Charles Lewis III Memorial Park exemplifies the role of open space in the pursuit of social and environmental equity. As one of the most park-deficient communities in the city of San Diego, this park offers essential access to open space in the neighborhood of City Heights.

What was once a vacant lot and site for illegal dumping has been transformed into a destination for the local residents. It has become a place to come together, socialize, celebrate and play"?uall building blocks of a thriving community. This three-acre park includes nearly one acre of restored creek habitat, leaving slightly more than two-acres for active uses. The footprint of the park is significantly constrained by an arterial road to the west, a creek channel to the east, and multifamily development to the north and south. The site is also bisected by a tributary of Auburn Creek, effectively creating two independent park sites. The constrained and linear nature of the site presented an opportunity to strategically distribute amenities along a central circulation spine, creating a series of interconnected activity hubs throughout the park.

The park epitomizes a community-based grassroots effort. The creation of the park was inspired after its namesake, the late Charles Lewis III, a former city council member who was a consistent and passionate advocate for under-served communities. The park was brought to fruition by the combined efforts of his family, the city and community leaders. The city obtained $2.8 million in grant funding to make the project a reality. The community was engaged throughout the master planning, which included focused stakeholder meetings with numerous community organizations.