CITRUS BAY PARK GROUNDBREAKING

On Thursday, March 5, 2026, the City of Chula Vista and CalWest hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for Citrus Bay Park, a public park being developed by CalWest. Designed in alignment with city guidelines as an Urban Park, Citrus Bay Park reflects community feedback and coordination with City.

The half-acre park's theme draws from Chula Vista's history as once being the "Lemon capital of the world," recognized for both the region's citrus production and its role as a major shipping and distribution point. That heritage is woven into the park's design-particularly in the playground and tot lot areas-through citrus-inspired colors (yellows and greens) and playful "oranges" and "lemons" elements incorporated into tot lot activities.

Guided by community surveys and urban park standards, the most-requested features helped shape the final concept, including turf/lawn space, walking trails, overhead shade structures with BBQs, a central gathering/plaza area, play equipment for designated age ranges, a central focal tree hand-picked by CalWest and the City, and fitness elements. The final design was developed in coordination with the City's Parks & Recreation Department and advanced through review and approval by the Parks Commission and City Council.

"Citrus Bay is the largest new homeownership community built on the west side of Chula Vista in over 30 years. It will open the door for many families to achieve the American dream of homeownership," said Mayor John McCann. "With Citrus Bay Park at its heart, the community will offer a vibrant, safe, and welcoming space where families can gather, children can play, and neighbors can build lasting connections."

Citrus Bay Park arrives as the Chula Vista Bayfront Redevelopment continues moving toward a 535-acre transformation into a world-class destination that will create new parks and open space, restore habitat, expand public access and help generate jobs and economic activity for the South Bay and the greater San Diego region.

Parks and open space are a major component of the Bayfront vision, with approximately 230 acres dedicated to parks, open space and habitat restoration/preservation, including 130 acres identified for new parks and open space with promenades, bike trails and public access linking the bayfront.

Citrus Bay-adjacent to the park-is located on the former Sears property in Chula Vista. The store closed in 2020 and CalWest acquired the site in 2023, launching an adaptive reuse plan to transform the 13.35-acre site into a thriving residential community featuring 244 new townhomes in two distinct product types: The Towns at Citrus Bay (two-story motor-court homes, up to nearly 1,800 square feet) and The Courts at Citrus Bay (three-story attached residences with courtyards, up to more than 2,000 square feet). Residents have access to a private community recreation center with a pool and park, with prices starting in the mid $500,000s.