JonathanAsch

Bay Park is a suburban neighborhood in San Diego which is ideally located near the intersection of Interstate 5 and Interstate 8. Most residents consider the borders of Bay Park to be: - Clairemont Dr. on the North, the University of San Diego on the South, Interstate 5 on the West and Burgener Street on the East (+ Deerpark Street and Cowley Way above the Tecolote Golf Course). Most of the homes in Bay Park were built in the 1950's and 1960's and many remain as they were, with remodels sprinkled throughout the neighborhood. It is a continually changing neighborhood with many homes passed down from generation to generation. In the early 2000's many homes were purchased by young professional families who realized that they could enjoy a family-friendly suburban neighborhood with the convenience of it's proximity to Downtown San Diego, Mission Valley, the Beaches, and La Jolla.

Schools in Bay Park are on the rise according to the local scuttlebutt and the statewide scores which have increased in the past few years. Elementary Schools include Bay Park Elementary and Longfellow which has a specialized Spanish immersion program. The Middle School is Marston located just outside the neighborhood and residents attend Clairemont High School or choice into other San Diego Unified School District Schools. A variety of Parochial schools are also available including St. Mary Madeline which has a K-8 program.

Parks and recreation opportunities abound in Bay Park. Tecolote Canyon runs through Bay Park and the Tecolote Nature Center is located and the southern end of the Canyon. It is adjacent to Tecolote Park with its multiple baseball fields, basketball courts, and playground. While the fields are used frequently, by the Tecolote Little League, the baskeball courts and playground are in need of repair and upgrade.

While many restaurants in Bay Park have been around for decades such as Old Trieste, Baci and Andres, recent years have seen a couple great new places including Bay Park Fish Co., Offshore Bar and Grill, and The High Dive. Bay Park is also the home of Siesel's Meats, one of San Diego's best butchers and now part of the Cohn company which also owns Iowa Meat Farms in San Diego. San Diegans in the know often travel to Siesel's for special occasion meats and poultry.

Bay Park is one of San Diego's best kept secrets. I often run into people who have lived in San Diego for a long time and are unfamiliar with the area. It would be great to see the continued gentrification of the neighborhood and a move toward bringing more of the family friendly atmosphere that existed a generation ago.