SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The family of late Robert Egger, Sr. and the community came out to the reopening of the revamped Robert Egger, Sr.–South Bay Community Park on Friday.
Mayor Todd Gloria, Councilmember Vivian Moreno, the grandchildren and great, great grandchild of Robert Egger, Sr., who died in 1978, and the community, were at the Egger Highlands park to celebrate the replacement of two playgrounds, along with new play and fitness equipment and a new basketball court.
The new upgrades to the park include seating, shade structures, drinking fountains, security lighting, landscaping, accessible walkways and new safety surfacing, according to the City of San Diego. The parking lot was also resurfaced.
“For too long, our South Bay communities have gone without the investment they deserved. That’s changing,” Mayor Todd Gloria said. “Today’s improvements at Egger-South Bay Community Park are part of my administration’s ongoing commitment to do things differently — to prioritize critical infrastructure in every neighborhood and make sure no community is left behind.”
The community park first was created after Egger, Sr., a local dairy farmer and 58-year resident of the area, donated land to San Diego. His family has stayed in San Diego and were at the park on Friday celebrating the improvements.
“These improvements are just amazing, they’re fantastic. They passed our expectations. We are just so grateful,” said Steve Egger, grandson of Robert Egger, Sr. “I’m sure my grandfather is up in heaven smiling, looking down on all of us and just appreciating us following his legacy.”
“It’s just a privilege to stay connected to the community. We’ve been here, both of our parents were born in this area and they stayed here this whole time and fortunately we’ve stayed here also,” said Tony Egger, grandson of Robert Egger, Sr. “It’s wonderful to get to see what they’ve done with the park.”
The project was managed by the Engineering and Capital Projects Department and cost $6.9 million.
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