Leucadia Roadside Park

 

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JP S.

Encinitas, CA

Julie G's photos make me nostalgic for the huge cypress trees that defined the Leucadia Roadside Park which is the center of Leucadia's downtown coastal zone.  The cypress trees were planted by Leucadia's founders, english spiritualist who also planted Leucadia's defining eucalyptus trees.

The city of Encinitas cut down the 60-80 ft trees last year and the event was fairly traumatic  to the Leucadia faithful. Since that event there has been a virtual war against Leucadia's old growth trees with many more iconic trees being removed by the city with no plan for replanting. Currently the Leucadia 101 Mainstreet Association is trying to lobby for a tree management and replanting plan.

Julie's photos also show the park when it had park benches and a drinking fountain. Not many people used the park benches but I always liked to get my food from Karina's taco shop to go and eat there and watch the world pass by on the coast highway. Unfortunately, some seriously gnarly vagrants took over the park benches and camped out there 24/7 until the city removed them.

During winter rains the Leucadia Roadside Park floods significantly.

At the north/east corner of the park is a mysterious marker that some speculate may mark a long lost time capsule (see photos).

Recently, the little Roadside Park saw some rare evening action with music and surf movies (shown on a stretched out bed sheet tied to the remaining  trees (jacarandas, I think) for a newer community pride event, Leucadia Nights.

Our little Leucadia Roadside Park greets people as they come down Leucadia Blvd and cross over to access Beacon's Beach. It is small and humble which in my mind is a good mascot for funky 'ol Leucadia.

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Julie G.

Cardiff by the Sea, CA

This is probably the tiniest park in all of North County. It sits right alongside Hwy 101 and Leucadia Blvd and if you blink you will miss it for sure.

It is very sweet however and beautifies the intersection. I have to say though that I've never really seen anyone hang out there. It consists of a few bordering trees, two picnic tables and really pretty grass.

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