Wilson Point Park’s 25-acre waterfront park exemplifies the “East County Renaissance” to revitalize older neighborhoods. Much of the park is on the site of a former apartment complex that became dilapidated and crime-ridden. The county bought the land through HUD in 1999. The Rec & Parks plan included a double boat ramp with piers and floating dock, boardwalk, picnic pavilions, playground, athletic field, path network and parking.
The park is across Martin Lagoon from the former Glenn Martin aircraft plant, within view of where Martin’s flying clipper ships launched. This became the impetus for a water-based aeronautical design theme. The pavilions and comfort station have curved roofs to represent airplane wings. Hangars and support trusses for the comfort station roof are visible through clear panels. Most site components have shiny metal finishes, including roofs, support beams, boardwalk handrails, benches, trashcans and bike racks.
Trellises on the main lawn and boardwalk have curved top sections and angled support posts that mimic the angles of adjacent hillsides. The trellises are located at the junctions of the 8’ and 16’ wide boardwalks at the ends of the fishing piers to emphasize the location of the piers and the transition in walk width.
A network of paved paths channel pedestrian and bike traffic and link the pavilions, playground and boardwalk with the boat ramp, overflow boat trailer parking lot and athletic field bleacher areas. A shoreline buffer incorporates native trees and shrubs and filters runoff. Two sections of the 100’ buffer are
native grasses.
The playground features blue and silver/gray equipment, with aeronautical play toys and panels. Park signs are constructed of reflective aluminum sheets on concrete panels, with holes and joint lines to imitate rivets and metal panels on airplane wings.