Part 2: Finally . . . Someone Might Be Paying Attention to Bonita Residents About the Horse Arena

Earlier, I wrote an article about the Park & Recreation Commission Meeting. In "Finally . . . Someone Might Be Paying Attention to Bonita Residents About the Horse Arena", I told you about the room being filled with people against the removal of the Rohr Park Horse Arena.

Great meeting but terrible acoustics, you could barely hear what was being said. With Director Carson and the Commissioners' backs to the audience, it was almost impossible to hear what was going on. I was especially interested in what was said to Mr. Carson that got him so upset. I could see the redness seep into his ears as I sat behind him.

Director Frank Carson's face noticeably reddens when the Park & Recreation Commissioners motion and second an item on keeping the arena | Click on images to enlarge

Frustrated at not being able to hear the discussion in full, I went looking on the City's website for whatever I could find. And lo and behold, I came across an audio capturing the entire event, start to finish.

The audio for the 12.11.2025 special meeting can be found here. Click on the last item . . . 2025.12.11PRCSpecial. It is a Commission recording and very clear.

Presentation 5.3 Rohr Park Master Plan Informational Update by Director Carson

Public Comments (86) [16 in support, 66 opposed, 7 neutral]

Director Frank Carson's Presentation

"Chula Vista City has 85 multipurpose fields and only one equestrian arena. Removing the arena would waste taxpayer money by destroying a facility that is actively used, historically valued, and deeply needed. For more than 40 years, families have created memories there.. parents teaching children to ride, and now grandparents teaching grandchildren. The arena is also a proven large-animal evacuation site during wildfires, an essential public-safety resource that no multipurpose field can replace. Equity matters.. 75% of equestrian participants are female, and eliminating the arena removes one of the few park facilities that serves this demographic. As Winston Churchill said, 'There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a person.' Please keep the Rohr Park horse arena for future generations."—Darrell Jett in written Public Comment

Presidents and members of Bonita Valley Horsemen (BVH), Lakeside Frontier Riders (LFR), and Tijuana River Valley Equestrian Association (TRVEA) along with many backyard horse owners showed a strong presence. This may have been the beginning of a turning point of the issue concerning the retaining of the Rohr Park Horse Arena. Fingers crossed.

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