When most people think of Liberty Station, they envision covered walkways packed with unique dining and shopping options, art galleries and an upscale movie theater. Most of my visits there, however, are to the Naval Training Center (NTC) Park.
This park runs parallel to a boat channel at the north end of San Diego Bay, just west of the San Diego International Airport. Situated along Cushing Road, the park has a variety of trees and vegetation, and for much of its length, there is both a paved and sandy path along the water.
The site’s history. In 1923, the U.S. Naval Training Center’s first recruits set foot here. When the Navy closed the facility in 1997, Liberty Station was born. It has since become a bustling mixed-use development in Point Loma and is now known as a center for commerce and the arts.
Part of its military history is captured at the USS Recruit, near the Halsey Road pedestrian bridge. One of three landlocked ships used by the Navy for promotion and training, this “ship” was built to scale, two-thirds the size of a Dealey-class destroyer escort. Here, recruits learned how to follow orders and maneuver around a ship. You can walk inside the USS Recruit on Fridays from 1 to 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4pm. There’s no admission fee.
The waterfront walk. The park’s pathway is about one mile from Chauncey Road to the Halsey Road pedestrian bridge. Plentiful park benches line the path, offering visitors a splendid place to rest and watch planes take off from the airport (if you’re visiting with others, the noise will necessitate the “Point Loma Pause” in your conversations). You’ll also likely glimpse paddle boarders taking to the waterway.
Cyclists are allowed on the paved sidewalk, as well as skaters. I’ve never seen anyone on inline skates during my visits to the park, but I’ve seen many on roller skates, also known as quads. A group called the “Old School Skaters” meets every Saturday near 2620 Truxtun Road and welcomes all skill levels; just bring your own skates. Learn more at theoldschoolskaters.com.
Should you want to extend your walk, ride or skate, hang a right after crossing the pedestrian bridge and you’ll enter Spanish Landing Park. And if you happen to be training for an endurance event like a 10k or marathon, you could even continue further to Harbor Island or the Embarcadero…kudos to anyone who tackles such a lengthy feat!
Activity abounds. NTC Park features basketball courts near Farragut Road, a centrally located playground and many picnic tables. For the fisherfolk in your group, tell them to bring a fishing pole and cast their line off from the banks of the channel or from the Halsey Road pedestrian bridge.
At Liberty Station, check out the lively Loma Club, San Diego’s oldest golf course, which features a 9-hole, par-3 course and mini putt options. And if you have any art aficionados in your group, consider timing your visit to the first Friday of the month, so you can take advantage of the special events hosted by Liberty Station’s Arts District (think, art workshops and exhibits)–many of which are free!
Should you work up an appetite from all of the activities, stop by the Liberty Station Public Market, where you can find nearly 40 different food and beverage vendors. This year marks its 10-year anniversary. SDSun
Deanna Ratnikova is the creator of The GO Deck – grab a deck today and be inspired to Get Outdoors and GO on new adventures.
