What used to be a quiet, shuttered Sears parking lot next to Chula Vista Center is officially turning into something a lot more cheerful. On Thursday, Chula Vista city leaders joined developer CalWest to break ground on Citrus Bay Park, a half-acre, citrus-themed pocket park that will sit at the center of the new Citrus Bay townhome community on the former Sears parcel near the mall.
City planners describe the ground-breaking as the first visible sign of new public open space tied to the broader Chula Vista Bayfront transformation, a long-range plan that mixes parks, housing and resort-style amenities along the shoreline. The park’s play areas and color palette are designed to nod to Chula Vista’s citrus-growing past, with orange- and lemon-shaped play features and a large focal tree intended to anchor community gatherings.
Park design and amenities
In a city news release, the City of Chula Vista said Citrus Bay Park was designed with community input and developed in coordination with the Parks and Recreation Department. The city describes the park as a half-acre space that will include orange- and lemon-inspired playground elements for younger children, open lawn areas, walking trails, shade structures with barbecue spots, a central gathering plaza, fitness equipment and a large focal tree.
According to the City of Chula Vista, the concept is meant to honor the South Bay’s agricultural history while functioning as a compact public square where neighbors can meet up, relax and play.
Housing next door
The park is directly tied to the Citrus Bay residential project, a CalWest-led conversion of the roughly 13.35-acre former Sears site into 244 for-sale townhomes in two product types. According to CalWest, the plan includes both two-story motor-court homes and three-story attached residences, with homes ranging from about 1,800 to more than 2,000 square feet…