San Diego, CA –On July 18th, 2026, the San Diego River Park Foundation celebrates its 25th Anniversary, marking a quarter century of protecting, restoring, and connecting people to the 52-mile San Diego River watershed.
Twenty-five years ago, the largest sewer spill in California’s history dumped 34 million gallons of untreated sewage into the San Diego River. Few people seemed to notice or care, except a small group of passionate community members who formed the San Diego River Park Foundation on July 18, 2001, to ensure the river was never ignored again.
And what was once a community of a few volunteers, has grown into a community of nearly 100,000 people working together to create lasting change for the watershed—from the mountains to the Pacific Ocean.
To mark this historic occasion, the River Park Foundation has launched a $25,000 Fundraising Campaign to support their many programs.
Thanks to past community support, these vital programs have had significant impact for the river, its wildlife, and people, including:
- Removing over 4M pounds of trash from the riverbed
- Providing over 27,900 students with innovative nature learning experiences (since 2018)
- Conserving nearly 3,000 acres of land, including iconic places like Cedar Creek Falls, Mildred Falls, and El Cajon Mountain, home to countless native animal and plant species
- Creating the vision of the river-long San Diego River Park
- And so much more
The River Park Foundation’s President & CEO, Rob Hutsel, reflects, “We are still guided by the simple but powerful belief that when people come together, roll up their sleeves, and take action, they can create lasting change. Everything we have achieved over the past quarter century is proof of that—and it gives me tremendous hope for what the future will bring.”
As it celebrates this milestone, the organization extends its heartfelt gratitude to the invaluable community of volunteers, donors, and partners for their dedication and perseverance in creating a healthier river, ensuring wildlife has open space to call home, and more people enjoy the beauty and biodiversity of this natural treasure.
Yet, due to continued threats of pollution, urban development, climate change, and more, the river still needs our help more than ever. The River Park Foundation invites anyone to get involved and make a difference. They have volunteer events almost every day of the week for all ages and abilities. They also invite you to donate to support their many programs or help with advocacy efforts for the river trail and park system. For more information, visit sandiegoriver.org.
###
About The San Diego River Park Foundation
The San Diego River Park Foundation’s mission is to engage people to work toward a better future for the historic San Diego River and the creation of a 52-mile river parkway from the mountains to the ocean. The River Park Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization founded in 2001.
Visit www.sandiegoriver.org for more information.