Entrance to the park refers to Chicano Park, a major public art site with the country’s largest collection of outdoor murals. Chicano Park is located in Barrio Logan, a traditionally working class Mexican neighborhood. Barrio Logan is in Southeast San Diego, and originally reached all the way to the waterfront, with waterfront access for the residents. During WWII the Navy blocked access to the waterfront, which began the initial resentment between this community and the government. In the 1950s the area was rezoned to allow industrial buildings in the formerly residential neighborhood. To make things worse, in 1963 the neighborhood was split in half by interstate 5, and then again in1969, it was further divided by on-ramps to the Coronado Bridge. A park was promised to the community, but it never materialized. Instead, a construction crew began building a parking lot in the area that had been designated for the future park. A crowd of residents blocked the construction crew and raised the Aztlan flag to represent the people of Mexico. Activists from all over California joined in the week long protest, and finally on July 1st, 1970, Chicano Park was officially created. The murals depicting the struggle of Mexican and Chicano history appear on the freeway support pillars. Chicano Park was historically a dangerous area, but in the last decade has become a pleasant, safe place to view the artwork.
This piece is framed in a handmade stained poplar wood frame.