held on November 20, 2025 | One draft presented with three timelines. The horse arena is no longer shown and has been replaced with lighted soccer fields | Click on image to enlarge

The Rohr Park Master Plan will be presented to Chula Vista City Council for an approval vote in January or February 2026.

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