Handpicked by Locals: 31 open spaces recommended by San Diegans in 2025
Since May, The San Diego Union-Tribune has been featuring community leaders and people of interest in a variety of industries and asking their favorite places to go and local businesses to support where they live or work.
The weekly series, Handpicked By Locals, is a platform where readers can discover new places to explore. Here are the 31 open spaces — and the reasons they were chosen — that were featured in this series from the people highlighted in 2025.
Baja Canyon, College Area
In the College Area, I just love all the canyons. Whether you’re walking, driving (or) whatever, you are going through or around canyons. So many people’s houses and apartments are within sight of a canyon. But really, that’s kind of true of many neighborhoods here. The thing about living in San Diego is we’re in a year-round outdoors city, and we are fairly close to so many things.
Bird Park at Morley Field, North Park
Bird Park at Morley Field, just steps from my door, is a place I regularly walk. You can find a new path to follow every time you go. With tennis courts, a playground, archery, baseball fields and lots of open space, it seems to have something for everyone. And, while I haven’t tried the newly restored pool yet, it is on my list for this summer.
Berry Street Park, Lemon Grove
It is easy to get to and easy to enjoy. I like walking and jogging, and I spend a lot of time doing that whenever I can. I like it because I can honestly measure very easily how many steps I will get. I know if I do like five rounds around the park, I know how many steps I will get in. The park is pretty. It’s got trees. It’s got a dog park. I used to have a pet. He passed away a couple of years ago so it kind of brings good memories about him as well. There’s a playground. There are community events on a regular basis, and the park is pretty well maintained for the most part.
Chicano Park, Barrio Logan
Chicano Park stands as the epicenter of all things Logan. It’s a powerful and enduring symbol of cultural resilience, grassroots activism and artistic expression. The park is a product of people power, home to the world’s largest collection of Chicano murals. It’s a living gallery, historic yet ever evolving. I find joy in the everyday scenes in the park (such as) playing futsal with friends on the basketball courts, watching Mexican dancers burning copal (and) practicing their dances in the kiosko, lowrider meet ups, taking a walk noticing a new detail in one of the murals (and) watching the skateboarders skate the pyramids and ledges under the (San Diego-Coronado) Bridge. There’s always something happening here.
Children’s Museum Park, downtown San Diego
There is a really cute park across the street from The New Children’s Museum. It’s a great place to take kids and when my daughter was little, we spent a lot of time there. The playground items there are very artistic. They’re always adding things that are fun: It’s not just like your regular playground with swings. They have all of these things that kids can play on that are like playing on art, and I think that’s what I have always loved about it. It’s different and fun.
Cowles Mountain, San Carlos
Cowles Mountain. This answer is a little basic, but you really can’t beat it. It’s exercise that isn’t boring. Plus, rattlesnakes and maybe someone get emergency rescued here and there, thrilling.
Cuvier Park, La Jolla
I love hanging out with friends at Cuvier Park near the wedding bowl. There is truly no better view!
Daley Ranch, Escondido
Daley Ranch is one of my favorite places to mountain bike. I’ve been riding there for decades. The scenery and well-groomed trails are the best places to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Del Mar Beach, Del Mar
The Del Mar Beach is my favorite. For a number of years, we actually lived on the beach and certainly enjoyed it. It’s a great spot to be at. Between the soft sandy shore and the sound of the waves, it’s perfect for walking, running or just relaxing and taking in the view.
Grape Street Dog Park, South Park
I have two dogs, so we spend a lot of time at Grape Street Dog Park. It’s a real community of dog lovers and we have made so many friends there, both human and canine.
Interstate 5 Genesee Bike Path, Sorrento Valley
I love the new bike path down into Sorrento Valley. Now the commute is easy and safe. Although going back up the hill after work is not for the faint of heart. There’s a lot of bike tracks now that come down from UCSD into Sorrento Valley and then you can go through the valley and up the other side.
Juniper Staircase Trail, Balboa Park
Definitely, the Juniper Staircase trail in west Balboa Park. My husband and I like to start this hike at the historic Marston House, near the park’s Sixth Avenue and Upas Street entry, and take the zig-zag sidewalk down into Cabrillo Canyon. Every hike is different as the colors and textures change with each season and rainfall. The trail winds underneath the Cabrillo Bridge leads you toward the massive 98 stone steps of the Juniper Staircase, which we jokingly call the “Stairs of Death.” So far, we have all survived!
Juniper Canyon, South Park
You can walk through the canyon and come up to different streets. There’s also Switzer Canyon nearby, so there are two big canyons that are just gorgeous walks. I personally love Morley Field too. I had a wonderful colleague, David Avalos, who passed away this summer. We used to go walking around Morley Field. It’s where I also go swimming at Bud Kearns Memorial Swimming Pool. It’s my happy place. It’s a public pool that is inexpensive and was renovated a couple of years ago.
Kate Sessions Park, Pacific Beach
I used to walk up to the top of Kate Sessions Memorial Park (as a player), and I still do at times in the morning. I used to take our dog, even when he was getting older, just to kind of clear my head. I just walked and looped around Kate Sessions (park). It has such a cool view. We actually had our son’s second birthday party there this year as well. We have another on the way. We have a little lady coming in October.
Kearny Mesa Recreation Center, Kearny Mesa
I haven’t done much outdoor activities lately, but when I was younger, I used to play basketball and football with friends at Kearny Mesa Recreation Center all the time. It was a safe, family-friendly spot where we could just focus on the game and hang out. That place meant a lot to me growing up, a solid space where people from all walks of life came together. Even though I’m not out on the field or court as much now, I still really appreciate what Kearny Mesa Rec brings to the community.
Lake Miramar, Scripps Ranch
Everyone in Scripps Ranch knows about the beauty and recreation of Lake Miramar, but I have a small secret spot for enjoying the view of the ocean, sunsets and the hot air balloons. It is a small overlook area on Trail Crest Drive, complete with a small grassy area and benches. This spot is perfect for relaxing and reflecting on the serenity all around.
Marie Widman Park, Encanto
Marie Widman Park, named for civic leader Marie C. Widman. This southeast San Diego landmark is the heartbeat of the Black Arts & Culture District. Once home to countless cultural celebrations, the park embodies Widman’s legacy of arts, equity and community pride. Today, it hosts family events, live music and gatherings that keep her vision alive — making it a must-visit spot for history, culture, and connection.
Mast Park, Santee
For me, the main thing that I go for is disc golf. They built out a really nice disc golf course. They have two different keypads there, so you can play nine rounds on the A pad and then nice rounds on the B pad, so you do get a full 18-hole experience. There are also always lots of families at the park. They have a giant jungle gym, pool and basketball courts.
Memorial Park, Chula Vista
There are three gorgeous parks within blocks of my home, but my absolute favorite is Memorial Park, built in the Great Depression as a WPA (Works Progress Administration) project. It has a dog park where neighbors gather late afternoon for “dogtail” hour.
Mission Trails Regional Park, San Diego
Mission Trails is a great place to go for a nice little hike or a beautiful little walk. I’ll go with my wife, and we’ll take our dogs sometimes. It’s always a relaxing time, and you get to see lots of the San Diego community on the trails
Montgomery Lucky Waller Park, Otay Mesa West
My favorite open space is “El Parque del Ala,” officially known as Montgomery Lucky Waller Park. If you are from the South Bay, this is a place you just know. It may not be the most polished or modern park, but it is where our community stays active, through T-ball practices, prayer walks with our church and activation walks with our dogs. It is a space that brings people together across generations and backgrounds. Access to quality green spaces like this is essential for the health and well-being of our community. Parks like Montgomery Lucky Waller deserve more attention and investment. They are not just recreational areas — they are vital community hubs that foster connection and movement.
North Promenade, Liberty Station
So the North Promenade is really in the center of Arts District Liberty Station, and it’s a space that can morph into whatever you need it to be. We do a lot of hosting of weddings and events. We just had a lot of graduations a few weeks ago. It’s a very celebratory space, but it’s also a very calming space. If you just wanna sit and read a book or you want to grab something to eat from one of our restaurants and just maybe put a lawn chair out or a blanket and just sit and enjoy. It’s a space that can kind of be whatever you need it to be at the time you need it to be.
Oceanside Harbor, Oceanside
Oceanside Harbor has open spaces, clear sidewalk paths, sand areas and a range of activities available like paddling, playground, fire pits, fishing, etc.
Pepper Park, National City
I like Pepper Park because it’s close to the bay, and it’s a relaxation area. This place is like my hideout when I’m stressed or I’m sad or any emotional issue that I have, I go to Pepper Park. It’s a stress reliever for the fact that I can look at the water flowing back and forth into the bay, and it’s relaxing, it’s emotional. I don’t go in the morning because cargo ships are loading and unloading cars, so it can get noisy, but in the afternoons and on the weekends, it’s super relaxing. And the park has a little playground, it has a bathroom and access to the bay where you can kayak.
Pioneer Park, Mission Hills
Pioneer Park is a special place. A friend and I once did a pop-up play event at the playground there, and it’s such a great place to meet neighbors. During the summer, there are concerts in the park every Friday. My family calls it “dead people pizza park” because A, it’s a former cemetery and B, we like to get Bronx Pizza and eat it there.
Piazza della Famiglia, Little Italy
My favorite open space would be the Piazza della Famiglia. It has great restaurants and bars to stroll into, great for eating outside and the farmers market sets up in the piazza, and it’s always a great time.
San Diego River, Ocean Beach
I love the path along the San Diego River from Dog Beach to the edge of Ocean Beach. It’s beautiful, simple and uncrowded in nature.
Seven Bridges, San Diego
The Seven Bridges urban hike is a fun way to take in much of Hillcrest, Balboa Park and the east side of Bankers Hill. There’s no start or finish. The goal is to cross the following seven bridges, taking whatever route you choose. My route goes like this: First Avenue Bridge, Spruce Street Suspension Bridge, Quince Street Wooden Bridge, Cabrillo Bridge, Balboa Park Rose Garden Bridge, Georgia Street Bridge and Vermont Street Bridge. It’s a fun way to explore Hillcrest and get your steps in. Plus, there are plenty of places along the way to stop for a snack and a cup of coffee.
Sunset Cliffs, Point Loma
I walk there almost every day. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, with ocean views as peaceful as they are expansive. The cliffs carry this calming, restorative energy that I never tire of. At sunset, it becomes a beloved gathering place, with locals and visitors watching the sunset fall below the horizon. I also enjoy the mornings, when it is quiet, and I can listen to the waves and think about the day ahead.
Teralta Park, City Heights
Immediately next to our Fern Street Circus Community Center at the old Central Elementary School. It’s an amazing place because it’s built over the 15 freeway between Orange Avenue and just north of University Avenue. There was a big community effort to get it done. Azalea Park, which has trees, green space and rolling hills. Cindy and I will go with our folding chairs and sit out in the shade and just kind of breathe in the green and fresh air.
Westwood, Rancho Bernardo
I live in the Westwood area of Rancho Bernardo, which has a wonderful walking trail as part of our community. It’s fairly flat and goes around the neighborhood. There are plants, foliage going on and and I love staring at the trees. It’s an easy walk. It’s quiet and peaceful. There are also benches where you can see squirrels and bunnies, just living their best life out there. We also have a clubhouse with a swimming pool, children’s playground and pickleball courts.
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