Locals push to save community garden near Tijuana River Valley

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- San Diego County's largest community garden, the Tijuana River Valley Community Garden, is set to close after more than two decades, displacing hundreds of local gardeners and small farmers.

The Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County has decided to end its lease to operate the garden, citing ongoing concerns with sewage issues and potential flooding. This decision will return the site to the county, leaving the future of the garden uncertain.

"This is paradise for us and for it to just be taken away it would be devastating," said Clayton Howard, a gardener at the Tijuana River Valley Community Garden.

Bill Burns, another gardener, emphasized the financial benefits, stating, "It definitely saves money. The rent is $324 a year currently and you grow thousands of dollars worth of fruits and vegetables."

Tara Lawson-Remer, county supervisor for District 3, noted, "We still don’t have robust epidemiology data," regarding the studies on contaminants in the area.

The garden, which opened in 2002, has become a sanctuary for many, providing not only a place to grow food but also a community space for relaxation and connection with nature. For instance, Clayton Howard, who has been gardening there for nearly 10 years, describes it as a lifeline . He said, "Some days are good, some days aren’t you know, so this is my moment to sit down and relax.”

The garden spans more than 20 acres and includes over 200 individual gardens and seven quarter-acre plots for commercial farmers. Despite the concerns cited by the Resource Conservation District, local gardeners argue that the soil and air quality have not been issues, as commercial farmers are required to adhere to strict organic certification standards.

The county is seeking state funding for a study to test the ground and water in the Tijuana River Valley for harmful contaminants. This study, which has a price tag of more than $1 million, aims to provide data that could potentially lead to a superfund designation if significant dangers are identified.

Locals have expressed feelings of betrayal and exclusion from the decision-making process. They are calling for transparency from the Resource Conservation District and hoping for intervention from the county to preserve the garden.

As the community awaits further developments, the future of the Tijuana River Valley Community Garden remains uncertain, with locals advocating for its preservation and the county assessing the land's future use.

FOX 5's Jennifer Franco contributed to this report.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KSWB. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KSWB staff before being published.