Monument Mesa Day Use & Interpretive Area
Border Field State Park - Monument Mesa Day Use & Interpretive Area
Status: Planning Phase 2026/2027
See the Border Field State Park webpage for more Park information
Planning work launched in June 2026 with a site visit by the State Parks and consultant project team. Background information is being gathered and the project’s first public participation opportunity is scheduled for October 3, 2026.
Project Overview
Monument Mesa, located at the southwest corner of Border Field State Park, provides a spectacular setting along the USA-Mexico international border. The sights and sounds of urban Tijuana lay just beyond the border fence, and several viewpoints provide vistas of the Pacific Ocean, the Tijuana Estuary, and in the distance, the Coronado Islands, downtown San Diego, as well as the mountain ranges to the east. See the current existing conditions here.
Monument Mesa has been impacted by a variety of factors, including aging infrastructure and limited access due to flooding. Land transfer and development of the Federal Border Infrastructure Project have altered visitor use patterns and character of the site. Friendship Park, located at Monument Mesa with a focal point around International Border Monument #285 and including surrounding areas, is a multi-national park divided by the border. U.S. federally owned portions of Friendship Park, located between two border walls, are no longer within Border Field State Park and are now closed to public access.
California State Parks is working on several fronts to enhance Monument Mesa for the public.
The Monument Mesa Day Use and Interpretive Area Project will plan site improvements and programming to increase public use and enjoyment of Monument Mesa by:
- Developing an overall site development vision for Monument Mesa
- Identifying and prioritizing site improvements and programming for implementation
- Creating new interpretive elements that tell the stories of the border region, inlcuding the history of Friendship Park.
Other efforts to enhance Monument Mesa include implementing the Resilience, Access and Habitat Restoration Project, which will improve Monument Road and allow year-round access to the park, and coordinating with Friends of International Friendship Park to bring a new public art installation to Monument Mesa.
Opportunities to Participate
Public participation in this planning work is important. Your input will inform the site development vision for Monument Mesa and will help ensure future improvements meet public needs.
This project includes three opportunities for public participation:
1. Experience Monument Mesa - October 3, 2026
Participants are invited to visit Monument Mesa to experience the site, learn more about Monument Mesa, and share feedback on a variety of topics that will inform future site improvements. Registration is required to participate in this event.
3. Draft Final Conceptual Plan - Summer 2027
At this virtual event, the draft final vision, draft final conceptual plan for site improvements, and draft interpretive plan will be shared for community input. Share your email to join the project mailing list and be notified when this event is scheduled.
2. Visioning and Planning - Spring 2027
At this event, participants are invited to provide feedback on draft plans to improve Monument Mesa, including an overall draft vision for site development, ideas for programming, and interpretive elements. Share your email to join the project mailing list and be notified when this event is scheduled and where it will be held.
Anticipated Project Timeline
The Monument Mesa Day Use and Interpretive Area project will be completed in three phases. Schedule is subject to change. See spanish translation here.
PRELIMINARY PLANS PHASE (2026/2027)
- June 2026 - Project initation
- October 2026 - First Public Engagement Event: Experience Monument Mesa
- Spring 2027- Second Public Engagement Event: Visioning and Planning
- Summer 2027 - Third Public Engagement Event: Draft Final Conceptual Plan
- Summer 2027 - Final Conceptual Plan
WORKING DRAWINGS PHASE (2027/2028)
- This phase will include development of construction drawings and award of a bid for project construction.
CONSTRUCTION PHASE (2029/2030)
- This phase consists of construction of site improvements.
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Project FAQs
Where is Monument Mesa and how can I visit?
Monument Mesa is located in the southwest corner of Border Field State Park, adjacent to the USA-Mexico border. Monument Road closes when flooded, preventing vehicle access to Monument Mesa. Check the Border Field State Park homepage for information about park hours and road closures.
Monument Mesa will be closed to public access during construction of the Resilience, Access and Habitat Restoration Project, which will improve Monument Road and allow year-round access to the park. Construction is anticipated to begin in December 2026 and last for approximately one year.
What is the Monument Mesa Day Use and Interpretive Area Project?
The Monument Mesa Day Use and Interpretive Area Project will plan for site improvements and programming to increase public use and enjoyment of Monument Mesa. State Parks is holding a series of engagement events to better understand what the public vision is for Monument Mesa, and which improvements should be prioritized for implementation.
How can I be involved with the planning for Monument Mesa?
Please join the project mailing list to receive project updates and notifications about community engagement opportunities via email. Additional questions and comments can be sent to monumentmesa.project@parks.ca.gov.
Can I visit Friendship Park and the international border monument?
Friendship Park/International Friendship Park is a place name attributed to an area on the international border of the U.S. and Mexico; the specific boundaries of Friendship Park have not been formally delineated. However, the area is generally recognized as having a focal point on the international boundary in the vicinity of International Border Monument #285, and including surrounding areas.
U.S. federally owned portions of Friendship Park, located between two border walls, are no longer within Border Field State Park and are closed to public access. Multi-national events and activities that were previously held on the U.S. federally owned portions of Friendship Park now take place just north at Monument Mesa or on the beach to the west of Monument Mesa.
Areas of Friendship Park, known as El Parque de la Amistad in Mexico, are accessible through Mexico’s Playas de Tijuana neighborhood.
Why is this work being done?
Monument Mesa has been impacted by a variety of factors, including aging infrastructure and limited access due to flooding. Land transfer and development of the Federal Border Infrastructure Project have altered visitor use patterns and character of the site. The Monument Mesa Day Use and Interpretive Area Project will prioritize site improvements and programming to increase public use and enjoyment of Monument Mesa.