San Diego Unseen: An Urban Portrait
The current state of Friendship Park certainly isn't very friendly - Photo by Kinsee Morlan
On Jan. 4, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin along with San Diego Sector Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent Paul Beeson and Acting Division Chief Kelly Good met with border activists and members of the Friends of Friendship Park.
Jerry Conlin, a spokesperson for San Diego Sector Border Patrol, said it was an informal meeting that lasted about half an hour.
"They discussed the upcoming plans to renovate the area surrounding the monument at Border Field State Park," Conlin says. "Commissioner Bersin listened to the community members as they spoke about their personal experiences regarding the area. There was no media present."
I recently wrote about the new Friends of Friendship Park design proposal. In the story, Border Patrol spokesperson Steven Pitts says the design is currently with the Army Corps of Engineers.
“It’s being looked at seriously,” said Pitts.
At the local level, Conlin said the discussions regarding the renovations continue, but he said he could not confirm that the Friend's design would be used.
"The process by which plans are approved can be lengthy and I can’t say if outside plans are going to be included," Conlin said. "Because it is still in the discussion and planning stage, I can’t give details or time frame or even funding information."
