KTU+A

Mission Trails Regional Park Interpretive Center

Mission Trails Regional Park is truly an “urban regional park”, only 8 miles and 15 minutes from downtown San Diego. At 5,740 acres, it is the largest park of its kind in the west. Although largely surrounded by residential development, the park contains mountains, valleys, two lakes, a major river and scenic gorge, wildlife habitats, historical landmarks and cultural resources.

KTU+A, together with the architects and the Mission Trails Regional Park Citizens Advisory Committee and Task Force, developed conceptual site and landscape plans and construction documents for the Park’s Visitor and Interpretive Center. The building provides 14,000 square feet of exhibit space, meeting facilities, library and auditorium areas, with an equal amount of outdoor terraces, pathways, amphitheatre, native plant garden and exterior interpretive exhibits. Access roads, parking and pedestrian walkways have been designed to facilitate smooth vehicular and pedestrian flow through the interpretive facility. All areas and exhibits are fully disabled-accessible.

In the exterior exhibits, the natural and cultural resources of Mission Trails Regional Park are creatively integrated into the design of such elements such as “the Flume”, “a Children’s Rock Experience” and “the Gorge”.