Tourism,
generated by the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, is our
town's economic driver, and it was apparent to the group
that the key to creating a thriving village was to update
and beautify our downtown areas.
That need
had been recognized years earlier by San Diego County, which
used Community Development Block Grant funds to commission
respected tourism consultants Chandler, Brooks & Donahoe,
Inc. to study ways to enhance Borrego Springs and attract
more visitors. The resulting study presents a
comprehensive plan
on how to put the shine back on Borrego Springs, San Diego's
only desert community. The CB & D report suggests ways to
improve our town's appeal by creating more opportunities to
enjoy Borrego Springs' unique and pleasing small-town
ambience, especially "shopping and dining in a
pedestrian-friendly environment."
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Getting Inspired:
2006 - 2007
But how does a little
unincorporated town with few resources and limited
representation actually do something like that? The
volunteer group, dubbed the Borrego Business Think Tank, met
once a month, every month, for two years pondering that
question. They talked (and sometimes argued) about ideas,
visions, concerns, opportunities, and obstacles to achieving
ambitious goals with extremely limited resources. It became
apparent that to enlist the support of San Diego County
planners, it would be necessary to form a bona fide
organization with the express purpose of spear-heading and
implementing town improvements.
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Getting Real: 2007 -
2009
By mid-2007, funded by a
San Diego County Neighborhood Re-investment Grant, the
Borrego Village Association (a 501 (c) 6 corporation) was
legally established, and Think Tank participants became
founding Board members. After identifying and prioritizing
potential projects, the BVA convened several community
forums to present and gather ideas and found an enthusiastic
response.
Initial
efforts focused on a key Brooks Report recommendation --
re-designing Palm Canyon Drive. In 2008, with County
funding, the BVA engaged experienced town planner Michael
Weber to help develop ideas, maps, and conceptual
renderings. This work, which was presented to the
Supervisor's office in 2009, provided the platform and
framework for next steps, moving beyond concepts to reality.
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Doing the Work: 2010 -
2012
By 2010, with the expert
assistance of architect and board member Richard Orne, the
BVA had prepared a comprehensive plan for improving Palm
Canyon Drive, including median treatments, landscaping, and
parking that would enhance the "downtown experience" for
residents, visitors, pedestrians, and drivers. That plan is
currently under review with County planners.
The Board
next turned to identifying small, low-budget beautification
projects and saw opportunities to develop "pocket parks" on
empty and neglected lots fronting Palm Canyon Drive's south
side. The BVA successfully collaborated with property owners
on plans to plant shrubs and trees, and install irrigation
and benches. The simple, straight-forward effort inspired
hundreds of donors to contribute more than $40,000 to the
project, and it attracted the attention and support of San
Diego Gas & Electric.
The BVA
worked with the company to establish "Borrego Arbor Day," on
April 7, 2011. That morning, SDG&E brought dozens of
volunteers to help plant nearly 50 trees, creating "instant"
pocket parks on the spot. As the trees mature, they will add
not only visual appeal, but needed shade, and the benches
provide convenient pedestrian perches. Currently, the BVA is
preparing plans for pocket parks to be installed on the
north side of Palm Canyon Drive, with a completion goal date
of May 1, 2012.
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Moving Ahead: 2012
While early initiatives
were made possible with private donations of time, money,
and resources, more ambitious vitalization plans will rely
on the support of County and State government agencies. From
the beginning and throughout its history, the BVA has worked
to establish strong relationships with San Diego County's
5th District Supervisor Bill Horn and his team, who support
our goals and have provided invaluable insights on
strategies and plans.
The BVA will pursue
numerous County, State, and organizational grant
opportunities to continue planning, designing, and
implementing community improvements.
(See
2012
Areas of Focus)
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