Mission Bay (San Diego, California)

 water, bay

Mission Bay Park is the largest man-made aquatic park in the country, consisting of 4,235 acres, approximately 46% land and 54% water. The park offers a wide range of recreational activities including paths for walking and jogging, and playgrounds for children. It is one of San Diego's most popular locations to fly a kite, picnic or sail a model yacht. Fire rings make it possible to cook out and stay warm. Mission Bay Park also offers a variety of free opportunities to the public such as professional volleyball and Over-the-Line sporting events.

Mission Bay Park was developed from the 1940’s through the 1960’s using a tidal marsh named “False Bay” by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542. The San Diego River had historically shifted its terminus from San Diego Bay to the south, to “False Bay” to the north, until 1852 when the United States Army constructed the first a dike along the south side of the river to prevent it from shifting back to San Diego Bay.

In 1944, a Chamber of Commerce committee recommended development of Mission Bay into a tourist and recreational center to help diversify the City’s economy, which was largely military. In the late 1940’s, dredging and filling operations began converting the marsh into the jewel that is today Mission Bay Park. Twenty-five millions cubic yards of sand and silt were dredged to create the land forms of the park which now is almost entirely man-made.

General Information:
Youth Campground: (858) 581-7602
Park Ranger Office: (858) 581-7602
Visitor Center: (619) 276-8200
Lifeguard: (619) 221-8899 or (619) 221-8800
Coast Guard: (619) 683-6500

www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/missionbay/i...