Switzer Canyon
Encyclopedia
Switzer Canyon is a canyon
in San Diego, California
. It is situated to the east of Balboa Park and serves as the boundary between the neighborhoods of North Park
and South Park
in Central San Diego
. Switzer Canyon remains an oasis of natural vegetation between some of the city's most urban neighborhoods and is a prime example of San Diego county's unique canyon-laced topography.
and University Avenue. To accommodate transit between these quickly developing neighborhoods, the 30th Street trolley bridge, a wood and steel truss bridge
, was built in 1908.
In 1956, the aging original bridge was demolished and replaced in 1957 with the 30th Street causeway
that remains to this day. This causeway was constructed of landfill material that was transferred from Nile Street in North Park, and its poor soil conditions allowed few plants to grow. Since 1957, Switzer Canyon has been divided in half by this fill dirt, except for a drainage tunnel connecting the eastern and western halves.
In 1998, the city planned to build a sewer line maintenance road along the floor of the canyon. A grassroots organization of residents of North Park and South Park teamed up with the Sierra Club
to both protect the canyon and rehabilitate its wildlife habitat. The Friends of Switzer Canyon organization became a model for what is now over 40 groups dedicated to canyon preservation in San Diego county, and continues to organize canyon cleanups and invasive species removal events. Between 2000 and 2005, the group installed information kiosks along the trails on the canyon floor, and the western slope of the 30th Street
causeway was rehabilitated with native plants that mitigate storm erosion.
Managed by the city of San Diego's parks department, today Switzer Canyon has 2 walking trails and 3 trailheads.
habitat that shelters the threatened California Gnatcatcher
. It is also home to dusky-footed woodrats
, rabbits, coyotes
, and numerous indigenous plant species including Yerba Santa
, Black Sage
, and Evening Primrose
.
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. It is situated to the east of Balboa Park and serves as the boundary between the neighborhoods of North Park
North Park, San Diego, California
North Park is a neighborhood in San Diego, California, USA. It is situated to the northeast of Balboa Park, bounded on the north by the canyons overlooking Mission Valley, on the south by Switzer Canyon and the South Park neighborhood, on the east by Interstate 805 and City Heights, and on the...
and South Park
South Park, San Diego, California
Central portion of San Diego and neighborhood boundariesSouth Park is a neighborhood in San Diego, California located east of Balboa Park, and borne out of its southern neighbor Golden Hill. "South Park" is also north of Grant Hill and south of North Park, the boundary being Juniper Street...
in Central San Diego
Central San Diego
Central San Diego is an urban region in San Diego, California. It comprises the core urban neighborhoods surrounding Balboa Park and Downtown San Diego...
. Switzer Canyon remains an oasis of natural vegetation between some of the city's most urban neighborhoods and is a prime example of San Diego county's unique canyon-laced topography.
History
San Diego's first suburbs began appearing in the late 19th century, including South Park in 1870 and North Park in 1893. In 1905, the Bartlett Webster developing company extended streetcar service through South Park, ushering in a period of rapid growth. Also in 1905, North Park's first high-rise, known today as the Western Dental Building, was built on the corner of 30th Street30th Street (San Diego)
30th Street is a major north-south road in San Diego, California on the east side of Balboa Park. It connects several of the densest urban communities of Central San Diego and has a high rate of pedestrian activity...
and University Avenue. To accommodate transit between these quickly developing neighborhoods, the 30th Street trolley bridge, a wood and steel truss bridge
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
, was built in 1908.
In 1956, the aging original bridge was demolished and replaced in 1957 with the 30th Street causeway
Causeway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
that remains to this day. This causeway was constructed of landfill material that was transferred from Nile Street in North Park, and its poor soil conditions allowed few plants to grow. Since 1957, Switzer Canyon has been divided in half by this fill dirt, except for a drainage tunnel connecting the eastern and western halves.
Preservation
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, different proposals for developing sections of the canyon were floated before the city council. The Burlingame Homeowners' Association formed in 1980 with a primary objective of canyon preservation. All development proposals eventually failed, and in 1987 Switzer Canyon was purchased as an open space preserve by the city of San Diego.In 1998, the city planned to build a sewer line maintenance road along the floor of the canyon. A grassroots organization of residents of North Park and South Park teamed up with the Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
to both protect the canyon and rehabilitate its wildlife habitat. The Friends of Switzer Canyon organization became a model for what is now over 40 groups dedicated to canyon preservation in San Diego county, and continues to organize canyon cleanups and invasive species removal events. Between 2000 and 2005, the group installed information kiosks along the trails on the canyon floor, and the western slope of the 30th Street
30th Street (San Diego)
30th Street is a major north-south road in San Diego, California on the east side of Balboa Park. It connects several of the densest urban communities of Central San Diego and has a high rate of pedestrian activity...
causeway was rehabilitated with native plants that mitigate storm erosion.
Managed by the city of San Diego's parks department, today Switzer Canyon has 2 walking trails and 3 trailheads.
Wildlife
Switzer Canyon is a coastal sage scrubCoastal sage scrub
Coastal sage scrub is a low scrubland plant community found in the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion of coastal California and northern Baja California. It is characterized by low-growing aromatic, and drought-deciduous shrubs adapted to the semi-arid Mediterranean climate of the...
habitat that shelters the threatened California Gnatcatcher
California Gnatcatcher
The California Gnatcatcher, Polioptila californica, is a small 10.8 cm long insectivorous bird which frequents dense coastal sage scrub growth...
. It is also home to dusky-footed woodrats
Dusky-Footed Woodrat
The Dusky-footed Woodrat is a species of nocturnal rodent in the family Cricetidae. They are commonly called "packrats" or "trade rats" and build large, domed dens that can reach several feet in height. Coyotes and other predators will attempt to prey on these rodents by laying waste to the dens,...
, rabbits, coyotes
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
, and numerous indigenous plant species including Yerba Santa
Eriodictyon californicum
Eriodictyon californicum is a species of plant within the Hydrophyllaceae family. It is also known as Yerba Santa, Mountain Balm, Consumptive's Weed and Bear Weed.-Distribution:...
, Black Sage
Black Sage
Salvia mellifera is a small, highly aromatic, evergreen shrub of the genus Salvia native to California, and Baja California, Mexico. It is common in the coastal sage scrub of Southern California and northern Baja California...
, and Evening Primrose
Evening Primrose
Evening Primrose is a musical with a book by James Goldman and lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim. It is based on a John Collier short story published in the 1951 collection Fancies and Goodnights....
.
See also
- 30th Street (San Diego)30th Street (San Diego)30th Street is a major north-south road in San Diego, California on the east side of Balboa Park. It connects several of the densest urban communities of Central San Diego and has a high rate of pedestrian activity...
- Balboa Park
- North Park, San DiegoNorth Park, San Diego, CaliforniaNorth Park is a neighborhood in San Diego, California, USA. It is situated to the northeast of Balboa Park, bounded on the north by the canyons overlooking Mission Valley, on the south by Switzer Canyon and the South Park neighborhood, on the east by Interstate 805 and City Heights, and on the...
- South Park, San DiegoSouth Park, San Diego, CaliforniaCentral portion of San Diego and neighborhood boundariesSouth Park is a neighborhood in San Diego, California located east of Balboa Park, and borne out of its southern neighbor Golden Hill. "South Park" is also north of Grant Hill and south of North Park, the boundary being Juniper Street...