Volunteers and local leaders celebrated the grand opening of River Studios on Friday, marking a significant achievement 15 years in the making.
Located in the heart of Mission Valley within the developing Grant Park, River Studios serves as a new nature learning center established by the San Diego River Park Foundation (SDRPF).
Equipped with digital microscopes, aquariums, and remote sensing tools, the center aims to ignite student interest in nature conservation.
Additionally, it will host the foundation’s Cool River Education Program, which is projected to reach 10,000 students annually.
Michael Schneider, chair of the foundation’s board, highlighted the importance of the site as a cornerstone of San Diego’s vision for community engagement and environmental celebration.
“This park, this studio, this area has been front and center in the vision for San Diego and our nation,” Schneider said.
Once a neglected sand mine, the 17-acre site was generously donated to the foundation by the Grant family of San Diego, paving the way for the outdoor-focused STEM education facility.
The foundation recently achieved its goal of raising $13 million through community efforts and private donations, including $500,000 in federal funding facilitated by Democratic Rep. Sara Jacobs.
Jacobs, a third-generation San Diegan, attended the ceremony and expressed her belief that the center will promote equal access to STEM education for students who may not have easy access to San Diego’s natural environments.
The center aims to serve over 70,000 students living within a 15-minute radius of Grant Park, with a particular focus on Title 1 schools to help close opportunity gaps within education.
Foundation officials pledged that more than 80% of participants will be from underserved communities, with all core programming available at no cost.
“This studio will be an important bridge connecting students from underrepresented backgrounds to nature, providing hands-on STEM education and helping to create lifelong stewards of our environment,” Jacobs remarked.
The event also featured local councilmembers Raul Campillo and Stephen Whitburn, who played vital roles in expediting the permitting process for the center.
In his address to supporters, Campillo stressed the significance of the center’s mission to reconnect children with nature, especially the San Diego River that flows through the park.
He cautioned against focusing solely on urban development in Mission Valley without inspiring the next generation to appreciate their natural surroundings.
“It also has to be about inspiring the future and reflecting upon the past,” Campillo stated.
He emphasized that “there’s no great civilization in the history of our world that hasn’t looked at a river and said ‘this is where our heart will be.’”
Looking forward, River Studios plans to incorporate an arts component in collaboration with the San Diego River Artists Alliance, showcasing the work of local artists.
Student visits are anticipated to commence as early as September, according to Rob Hutsel, president and CEO of the park foundation.
“I know the kids are going to walk through this building, be inspired and understand that we will learn from our past and build a better future together,” Campillo concluded.
image source from：timesofsandiego
