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Council authorizes covenant with Caltrans to advance Boston Avenue Linear Park in Barrio Logan
Summary
The council unanimously approved a covenant with Caltrans allowing transfer of roughly 2.5 acres near I‑5 to the city for a multimodal path and park; council and community speakers highlighted $29.5 million in Climate Communities grant funding (including $3.9M toward Boston Avenue construction).
The San Diego City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 9 to authorize the mayor or designee to sign a covenant with the California Department of Transportation that clears a key step for the Boston Avenue Linear Park project in Barrio Logan.
Mary Carlson of the city’s economic development real estate team described the proposal: Caltrans would relinquish approximately 2.5 acres of right‑of‑way along I‑5 (bounded by Boston Ave., 29th and 32nd streets) to the city for continued transportation use — specifically a 12‑foot multimodal bicycle and pedestrian path — and Caltrans has invested $3,160,000 in predevelopment site improvements funded by Clean California.
Britney Bailey of the mayor’s office said the parcel’s prior acquisition used federal funds, which required Federal Highway Administration oversight. Bailey told council that the council must sign a covenant prior to Caltrans’ taking the item to the California Transportation Commission for final relinquishment approval. The covenant documents the city’s commitment to maintain the property for transportation use and contains a reversion clause that would return the land to Caltrans if that use ceases. City staff reported completion of Phase I and II environmental studies with no additional concerns.
Community partners urged approval. Christiana de Benedict of the San Diego Foundation said her organization helped secure $29,500,000 in Climate Communities grant funding from the California Strategic Growth Council, and that the grant includes $3,900,000 for construction of Boston Avenue Park. “This underserved community has been waiting for over 40 years for a park at this site,” she said.
Councilmember Vivian Moreno, whose district includes the site, moved to advance the covenant; colleagues praised community persistence and the interagency collaboration with Caltrans and state partners. The council approved the motion 8–0 with one absence recorded.
What happens next: the city will sign the covenant if approved and Caltrans will take the relinquishment to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) for final approval, after which park construction funding and design steps can proceed.
