Bankers Hill's Greenest News: Olive St. has a new park!

City website for history

Olive Street park not only has new amenities for the community like a playground and workout machines, it also has newly planted trees!  

Walk distance: 1 mile. Not suitable for the mobility impaired - steep steps and a rockin' bridge .

No restroom or drinking fountains on this walk except for customers at cafes etc. 

This adventure walk starts at Bankers Hill’s newest city park at Third Ave and Olive St and continues up Olive, turning left at Fourth Ave and a few blocks on to San Diego’s oldest bridge, the Quince St wooden bridge, across the expansive Maple Canyon Open Space. Take in the gorgeous views then continue to First Avenue - an historic residential street with many heritage houses and beautiful private street-front gardens and trees. Continue to Spruce St, turning left and downhill, and cross Front St to enter the mysterious Spruce St Suspension Bridge that can swing you and thrill you. Finish here or walk back up Spruce St to Fifth Ave turning right to end at Jimmy Carters Mexican Grill or Cafe Bassam. 

Olive St Park, with its AIDS Memorial, has a beautiful view over Maple Canyon. See many Eucalyptus trees and a distant sight of the First Ave bridge. It's got a playground for kiddos, workout stations, and young trees worth welcoming into the community. 

In front of the park see a large Brazilian Pepper tree and nearby paperbark trees. Walk to the corner of Fourth Ave noting the heritage 1906 Amy Strong House with its European-style pollarded tree. 

Turn left on Fourth Ave and see the ever popular Extraordinary Desserts for coffees, meals and, of course, their famous desserts. Just past here you will see a lovely Eucalyptus and several excellent pepper trees. 

Cross over to the east side of Fourth Ave for one block (no sidewalk opposite) and then see the crossing to enter San Diego’s oldest bridge - 1905 - the Quince St Bridge. Enjoy the vast views of Maple Canyon below. Look out for the historic plaque upstairs on the opposite side.

Be very careful walking down the steep wooden steps to the walkway!

After leaving the first bridge continue straight ahead for two blocks until you reach Second Ave. Turn right and walk two blocks among the handsome residences, then left onto Spruce St with a steep hill down to Front St. Ahead see the entrance to the amazing Spruce St Suspension Bridge of 1912. This bridge sways and rocks back and forth if other people are walking across it; some provoke it. Hold on to the cables if you lose your balance. Enjoy the quiet views of Bankers Hill Canyon and its many Eucalyptus trees.

Walk back across the bridge and continue five blocks up Spruce St. until you reach Fifth Ave. Here you will see a 711 store for take out snacks and drinks. Opposite is Jimmy Carters Mexican Cafe.  

Across 5th Ave is the Inn at the Park historic redbrick building. It was once a hotel but is now a timeshare community. 

Continue back down Fifth Ave for one more block until you reach the end of our walk - the eccentric and charming Cafe Bassam. Hints of Paris and intellectual life of the 1950’s make this a unique establishment in San Diego.