The park covers the far northeast corner of Mission Bay. It is popular for swimming and boating, but secluded beaches and calm waters also make it a great place to relax on a hot summer day.
The City is seeking public input on a draft amendment to the Mission Bay Park Master Plan for De Anza Cove. It would balance visitor accommodations with natural habitat restoration and climate resilience strategies. Read on to know more.
Boating and Waterskiing
Located in the northeast corner of Mission Bay near Pacific Beach, the large park features volleyball courts and other sports facilities, a playground and tot lot, picnic tables, and barbecue grills. There is a boat launching pier and a multi-use path for walking, jogging, or biking. Swimming, water skiing, and boating are popular activities. A lifeguard is on duty during the summer.
The city plans to restore wetlands in De Anza Cove as part of its proposed amendment to the Mission Bay Park Master Plan. The project, called De Anza Natural, would balance visitor accommodations with habitat restoration and environmental stewardship.
Local groups including ReWild Mission Bay and the Mission Bay Youth Field Association support the ecological benefits of preserving the marshland but want to make sure replacement fields and facilities are provided for active recreation. The city said the plan would provide more land for active recreation such as playing fields and golf courses, but this would come at a cost of more land for passive recreation like picnic areas.
Biking and Walking Trails
If you like to bike, jog, or walk, there are miles of trails within the park. You can also play a game of volleyball or basketball, enjoy the beach, and take in the sweeping views of San Diego’s most popular bay. The park is located at the northeast corner of Mission Bay near Pacific Beach and is a popular destination for boating, swimming, water skiing, and picnicking. During the summer, the area is patrolled by lifeguards.
Local environmental organizations, including ReWild Mission Bay and Pacific Beach Tennis Club, have urged the city to consider replacing sports fields and facilities in the De Anza Cove area that would be lost under new proposals to restore coastal wetlands. The city’s revised plan is expected to be considered by the Mission Bay Park Committee this fall. Browse around this site.
Volleyball and Basketball Courts
De Anza Cove Park offers multiple volleyball and basketball courts. It’s a great spot for outdoor fitness and fun with friends and family, especially during the summer. There are also plenty of park benches and beaches with bonfire pits for relaxing and soaking up the sun.
Mike Williams and his friends used to gather at the two full basketball courts at the south end of the Cove for afternoon pickup games on weekends. But that stopped years ago as the blacktop deteriorated, leaving deep cracks and loose gravel on some of the free-throw lines.
The city plans to restore the wetlands and make changes to sports fields in the area as part of a proposal called De Anza Natural, an amendment to the Mission Bay Park Master Plan. The public comment period ends on April 20th. Local organizations like ReWild Mission Bay and Pacific Beach Tennis Club have asked the city to ensure that any buffer zones created to preserve habitat do not interfere with sports fields or facilities.
Picnicking and Camping
The beach at De Anza Cove wraps around the northeast corner of Mission Bay and is popular for swimming, boating, and water skiing. A lifeguard is on duty during the summer. There is also a playground, tot lot, volleyball area and park benches. The park has a path for walking, jogging, and biking. There are also basketball courts nearby at Clairemont Drive and a comfort station with showers.
Camping is allowed at De Anza Cove, and you can rent RV sites from Mission Bay RV Resort located adjacent to the park. This scenic RV campground overlooks the Cove’s sandy beach and calm, waveless waters.
A new proposal for the park calls for more space devoted to active recreation like playing fields or golf courses, but it would come at the expense of more wetlands and dunes. The plan has drawn the ire of environmentalist groups, including Audubon San Diego and ReWild Mission Bay. The groups argue that the plan prioritizes commerce over nature. Next blog post.
Driving directions from McCormick’s Window Cleaning to De Anza Cove Park
Driving directions from De Anza Cove Park to Crown Point Park
