Save Bonita's Heritage

It is with great displeasure and disappointment that I find the master plan for Bonita is excluding the equestrian arena from the master plan and wishes to make "improvements" to our multi-use trails.

The master plan wants to put in either a new soccer field or baseball fields.

It was explained to us as gender equality. That's all well and good, but not at the destruction of our equestrian facilities and the sport/recreation we love.

The pop-up meeting plans have not been communicated with the equestrian community in Bonita. We found out by accident about the meetings. It seems that we aren't to be included therefore not heard. That needs to change please.

I grew up in Bonita since 1948. I went to Ella B Allen school, CV Jr Hi, CV and Hilltop Hi. Yep I've been around for a few years.

Altho I no longer live in Bonita I have boarded my horses at Sunnyside stable and other facilities in the Bonita area for over 50 years.

I have been a member of Bonita Valley Horsemen since 1972. Like many others I have been involved in all the activities of BVH. Including trail maintenance, horse camping at our local Sweetwater Summit Park horse camp, Cuyamaca, and Borrego's Vern Whittaker Horse Camp.

The trail from Conduit road to the horse camp is named for Mary Augustine. She was instrumental along with BVH for securing many of the multi-use trails in Bonita and throughout San Diego including the building of the horse camp with Jack Redfern of SD County Trails. All that information is at the Bonita Museum. It should be a requirement for your associates to visit the museum and understand the heritage that is strong in Bonita.

Since Bonita started out as a truck farm and lemon groves, I have seen it grow into the current wonderful rural area that it is today.

Did you know that the river bottom was once the Fesler's racehorse ranch with beautiful green pastures? Not to mention the manor house to the ranch. It was also John Esterbloom's cattle ranch and watermelon patch. And the Red Barn, just east of the Bonita Store, that was a lemon packing barn and later the Bonita Stable.

There are other large land areas in the southern and eastern parts of Chula Vista that could easily absorb more soccer fields and baseball fields.

So please do not allow the Master Plan to destroy Bonita's beautiful rural area.

Please help us save Bonita's heritage.

Respectfully,

Cindy Haltermann

By Cindy Haltermann | November 23, 2025 | Letter to Chula Vista Mayor John McCann

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