First Filipino American veterans park to open in Chula Vista

CHULA VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) -- The City of Chula Vista just approved its first park dedicated to Filipino American veterans, the first of its kind in the entire United States.

It took three years to get the project approved, which Chula Vista Mayor John McCann said is an opportunity to represent and recognize the shared heritage of the Filipino American community, especially Filipino American veterans.

"Most Filipinos came to the United States because they had a family member that was in the Navy or military, and they have been great, patriotic Americans," McCann said.

The Filipino American Veterans Park is expected to take about a year to reach completion and will include 20 parking spots, a memorial dedicated to Filipino American veterans, and basketball and pickleball courts.

The park will be located in the new Cota Vera neighborhood in Otay Ranch.

"It's right in the middle of a community that has the highest percentage of Filipino Americans in Chula Vista, which is approximately 20%," McCann added.

JoAnn Fields, the PR director for API Initiative, echoed his sentiment.

"For us to have a place where we can celebrate and share our experiences fighting side by side -- whether it's the Navy, the Army, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force -- it's a great place," she said. "And it's a catalyst for something more, where we can tell our stories that following them were also their spouses who were nurses, then the engineers and teachers...but it started with the military."