September 17-19: Monument sign building 101, days 3 through 5
This week was a whirlwind. On Monday, the sign structure was put in place, and on Tuesday, the stucco crew applied the first coat.
And then it rained on Wednesday.
By Thursday, everything was dry and the stone veneer crew installed the columns and caps. Yesterday, the second coat of stucco was applied.
So close now to the finish. A protective coating will be applied next week followed by the installation of our logo. Hope you have Saturday, October 18th, 11 am, on your calendar when we will celebrate the completion of this community project at our ribbon cutting.
September 16, 2025: Monument sign building 101, day 2
The sign dudes were back yesterday and check it out! The monument sign structure is now in place. Stucco, stone veneer for the end columns, and finally, the icing on the cake, our logo to follow.
September 12, 2025: Monument sign building 101, day 1
Not nearly as exciting as the landscaping, but a productive day. Holes were dug, forms for the concrete base were built and inspected and approved by the city, and concrete poured for the sign base that will cure over the weekend. Next week, the sign structure will be delivered and installed and the stucco and stone veneer work will begin.
September 5, 2025
Five trees planted on Tuesday, mulch completed on Wednesday. Everyone who needed to approve, approved!
Onsite meeting on Thursday with our incredible landscape designer, Cheryl (Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek), city staff, and the sign contractor. Monument sign to be completed by the end of September! Make sure that October 18th is on your calendar for our ribbon-cutting.
Last two pictures are the “Before” from August 20th and “After,” September 4th.
August 30, 2025
Finishing out the week with completion of the swales and boulders.
The schedule has been slightly changed; the trees will be planted on Tuesday and mulch goes down on Wednesday. After that, city inspectors will be back to give final approval on the landscaping part of this project and work can then start on the monument sign.
The monument sign has finally been approved and the city permit issued! Our gratitude again to Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek for helping our community achieve a long-hoped for goal.
August 25, 2025
Lots of progress today, although it might be hard to tell from the photos. The new trees arrived: three new Chinese Elm and two Coastal Live Oak. They went home with the landscape contractor for the night and will be planted tomorrow.
Our sign contractor, Mark Krenning from Coastal Signs, came out to check the monument sign location and verify the required setback from the street.
All of the tree holes are dug, and the swales and boulder locations are marked, thanks to Cheryl, our landscape designer (Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek). Look at all of those tiny flags. Each color means something.
August 24, 2025
Thanks to Google, we have a photo history of the Rolando Park Gateway from 2009 through August 21. More pics and details coming this week.
August 21, 2025
The transformation is underway!
All of the existing cobblestones and boulders will be reused with some strategic placement in addition to new river rocks for the swales.
The landscape designer roughly marked the area for the monument sign (pics with blue flags) and the City of San Diego inspection team also paid a visit.
The diseased mulberry at the corner of the intersection is also gone. All of the other trees are staying (the palm trees might be removed at a later time).
Next week, the five new trees will be delivered and the swale layout will be completed.
The change in a single day is incredible.
August 20, 2025
This picture was shot this morning at the corner of College Ave/College Grove, aka the pocket park, now to be known as the Rolando Park Gateway. For the next few weeks, this corner will look different almost daily and we’ll be sharing the progress.
We haven’t posted anything since we announced last November that two grants had been secured to renovate this space and install a community monument sign because there haven’t been any real updates other than to say that this project has been slowly working its way through the city permitting process. SLOWLY.
The city permit to relandscape this space has finally been secured, a landscape contractor selected, the monument sign permit is in progress, and work is starting today! Today!
And for all of this, we are forever indebted to our community partner, Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek. Without their experience in designing this project, securing funding on our behalf, and patience and perseverance in navigating the city’s permitting process, this project would never have started. The process is too daunting.
There will be a few changes to the original design because the permitting process has chipped away at the project budget, but all is good, it’s just going to take a little longer. For now, the palm trees, which were originally going to be removed, will stay. New trees will also be planted in this first phase; shrubs and plants will be planted later.
Once this first phase of landscaping is complete, the sign company will be there for a few weeks to install the new community monument sign.
So please put October 18th, 11 am, on your calendar for our official ribbon-cutting ceremony and plan to join us in celebrating the transformation of a long-neglected space into an entrance into our community that we can all take pride in, the Rolando Park Gateway.
