Murphy's Environmental Vision

By Dick Murphy

In four years on the City Council (1981-1985) Dick Murphy stopped three housing developments and subsequently acquired the land for park and open space purposes - a record unmatched before or since by any Councilmember or Supervisor. He was known by everyone, including his opponents, as a fighter for parks and open space.

Dick Murphy was the Chair of the Park and Recreation Board before being appointed to the City Council. San Diego Newsline in June 1981 said "(t)he way that Murphy has achieved name recognition around City Hall, as he hopes to with the electorate, is by championing the cause of parks."

Shortly after he was on the City Council Dick Murphy actively opposed a housing project in Santee which was slated for land the City wanted for Mission Trails Regional Park. He was successful and subsequently acquired the land for inclusion in the park.

Dick Murphy successfully opposed the construction of a 200-foot antenna on the top of Cowles Mountain in Mission Trails Regional Park. The architect for that project was Ron Roberts.

Dick Murphy successfully opposed the placement of several thousand units of Navy housing on the western edge of Mission Trails Regional Park adjacent to Tierrasanta. At the time the Navy said they were going through with the plan and said there was no citizen opposition to housing in Mission Trails Regional Park because "no such park exists." Dick stopped the Navy housing in Mission Trails Regional Park by finding alternate sites and then got the funding to incorporate the land into the park. He received the "Outstanding Contribution to Planning" award from the San Diego Chapter of the American Planning Association for his work on this issue.

Dick Murphy successfully led the fight to clean up the hydrilla infestation in Lake Murray and reopened the lake to the public.

Dick Murphy successfully led the fight for the acquisition of Rancho Mission Canyon and stopped a 130+ housing development from going into the canyon.

Murphy's Environmental Vision

• Pristine Beaches & Bays -- with year round water quality monitoring, an upgraded sewer system, and prevention of contaminated storm drain runoff.

• Limited Commercialization of Mission Bay Park -- with all leases (commercial and non-profit) limited to 25% of the land.

• Reduced Traffic Congestion -- by building freeways and mass transit, managing rush hour demand, and controlling growth and development.

• Controlled Urban Sprawl -- by promoting land use policies that encourage higher density housing and mixed -use development along transit corridors.

• Multiple Species Conservation Plan Open Space -- to be completely acquired.

• San Dieguito River Valley -- all preserved as open space.

• Successful Water Recycling -- with the City reclaiming at least 45 million gallons per day from wastewater and selling it all for landscaping.

• City-Wide Curbside Trash Recycling -- whether or not supported by state funds.

• Neighborhoods We Can Be Proud Of -- by eliminating park deficits, landscaping center medians on main thoroughfares, and undergrounding overhead power lines.

• Citizen's Environmental Advisory Commission -- to oversee implementation of these and other projects.