 |
"MY BIKE" - ARNOS ROBINSON
CORONADO TIDELANDS PARK |
There are 21 public parks along the San Diego Bay, all
with beautiful views. My goal is to visit, photograph, and write
about each one—riding my bike along the way. Most are located on
the 24-mile San Diego Bayshore Bikeway.
The more than 240 acres of parkland are managed by the
Port of San Diego which provided a list and map on their website to
guide my journey.
On-leash dogs are welcome and alcohol is not permitted
without a special permit. Hours are 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. All
require permits for groups of 25 or more. Additional amenities vary
at each location and may include: picnic tables, play equipment,
exercise stations, fishing piers, boat launches, concessions, and
bike paths—see individual websites for details.
 |
| CORONADO FERRY LANDING |
The Coronado Landing Park, 1201 1st
Street, is located at one end of the of the San Diego Bayshore
Bikeway; this is where I will begin. It sits adjacent to the Coronado
Ferry Landing Pier which is the arrival and departure point for
ferries that transport hundreds of visitors and commuters daily
between downtown San Diego and Coronado. It is the park with the most
spectacular view of the downtown skyline and is usually busy,
especially on weekends. There are a couple of benches, concrete
walls, and grasslands for sitting with a nice view. It's a good place
for people-watching; visitors come from all over the world and speak
many languages. The 377-foot pier is popular for fishing.
The Landing offers many shops and restaurants, as well
as an area with a waterfall, palm trees and tables to enjoy a meal or
snack. A farmer's market is held here every Tuesday from 2:30 to 6:00
pm. This is also the setting of free Sunday afternoon concerts. They
are held year-round, featuring a variety of local musicians and
venues from jazz to pop.
 |
| CENTENNIAL PARK |
For a little more serenity and history, take a short
walk north to Centennial Park, site of the original Ferry Landing
Terminal. Although not officially part of the Port of San Diego
parkland, it has a great view and is more peaceful and comfortable,
with more seating available, to enjoy the panorama of downtown. I
sometimes savor a morning coffee here with the fragrance from the
spring-blooming Japanese mock orange filling the air, watching the
boats pass, and listening to the birds chirping.
At the Orange Avenue entrance, there is a lovely rose
garden where the shrubs are just starting to bloom. Next to them, is
a historical landmark: the original Coronado Ferry Ticket Booth. The
park sits in the original site of the Coronado Ferryboat Terminal
which operated ferries between San Diego and Coronado from 1886 until
the opening of the bridge in 1969. The ferries accommodated
passengers, horses, buggies, and later, automobiles. Riding these
ferries was a way of life and is a fond memory for many who lived
here at that time. In 1987, the old car ferries were replaced with
passenger ferries that now depart from the Coronado Landing Pier.
For another great view and park, stroll south about
one-half mile toward the Coronado Bridge. This waterfront path is one
of the prettiest walks in San Diego. Here you will find a spectacular
bridge view and the 22-acre Coronado Tidelands Park, 2000
Mullinex Drive, the largest San Diego Bay park.
 |
| CORONADO TIDELANDS PARK |
The park is famous for its great view of the Coronado
Bay Bridge which is particularly stunning at sunrise with the Laguna
Mountains in the background. Adding to the photographic scene are the
about 40 small sailboats that are moored here.
The park, being the largest along the bay, is especially
popular on weekends when hundreds of people gather for picnics and
sporting events. There is rarely a time that you can pass this park
without seeing some activity. It also has an exercise station where I
usually stop for push-ups when passing by.
A fascinating kinetic sculpture of a bicycle that
rotates with the wind; sitting high up on a pole overlooking the bay,
is a wonderful addition to this park. “My Bike” by Arnos Robinson
is one of the many interesting, outdoor works of art along the bay.
