San Diego’s Old Town Native Demonstration Garden

San Diego’s Old Town is located just south of the San Diego River. This river was extremely important to native tribes, like the Kumeyaay that originally populated the area. The Presidio stands just to the east, the first known European settlement in California. And the famous San Diego Mission is not far up the river, also attesting to the importance of this river in the development of the region.

If Balboa Park’s native demonstration garden was underwhelming, Old Town’s was quite the opposite. They designated an entire community park to it, called “Tipay Kumeyaay Mut Niihepok: Land of the First People.” It is highly visible to anyone either visiting Old Town as a tourist, or making use of the much utilized Old Town Train Station.

When I lived in San Diego, I had a lot of gripes about Old Town; it wasn’t a spot we went to often. But my biggest gripe had to do with the massive mall space, a huge ahistoric lawn that belied the fact that Old Town was always conceived of as a tourist attraction, never as a true memorial to history.

Unfortunately, although highly visible, it isn’t located in a spot that is likely to be visited by tourists. A little bit of parking in the vicinity will bring some foot traffic, but most tourists will likely keep to the south, where the shops and restaurants are located. Still, I saw a number of locals out for a stroll, even in such early morning hours when I visited.

The landscaping around the shops and restaurants is purely succulents and exotics, but at least now there is a vibrant homage to the original, natural landscaping that once occupied that land.

The garden possesses beautiful specimens of California fuchsia, San Diego sagebrush, San Diego sunflowers, honey mesquite and California sycamores.

I witnessed several birds making use of the California fuchsia and sages, something not always seen at demonstration gardens that are perhaps not large enough to overcome their highly trafficked surroundings.

Although highly visible, it isn’t located in a spot that is likely to be visited by tourists. A little bit of parking in the vicinity will bring some foot traffic, but most tourists will likely keep to the south, where the shops and restaurants are located.

The garden is on Calhoun Street in San Diego, California 92110.