Experts propose phased ‘green corridor’ reuse for underutilized ramps and pocket farms in National City

National City received a set of short-, mid- and long-term recommendations this week from a technical assistance panel (TAP) convened by the Urban Land Institute in partnership with San Diego State University, aimed at turning underused freeway ramps, brownfield parcels and community gardens into connected green and community spaces.

The TAP study, presented to the City Council, focused on two adjacent areas the panel labeled “Joe’s Pocket Farm” and “Matayum.” Panelists proposed immediate, low‑cost actions such as trash cleanup, improvement of pedestrian paths and temporary programming; mid‑term treatments including a road diet, controlled intersections, diagonal parking and vendor/activation space; and a long‑term vision that could include reconfiguring or repurposing Caltrans ramps into green space and multi‑modal connections.

“Some of the recommendations include short-term cleanups and pop-up community events, and longer-term opportunities to reconfigure underutilized ramps into a green corridor,” said Chris Clark, executive director of Urban Land Institute San Diego–Tijuana, at the council presentation. Jonathan Sanchez, a senior transportation engineer with Sierra Associates who joined the TAP, highlighted mobility measures such as improved pedestrian crossings and transit stop coordination.

City staff said the work is part of an ongoing Brownfields Assessment Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and confirmed the grant term has been extended through October 2026. Martin Reeder, acting director of community development, said the TAP is part of environmental site assessment and reuse-planning activities funded by the Brownfields program.

Community partners who spoke during public comment praised the TAP’s recommendations and urged the city to move quickly to secure additional funding. Janice Luna Rinoso, founder and executive director of Mundo Gardens, said the TAP and a newly awarded planning grant will help bridge communities across the 805 freeway and link pocket farms into a broader green belt. “We did get the federal grant finally rolling — it’s a $2,000,000 planning grant,” she said, adding that the timeline for a visioning process will stretch through 2027.

Randy Torres Van Vleck, working with Mundo Gardens, described the history of freeway construction through neighborhoods and said the project offers an opportunity to redress historic displacement: “It’s been a lifelong vision for a lot of us…. this is a rebirth and an opportunity to tell that story,” he said.

Panelists noted the sites’ challenges — proximity to freeway ramps, legacy industrial uses and contamination risk — but argued those constraints also make the sites strong candidates for environmental assessment, remediation, and community-led reuse. Allison Lee of MIG, a heritage conservationist and urban planner on the TAP, recommended short-term activation strategies such as pop-up markets, compost workshops and temporary art, with mid-term options including active recreation spaces that can tolerate more noise (e.g., skate parks) and long-term concepts modeled on examples such as the Bloomingdale Trail in Chicago.

Council members and staff underscored the need for close coordination with Caltrans, SANDAG and county partners for funding and permitting. Councilmember comments praised the TAP for visuals and for convening regional expertise; staff said the recommendations will help frame follow-up planning and grant applications.

What’s next Staff said they will use the TAP recommendations as part of Brownfields-funded reuse planning and to support future grant applications. The city and community partners plan a multi‑year visioning process; Janice Luna Rinoso and partners said the $2 million federal planning grant will support community outreach and a public vision through 2027.

Attributions Quotes and attributions in this article come from the council meeting record and TAP presenters: Chris Clark (Urban Land Institute), Michael Taktai (Kaiser Marston Associates / ULI TAP vice chair), Jonathan Sanchez (Sierra Associates), Allison Lee (MIG), Martin Reeder (Acting Director, Community Development), Janice Luna Rinoso (Mundo Gardens) and Randy Torres Van Vleck (community partner).