Happy International Women’s Day! Among the incredible parks in San Diego, there are several named after amazing women. In celebration of women everywhere, I’m sharing these parks and the women for whom they are named.
Enjoy these lovely parks and share with your child(ren) the stories of the women who made history.
Maruta Gardner Playground at Bonita Cove Park
Maruta Gardner Playground at Bonita Cove Park is an incredible playground on the water in Mission Bay. The playground at Bonita Cove was renamed in honor of Maruta Gardner, a neighborhood resident and activist. Gardner was struck and killed by a drunk driver in 2016, while she was cleaning up graffiti on a corner near Jetty Road and Mission Boulevard.
Felicita County Park
Felicita County Park in Escondido is a beautiful park. It’s named after a Native American woman named Felicita LaChappa, who helped preserve history more than a century ago. She was able to share information very few people had. You can read more about her here.
Bette Bendixen Park
Bette Bendixen Park in Poway is a small gem. The plaque at the park says “Bette was a tireless crusader for Poway’s quality of life. She served on the Poway Planning and Development Program, County Service Area #48 (Parks), Poway Valley Riders Association and Poway Incorporation Committee”. You can read much more about her here.
Christa McAuliffe Park
Christa McAuliffe Park in Mira Mesa is named after the American teacher and astronaut from Concord, New Hampshire, who was killed on the Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-51-L where she was serving as a payload specialist.
Gayle L. McCandliss Park
Gayle L. McCandliss Park in Chula Vista is named for Mayor Gayle McCandliss, who was Chula Vista ‘s second full-time mayor. She passed from colon cancer in 1991. The illness limited her tenure in office to less than a month. You can read more about her here.
Mildred MacPherson Park
Mildred MacPherson Park in Encinitas was named in honor of Mildred’s lifetime of dedication, generosity and perseverance. She donated her land on Vulcan Avenue between I and J Streets (which is now the neighborhood park) to the residents of Encinitas. Read more about Mildred here.
Kate Sessions Memorial Park
One of San Diego’s favorite parks is named for Kate O. Sessions, an American botanist, horticulturalist, and landscape architect, known as the “Mother of Balboa Park.” You can read more about Kate Sessions here.
Sienna’s PlayGarden at Rolling Hills Park
Sienna’s PlayGarden at Rolling Hills Park was created in memory of Sienna Palkovic, who passed in 2012 at just 16 months old. Her mother, Jennifer Palkovic, chair of Sienna’s PlayGarden Community Project, helped spearhead the effort to improve the park, raising more than $250,000 for the $2 million project.
Ellen Browning Scripps Park, Shoreline Parks (also known as La Jolla Cove)
This beautiful park in San Diego is named for Ellen Browning Scripps, a journalist, teacher and philanthropist who founded Scripps Memorial Hospital and Scripps Metabolic Clinic.
Ann D. L’Heureux Dog Park
Ann D. L’Heureux Dog Park in Carlsbad is named for the community member who was the driving force behind the creation of the dog park. Ann’s beloved standard poodle, Fletcher, cut the ceremonial ribbon at the park’s opening in September 2001. You can read more about Ann here.
Dolores Magdaleno Memorial Park
Dolores Magdaleno Memorial Community Park and Recreation Center in Logan Heights is named for a member of the recreation council for many years and community activist. She also worked for the San Diego Unified School District in the cafeterias. When she passed away, her sister advocated for the name change with the community and Council Districts support.
Elizabeth Rabbitt Neighborhood Park
This neighborhood park in Del Mar is named after Elizabeth Rabbitt. She is the former CEO of Sharp Medical Group and is known as one of the early pioneers of the Del Mar Mesa community. You can read more about her here.
Helen Bougher Memorial Park
Helen Bougher Memorial Park in San Marcos is named after a woman who lived in the area most of her life. You can read more about her and her family here.
Marie Widman Memorial Park
Marie Widman Memorial Park (Encanto Park) is named after Marie Widman, who was born on July 8, 1931 and raised in the City of San Diego. She first became active in the San Diego during the civil rights movement, serving as Secretary of the San Diego Branch of the NAACP from 1959 to 1966. Marie went on to several decision-making roles – including the Board of Library Commissioners for the City of San Diego, the San Diego Park and Recreation Board, Metropolitan Transit Development Board Citizen’s Advisory Committee, and San Diego City Planning Commission. She advocated for public land being turned into parks in Southeast San Diego in the 1960’s & 1970’s. Councilmen Stevens worked with the community to have the park changed from Encanto Neighborhood Park to Marie Widman Neighborhood Park in 1994
Rose Teeple Park
This newly updated park was named for Rose Teeple, a community member and former City of Imperial Beach employee.
Dorothy Petway Neighborhood Park
Dorothy Petway Neighborhood Park in South Crest is a little gem of a park. It is named for Dorothy Petway, who has lived in the Southcrest neighborhood since the 1940s and devoted much of her time to volunteering and giving back to the community.
Melba Bishop Park & Center
Melba Bishop Park and Center in Oceanside is named for former councilwoman and community leader, Melba Bishop. You can read more about her here.
Nancy Jane Park
Nancy Jane Park in El Cajon is named for Nancy Jane Cornelius, the daughter of Dollie and Barney Cornelius who donated the land for the park. You can read more about them here.
International Women's Day
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.
You can read more about International Women’s Day here.
