Friendship Park

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Parks

California

Nearby: Jerome Park Spurgeon Park

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Friendship Park is a unique park located in San Diego, California, on the border of the United States and Mexico.

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Summary

The park is a meeting place for families and friends who are separated by the border, as it allows them to communicate and see each other through a fence that runs along the border. Visitors to the park can also enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean, Coronado Island, and the Tijuana Estuary.

One of the main points of interest in Friendship Park is the binational garden, which was designed to represent the friendship between the United States and Mexico. The garden features a variety of native plants from both countries, as well as a sculpture of a handshake between two hands reaching across the border.

Another highlight of the park is the Wall of Friendship, which is covered in colorful tiles that were created by visitors to the park. The tiles feature messages of hope, peace, and friendship, and serve as a symbol of the connections that are made at the park.

Friendship Park is open year-round, and the best time to visit is during the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and comfortable. However, visitors should be aware that the park is only open on weekends, and that access to the Mexican side of the park is limited. Additionally, visitors should be prepared for long lines and strict security measures when entering the park, as it is located in a high-security area.

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.

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