Paradise Creek Wetland Expansion in National City, CA

The National City Paradise Creek expansion project is intended to expand Paradise Creek wetland protection and meet community needs by designing an alternative land use for the welding shop on West 18th Street in National City, CA. The goals of this project include minimizing stormwater runoff, reducing stream degradation, preserving the wetlands and open space, encouraging pedestrian activity, providing small retail, and incorporating Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) or Green Building Code Standards. Students from San Diego State University (SDSU), in partnership with the Sage Project and the City of National City, were tasked with creating these designs. After visiting the site and doing extensive research on site and cost constraints, six SketchUp site plans were created by six groups of students. The different site designs included a coffee shop/dog run, a community center/food truck area, an art studio/rental space, a community meeting space with ecological lookout tower, an outdoor fitness area, and a green roof daycare/event center. Some common design proposal aspects were recurring as they were deemed of high importance to the community and the site. Many of the site designs retain some form of the welding shop structure, introduce restroom facilities, and a design layout that would allow for intermittent flooding. It is recommended that these three aspects are incorporated into the final design in one capacity or another. With these additions and improvements to the site, the needs of the community and the City’s Westside Specific Plan can be met, all while retaining the natural function and beauty of the wetland.