Rohr Park Draft Master Plan: Horses Are Out; Lighted Fields Are In
- Guest
- Sep 29
- 3 min read
At Friday’s movies in the park event, the City of Chula Vista had their Rohr Park Draft Master Plan display board. That display board revealed the future of Rohr Park and the Chula Vista Golf Course to the public or in their words, “vision of what the park could look like.” The City has not yet shared the various project improvement costs to achieve this vision. These improvements (illustrated on paper) would not become reality until the City finds funding for them over the next 10 years.
The City of Chula Vista’s focus is to serve their residents and this draft plan is “a win” for them. Yet, the residents who live nearby are mostly unincorporated County residents. Currently, public transportation to Rohr Park does not exist. Last week, the City unleashed a remodel analogy into the press. Yet, for those of us who live nearby, this draft master plan does not represent a “makeover” or simple refresh of the existing park. It is a huge transformation, the equivalent to your neighbor turning their single family home into a 6-story residential tower.
I think we can all agree that this new vision would require Chula Vista residents to drive to Rohr Park. The only access to the park is from the county-maintained Sweetwater Road. Yet, the potential traffic impacts on Sweetwater Road are not a part of this visioning process. That would come later apparently during project implementation. Does this draft master plan identify enough additional parking spots to support that new (largely undefined) Recreation Center at the boarded-up Rohr Manor site and the other active recreation? Parking is “a problem” today without all the new activities according to the Parks and Recreation Department.
The Parks and Recreation Department initially provided two park vision alternatives, the Light Touch and the Active Community Hub. Staff’s recommended draft master plan is a version of the Active Community Hub. The Economic Development Department provided the proposed golf course improvements that appear in the draft master plan. That departmental responsibility aligns with the golf course being City-owned land (not park land.) One of the Economic Development Department’s goals is to maximize the City’s assets. A third party operates the golf course for the City today. However, City Council can change land use with a General Plan amendment.
Projects that were included in the earlier Active Community Hub alternative:
ADA trail (to the Eucalyptus Grove)
Amphitheater
Archery range
Central Plaza
Expanded parking
Fitness - play area along the trail
Live Steamers Upgrades
Maintenance Yard Relocation
More trees throughout the site
More shade structures
Naturalized drainage channels
Nature play area
Pickleball + Tennis Courts
Reseeded fields
Resized softball fields
Rohr Manor inspired Recreation Center
Pump Track
Soccer fields
Upgrade young children’s playground
Projects that were not in the earlier Active Community Hub alternative:
[Golf] Clubhouse + Shop Renovation
Covered Connection Path [“safe” river crossing across the golf course]
Enhanced Ponds
Enhanced [Sweetwater] River Corridor
Lights [for 2 soccer fields and 2 ballfields]
Pedestrian bridges [over naturalized drainage channels]
Screening shrubs and trees [on the west end]
Skate park [+ pump track]
Splash pad
[Please forgive me if I missed a thing or two. That Rohr Park Draft Master Plan poster board had a lot going on. Given the display, the plan was impossible to take in with one glance.]
Sadly, with this draft plan, the horse arena, which holds memories for many, will be going away. That area has been reprogrammed as soccer fields with lights.
As for what comes next, this Rohr Park Draft Master Plan will be presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission in December at a special meeting.* The City Council would then be scheduled to approve the master plan shortly thereafter.
For questions or more information, contact Project Manager, Frank Carson at fcarson@chulavistaca.gov.
Or leave a comment and share your thoughts. Someone (or a group of someones) working for the City of Chula Vista reads what gets posted here. During a September 18th meeting, a Parks and Recreation Commissioner took exception to the golf course being described as “shabby.” Apparently, 17 of the 18 holes are “very playable.”
*According to the Brown Act, which sets legal requirements for public meetings, only 24 hours advanced notice is required for a special meeting. Regular public meetings require 72 hours advanced notice.
By Karen Henry, P.E. | September 29, 2025
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