Chicano Park Steering Committee

P.O. Box 131050
San Diego, CA 92170

(619) 994-1345

email

---

CPSC BOARD MEMBERS:

Chair Por Vida: Tommie Camarillo Chair: Lucas Cruz                              Vice-Chair: Tonantzin 'Cina' Sanchez Secretary: Jessica Petrikowski Treasurer: Isabel Sanchez                 Sgt-at-Arms: Joe Le Blanc

TOURS:

Please email the CPSC  cpscchicanopark70@gmail.com

@ChicanoPark_Official

The Chicano Park Steering Committee

The Chicano Park Steering Committee YouTube Channel

---

CPSC website hosted by:

Free Public Wi-Fi Available in Chicano Park, Select Network 'SDAccess4All'

Link to Chicano Park calendar

CPSC monthly meetings, open to all (but only members vote), are held on the 4th Sunday of the month, 3pm. No general CPSC meeting in April.The next meeting will be held on Sunday, May 26, 2024 at 3pm in the Kiosco.

Please join us on Saturday, April 27, 2024, 11am for the unveiling of the recently restored/revitalized mural, Sueño Serpentino. Socorro Gamboa initially created the mural in 1977. Restoration work was recently completed by Gamboa with the help of Zulema Jimenez and Glory Galindo Sanchez. Blessing by Danza Calpulli Mexihca.

 54th Chicano Park Day April 20, 2024 

The 54th Chicano Park Day commemoration was held on Saturday, April 20, 2024, 9am to 4pm. This year's theme was 'Bringing Back the True Spirit and Energy of the Chicano Park Takeover'. Poster sketch was created by Jose Olague based on this theme and Ray Flores added the text and overall graphic design. Visitors to Chicano Park Day experienced traditional music and dance, including one of the most largest performances of Aztec Indigenous dance (thanks to Calpulli Mexihca for coordinating), lowrider exhibition, performers, children's art workshops, arts and crafts vendors. Thanks to all the organizing committee members, speakers (Herman Baca was the keynote speaker), performers and the countless volunteers who contributed to this year's commemoration.

Every year the community of Logan Heights, the greater community of San Diego and gente throughout the Southwest and across the U.S., gather to commemorate the takeover of Chicano Park on the Saturday closest to April 22nd. Chicano Park has been listed on the Historical Landmarks Registry, (San Diego Historical Resources Board) since 1980, California Register of Historical Resources since 1997, officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 23, 2013, and designated a National Historic Landmark on December 23, 2016.

*NO ALCOHOL AND NO PETS are allowed at the event. Thank you for your cooperation.*

54th Chicano Park Day Program (2024)

53rd Chicano Park Day Program (2023)

  Instagram 

Facebook

YouTube Channel

La Virgen de Guadalupe Mural Restoration Completed

As part of the Chicano Park Mural Restoration Project 2023-2024, the La Virgen de Guadalupe mural restoration has been completed. Mario Torero first painted La Virgen in 1978 and Mario and the restoration team have now renovated the mural and added new wings during this revitalization of his work. The mural unveiling/dedication took place on December 10, 2023. Shown below (left to right) is La Virgen mural before restoration, after restoration, unveiling celebration and blessing, detail of mural with artist information.

Little Amal at Chicano Park

Little Amal is a 12ft. puppet of  a 10 year old Syrian refugee child. She has become a global symbol of human rights, especially those of refugees. Little Amal carries a message of hope for displaced people everywhere, especially children who have been separated from their families.Between September 7 and November 26, 2023, Amal is journeying 9,000 miles across the United States and Mexico in one of the largest free public festivals ever created. 40 towns and cities from Boston to San Diego and 7 cities from Tijuana to Tapachula will create 100+ free public events to welcome her.Since July 2021, Little Amal has travelled over 6,000 miles to 14 countries, and been welcomed by more than a million people on the street, including hundreds of artists and civil society and faith leaders, as well as by tens of millions online.

Chicano Park Mural Restoration Project

The 2023 Mural Restoration Project has now begun! We will be restoring 20 murals as well as sculptural/architectural pieces in collaboration with the original artists to ensure they can continue to educate our gente for generations to come. Murals restored to date include Jose Olague's MEChA mural Sueño Serpentino by Socorro Gamboa, Tribute to Roger Lucero and Chicanas/Escuelas mural by the Mujeres Muralistas. Murals slated for the project in addition to those three Mural in Chicana Park, Liberación, No Retrofit, Omenaje, Che, Mexican History, Jose Gomez, Roger Lucero Mi Raza Primero, San Diego Lowrider Council Mural, Colossus, Decades of Chicano Movement, Corazón de Aztlán, Sueño Serpentino, Ball Player, Cosmic Clowns,The Rage of La Raza, Why Us?, OG Mural, Renacimiento Birth of La Raza, Bridge People, La Virgen, Laura Rodriguez, Tree of Life. In addition, sculptural/architectual works including the Kiosco, benches, the marquee, Aztlan rocks, the CPSC emblem, and the mural map stands are part of the restoration project.

Thank you to the artists, CPSC, and community who continue to help maintain our sacred place. Mural restoration graphic by @striveeze. Follow CPSC Instagram (@chicanopark_official) for mural restoration updates.

Chicanas/Escuelas Mural Unveiling October 22, 2023

Thank you to all that joined in the unveiling of the Chicanas/Escuelas by the Mujeres Muralistas, held on Sunday, October 22, 2023. The mural, originally painted in 1978, was completed and restored by Julieta Torres, Cecilia de la Torre, Martha de la Torre, Luz de la Torre, and Eve Lopez.

Sueño Serpentino Mural Restoration Completed

Sueño Serpentino, originally designed by Socorro Gamboa and painted by Felipe Adame & Roger Lucero in 1978, has now been completed and restored by Socorro Gamboa, Glory Galindo Sanchez, and Zuleima.

MEChA Mural Unveiling, September 3rd, 5 pm

Thank you to all that joined in the celebration of the unveiling of the MEChA mural along with lead artist José Olague and numerous volunteers. We are excited that José was able to finish the mural with a team of artists who helped to restore and complete his vision begun twenty years ago. Information on the unveiling and the mural for those unable to attend.

     El Cortito Mural Unveiling June 25, 2023 

Unveiling of the El Cortito Mural (lead artist, Mario Chacon along with Ariana Arroyo and Gary Hartbur) will be held on Sunday, June 25, 1-3pm.  The mural is located in Placita near the Anastasio Hernandez Rojas mural). 'Victoria Contra El Cortito' mural memorializes the banning of the banning of the short-handled hoe (el cortito) that required farmworkers to stoop rather than stand when weeding or thinning crops. El Cortito caused thousands of farm workers to suffer permanent and disabling back injury. Learn more in Maurice Jourdane' book The Struggle for the Health and Legal Protection of Farm Workers: El Cortito.

3rd Annual Chicano Park Vive! June-Aug 2023

The Chicano Park Steering Committee, the Turning Wheel Project, Via International, and the Chicano Park Museum & Cultural Center hosted a third summer of community events, including the 3rd annual Chicano Park Scholarship (K-12). Events included Youth Camp programming on June 24th (Arte, Movements, & Chican@ Identidad) and July 8th (The Science and Politics of Lowriding) and community events on July 22nd (Sin Mujeres No Hay Revolución) and August 5th (Celebrating the Spirit of Life Itself, Chicano Park Vive! Scholarship Award Ceremony). Thanks to Valerie Ruiz, 2022 Chicano Park Scholarship recipient, for use of her artwork.

Congratulations to all the Chicano Park Vive! Scholarship awardees & honorable mentions: Dora Camila Elizalde, Serenity Rodriguez, Yaretzi Ramirez, Alexis Elizabeth Honorato De La Torre, Fatima Guadalupe Ruiz, Regan Vitela-Baker, Evelyn Rose Serrano, Zoey Grande, Victor Martinez, Aubrey Amara Ros, Erick Santiago Torres, Ingrid Hernandez, Adelina Ramirez, Rylina Mangahas, Marcelino-Julio Moroyoqui Sanchez, KalisaDenise Manita Simmons, Quetzalli Luna Castillo Yanez, Kataleya Jean Simmons, Wendy Guadalupe Gonzalez Valentin, Marixela Alicia Sanchez, Paloma Silvar, Adriana Sofia Torres, TreDesiderio Simmons, Janique Salas, Jarvis Navarete, Makaila Jazielle Esquivel-Fajardo, JeremiahRay Luciano Moroyoqui Simmons, Juliette Petrikowski, CobeyJoaquin Moroyoqui T.K. Simmons, Fernando Carmelo Simmons, & KeyonaMae’ Tonantzin Simmons

Grand Opening of the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center (CPMCC)

   Saturday, October 8, 2022 was the grand opening of the long-awaited Chicano Park Museum & Cultural Center! The event included the inaugural exhibition 'PILLARS: Stories of Resilience and Self-Determination," a collective historical narrative of Chicano Park and Logan Heights, Turning Wheel bus, a muralists symposium, performances in the community room, danza, mariachi, teatro & musica on the Kiosco. The Museum is open Friday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm.

More information available on the CMPCC website and Instagram @chicanopark_museum

The Spirit of Chicano Park / El Espíritu del Parque Chicano

A new bilingual children's book by Beatrice Zamora with illustrations by Maira Meza. Available in hardback and paperback from Tolteca Press. Proceeds go to the Chicano Park Steering Committee and the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center. Interview with author Bea Zamora

California funding for Chicano Park Mural Restoration and Chicano Park Museum & Cultural Center

 Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, Chicano Park muralists, and representatives of the Chicano Park Steering Committee announced Friday, July 16, 2021 that $7.5 million will go toward the museum at Chicano Park (CPMCC) and $2.5 million will fund Chicano Park mural restorations. Photo: Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, muralist Berenice Badillo (her mural is backdrop), and CPSC members Diane, Josie, Tommie, Annie, Rocky, and Isabel.  

        

---

Chicano Park Herb Garden

The Chicano Park Herb Garden is a collective community herbal garden for healing, restoring, learning, working and playing. Firmly rooted in the park's history, the garden is a testament to the vision and resolve of the Barrio Logan community. Established in 2015, the garden is the realization of a need to create safe, healthy, and open spaces for local families and visitors alike. Environmental Health Coalition (EHC), a non-profit organization fighting social and environmental justice in the region's low-income communities of color for more than 39 years, had been listening to community request for such a garden space in the park. The land parcel for the garden project is located next to the cactus garden adjacent to 'Return of Quetzalcoatl' mural. An active group of volunteers ranging from Barrio Logan community members, local business owners, area organizations, college/universities, and local K-12 schools, to people just walking by and lending a hand, maintain the Chicano Park Herb Garden. While EHC serves as a co-sponsor and coordinator of the space, the CPSC oversee all aspects of the park.

During the spring and summer, EHC coordinates free public events at the garden so community members can learn about gardening, soil amending, green spaces, and how building open spaces like the herb garden connects community members to each other, the natural world, and to environmental justice. The Chicano Park Herb Garden is a work in progress, constantly evolving in the hands of dedicated caretakers such as Jiapsi Gomez and the Gohlke family. A new mural project is currently underway, and if approved, will be the biggest in the park. This new mural's title, "Haawka: May the Fire in Your Heart Burn Bright" -- is a traditional Kumeyaay greeting. It represents the history of the Kumyaay, indigenous people of Southern and Baja California. True to the vision behind the Chicano Park Herb Garden, the mural presents visitors with an invitation to experience the community garden and live life in harmony with nature. EHC looks forward to sharing the mural with the community. Jorge Gonzalez is the Barrio Logan Organizer with EHC. If you are interested in volunteering or a group visit, please email him at JorgeG@environmentalhealth.org

---

Chicano Park approved for National Historic Landmark status

Chicano Park was founded on April 22, 1970 when the community of Logan Heights and Chicano movement activists joined forces to protest the construction of a California Highway Patrol station on the present site of the park. The CHP office was at the time the final insult to a community that had already been degraded by the demolition of hundreds of homes to make way for Interstate 5, the construction of the Coronado Bridge, the placement of toxic industries & junkyards, lack of community facilities, proper schools, jobs, social or medical services.

Protesters led by the Brown Berets, community activists, artists, M.E.Ch.A. and others took over the site and faced police and bulldozers for days while negotiations took place that resulted in the land being given over for a community park. In the following days and months similar actions by the same groups led to the forming of a Chicano Free Clinic, now known as the Logan Heights Family Health Center, and the Centro Cultural de la Raza in Balboa Park.

The struggle for Chicano Park came to symbolize the Chicano Mexicano people's struggle for self-determination and self-empowerment. The murals in the park painted by Chicano artists such as Victor Ochoa, Mario Torero, Yolanda Lopez, José Montoya, Sal Barajas, Juanishi Orosco, Berenice Badillo, Carmen Linares Kalo and many others portray the social, political and cultural issues that form the struggle for the liberation of Chicano Mexicanos.

Chicano Park has received international recognition as a major public art site. Since 1980, the Park has been listed on the Historical Landmarks Registry (San Diego Historical Resources Board), since 1997 on the California Register of Historical Resources. In addition, Chicano Park was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 23, 2013, and was recently designated a National Historic Landmark on December 23, 2016.

Every year the community of Barrio Logan, the greater community of San Diego and people throughout the Southwest and across the US come together to celebrate the takeover of Chicano Park.

       

---

53rd Chicano Park Day (April 22, 2023) Printed Program

Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center website

'Chicano Park 51: Healing our Past, Educating the Present, Leading into our Future' (YouTube playlist)

Chicano Park @ 50 Renewal & Self Determination Through Poster Art Exhibition (USD, CPMCC)

Video (pt 1) of the 2010 Chicano Park Day celebration by Rico Bueno

Video (pt 2) of the 2010 Chicano Park Day celebration by Rico Bueno 

Video from 2010 Chicano Park Day

Slideshow from the 2006 Chicano Park Day celebration

---

.