Introduction
Chicano Park-Logan Heights is a 7.9 acre space for residents of Southwest San Diego located under the Colorado Bay Bridge connecting Colorado with San Diego (Chicano-park.org). The park was started on April 22, 1970 when the residents of Barrio Logan and Chicano movement activists jointly protested the erection of the California Highway Patrol station on the current site of Chicano park (Chicano-park.org).
The park has over the years received international acclaim as an outstanding community site. This can be attributed to its excellent mural paintings depicting the past and present of Mexicans as well as other aspects of the Chicano community history. At the time of its establishment, the Highway Patrol Station was being used to suppress a community that had been degraded by the demolition of several homes in order to pave way for the Colorado Bridge, Interstate 5 and placement of several toxic industries (chicano-park.org). The community also faced inadequate schools, jobs, medical and social services.
The residents wanted to set up a recreation park but were never granted permission to construct one. Mario Solis discovered the substation construction had commenced, and word went out to Barrio Logans’. A movement was formed, Chicano Movement comprising United Farm Workers led by Dolores Huerta bargaining for the right to organize, student group MEChA for the rights to equal and relevant education, among other groups and individuals. Brown Berets was also a leading activist in the fight for Chicano Park. The Chicano Movement took over the site while negotiations were underway and eventually the local council gave up the land for a community park.
Conclusion
Started, in April 22, 1970, Chicano park continues to be a rich centre for Mexican history. Its establishment was prompted by efforts to build the California Highway Patrol Station to which the residents of Chicano were opposed as they viewed it as extra oppression from authorities. This struggle by the Chicano Mexican people symbolizes freewill and self-empowerment by the community from exploitation and neglect in the name of development.
Works cited
"chicano-park.org." chicano-park.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Apr. 2013.
