San Diego City Wire

County officials and community members have commenced the development of a project aimed at transforming a former golf course in North County into more than 24 acres of recreational facilities for the Bonsall community. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Tuesday.

The Bonsall Community Park is situated at 5290 Camino Del Rey and W. Lilac Road. Its location, adjacent to Bonsall Elementary School, Bonsall Community Center, several housing developments, and Highway 76, made it an ideal choice for active recreation.

This initiative is part of the San Luis Rey River Park Master Plan, which encompasses over 1,700 acres along the San Luis Rey River between Interstate 15 and the Old Bonsall Bridge. According to this plan, "95% of the San Luis Rey River Park" is reserved for passive open space uses and trails.

Currently lacking any designated public parks, this project aims to move towards achieving the County’s goal of providing three acres of local public parkland per 1,000 residents in the area.

The County’s Department of Parks and Recreation has engaged with community members to gather input on their needs for the park. This feedback has been instrumental in shaping its design and planned features. County staff will continue collaborating with the community regarding future phases of Bonsall Community Park.

A construction contract was finalized last year for building phase one of Bonsall Community Park, which is scheduled to open in Summer 2026. For additional details about the project, interested parties can visit sdparks.org.