The Uptown Community Plan Update Advisory Committee (CPUAC) held its monthly meeting on May 26, where it discussed an updated plan for the Uptown community, which includes Hillcrest and Banker’s Hill, for public facilities, parks and recreation.

Priority topics included updates on current projects in development as well as future parks and recreation projects.

Tim Nguyen, of the City Planning & Community Investment Department, elaborated on current development impact fees available for maintenance for the Uptown community.

Major projects in development include: Olive Street acquisition and development; maintenance on First Avenue bridge; and joint-use community parks for Birney and Roosevelt schools.

Park Designer Todd Schmit and Park & Recreation Project Officer Deborah Sharpe shared slides on current projects and improvements in the works with various Uptown community parks and recreation centers.

Some current improvements in the works are Grant Elementary school joint-use park and recreation centers like the Bud Kearns pool in Balboa Park, which is the closest public pool to the Uptown community and one of 18 pools in the city.

Future projects also include Birney Elementary and Roosevelt Middle school joint-use parks.

CPUAC member and Uptown resident Ann Garwood expressed concern about the lack of park development in Hillcrest. “We have Birney and Roosevelt parks…. How far down will the list go before we see something in Hillcrest?” she said.

According to the information Schmit and Sharpe provided, both the Birney and Roosevelt park projects are “shared facility with greater North Park.”

Fire Chief Javier Mainar was also present and discussed public services relating to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. Currently, there are three fire-rescue facilities that service the Uptown community.

Regarding the lack of parking and the high amount of “red spots,” or fire lanes, in the community, “public safety, in my mind, comes before anything else,” said Mainar.

A “Community Mapping Exercise,” where community and committee members could actively discuss and engage in identifying potential locations for park and recreation opportunities was executed.

The Uptown community plan area covers Bankers Hill, Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Middletown, the Medical Complex, Park West and University Heights neighborhoods.

CPUAC will hold its next open mic meeting on June 7 for members of the community to discuss the issues and hear from various community organizations. For more information, visit the city of San Diego’s website at www.sandiego.gov or Uptown planner’s website at www.uptownplanners.org.