Rep. Vargas Introduces the Chicano Park Preservation Act of 2015
Washington, D.C. (October 8, 2015) - Today, Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51) introduced the Chicano Park Preservation Act (H.R. 3711). This bill instructs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a thorough study of Chicano Park in order to evaluate its national significance and determine the feasibility of the park becoming a National Historic Landmark.
“Chicano Park has been the center of cultural history since its opening in the 1960s,” said Rep. Vargas. “It is home to the largest collection of outdoor murals in the entire country. It’s a unique space in San Diego that represents a community’s accomplishments through activism.”
The Park is located under the San Diego-Coronado Bridge in historic Barrio Logan, a San Diego community with a heavy population of Mexican Americans. It is adorned with murals, sculptures, and beautiful landscaping. The park was created after a group of residents came together to boycott the construction of a highway patrol station on the site of what is now Chicano Park. In 1980, the park was designated as an official historic site by the San Diego Historical Site Board. In 2013, Chicano Park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to its association with the local Chicano civil rights movement in San Diego.
“Chicano Park is so much more than just a recreation area,” said Rep. Vargas. “It is a sacred space and should be celebrated not only for its beauty, but also as a symbol of what a community can achieve while working together. I want everyone who visits our community to be able to experience the life and beauty of this site. Designating it as a National Historic Landmark will preserve this site for generations to come.”
Vargas represents California’s 51st Congressional District which includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial County and California’s entire US/Mexico border. Vargas was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 and is currently serving his second term in Congress. He represented the 40th California State Senate District from 2010-2012, the 79th California State Assembly District from 2000 – 2006 and served on the San Diego City Council from 1993 – 2000.