Pioneer Park--Sharing San Diego Ghosts with Those Dogs of Yours

Pioneer Park is a small park nestled about the top of Washington Street--left at the top and back around. (You really will need to make U-turn and then do that--go back to Washington Street once the U-turn is made and then make a right before you go right back down Washington Street again). This park is open and accessible to dogs--ON LEASHES.

The park also includes a small cemetery of some of the original pioneers of San Diego from the 1800s. Recently the park was renovated, and the actual gravestones were moved and a clump of replica headstone and gravemarkers were put up together. The site of the actual graves is not just grass. Some were a little aghast--if this had been and Indian burial ground, this would never have been allowed to happen. If the ghosts of those pioneers are a ticked off at having their graves disturbed, maybe they might one day show their displeasure to you. (Ok..laugh about it. One time my family and I put a tent on the "King's Trail" on the Big Island of Hawaii, and at 2 AM the tent started shaking. The next morning someone asked about this and told us we were blocking the path of kings--well probably that guy was shaking our tent!!)

The wonderful frugal city of San Diego budgeted $400,000 to renovate this park, complete with a new playground for toddlers (no dogs around on the playground!!). Since the community group kept its eyes on the expenses, the actual cost was 1/4 of that amount. No wonder the city of San Diego is in financial trouble!!

You can take your dogs all around this park, and if it is not too wet, there is a trail that gets sort of bushy that will take you and your dogs down parallel to Washington Street. I only recommend this if you are the adventurous type--otherwise, stay at the top. Your dogs will love you either way!!