Restoring Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead Park

By Tim Jachlewski Jr., ASLA - President, In-Site Landscape Architecture, Inc.

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Comprehensive Site Master Plan -San Dieguito River Park in San Diego includes the following elements:???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+
11.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Historic Sikes Adobe and Windmill
12.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Period-style Multi-Use Event Barn with Restrooms
13.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Outdoor Event Space
14.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Shade Canopies and Picnic Tables
15.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Community Garden: (28) 4'x12' plots with fencing
16.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Community Orchard
17.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Entry Signage
18.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+ADA and Staff Parking
19.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+ADA and Visitor Parking
10.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Multi-Use Space: Parking, Large Events,
Farmer's Market
11.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Stabilized Decomposed Granite Paths
12.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Berm with Native Vegetative Screening
13.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Native Vegetation Water Quality Feature
14.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Prefabricated Trail Bridge
15.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Groundskeeper Mobile Home: Screen from
Key Areas
16.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Directional Signage
17.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Wheat Fields
18.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Chicken Coop, Shed, Livestock Pens, Cattle Chute
19.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+CA Native Grape (Propagated from historic stock)
20.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Pumpkin Patch
21.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Bee Hives
22.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Equestrian Trailer Parking (3 Spaces

In order to assist the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy achieve their vision for the Farmstead, and as a matching pro-bono contribution to the San Diego ASLA Community Grant, In-Site Landscape Architecture, Inc. prepared a comprehensive site master plan that will guide future improvements to the site and help jump start awareness and additional funding for the project.

Tim Jachlewski, licensed landscape architect, worked closely on the master plan with the museum manager and the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority.

The pro-bono master plan by In-Site Landscape Architecture, Inc. was completed in August 2012, and the $5,000 ASLA community grant implementation will begin in 2013.
Photos Courtesy of In-Site Landscape Architecture, Inc.

Along the Coast to Crest Trail reach near Lake Hodges in San Diego, the 1870's Sikes Adobe Farmhouse has been recently rebuilt after the 2007 wildfire. However, the site itself is largely underutilized and in disrepair. Native plants along the trail give way to invasive weeds across a large portion of the land. Sightlines to the self-storage business across the street and gas station on Via Rancho Parkway to the north detract from the natural character of the River Park and much of the property is bare soil.

???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+The comprehensive master plan capitalized on the cherished existing assets such as the Historic Sikes Adobe, Coast to Crest Trail and Surrounding Natural Open Space while maximizing the site's potential for programming and new amenities.

The recently awarded $5,000 San Diego chapter ASLA Community Grant is intended to educate and enhance community awareness of the profession of landscape architecture as well as to provide a benefit to the community or environment.