Cancer Survivors Park

_{A park that encourages those who have fought and survived cancer.}

Address: Spanish Landing Ntc, San Diego, CA 92101

Overview

Cancer Survivors Park in San Diego is one of 25 Cancer Survivor Parks located throughout North America. These parks have been funded and brought to life through the efforts of The Richard and Annette Bloch Family Foundation. The park is located a short distance from the San Diego Airport and is a quick drive to Petco Park and many of the downtown San Diego attractions. The park is rather unassuming despite gorgeous views of the harbor that provide a serene backdrop. What would otherwise be an empty space, has now been turned into an inspirational monument, not just for those who have survived cancer, but also those who are currently battling it. The “stated” focus of the park is to showcase what it means to fight cancer rather than to give up in the face of it.

To newly diagnosed patients, it is meant to give hope and courage. To those in the process of fighting the disease, it is meant to give direction and determination. The park is fronted by a huge lawn area. As visitors pass through the park, they will be met by sculptures and plaques. There are 3 separate areas present in this park to visit. First being the mental attitude walk with 14 bronze plaques. The second being a sculpture of eight people passing through a maze representing cancer treatment. The five people before the maze show fear, hope and determination in their faces while the three after are laughing and happy, representing successful treatment.

The third is a “Road to Recovery”. It consists of seven plaques and explains different things about cancer.

Scout’s Story

The Cancer Survivors Park in San Diego is a park that I had come upon a few months prior when my family had been visiting. I had approached my wife and told her about it and thought about possibly visiting. At that time, our daughter, Scout, was in the middle of battling stage 4 cancer. With the name “survivors park,” I just didn’t feel that we should go while she was still fighting. I was hopeful that one day Scout would beat this horrible disease and that we could visit then.

In August of 2022, at the age of 15 months old, Scout was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. After weeks of trying to figure out what was ailing her, we were finally hit with the life changing reality that she had yolk sac tumors near her rectum, liver, and right lung, and had a disease called germ cell neoplasm (cancer). Scout began treatment immediately, living in the hospital, and for 9 months Scout fought while our oncology team treated her. After not being a candidate for surgery at the beginning or middle of her treatment, finally after 7 long months we were informed Scout would go in for tumor resection surgery on April 24, 2023. Two weeks later, Scout turned 2 years old and the day after her birthday, on May 8th, her doctors would place her cancer in remission.

Scout’s Day at the Park

I will never forget the day that we were hit with Scout’s diagnosis. No one ever expects this to happen to them. It immediately sucked the wind out of us and changed our lives forever. We are so happy to be in the place that we are today. However, we are also aware that there is still a long road to full recovery. As we toured the park on this day, it was hard not to relive everything from the past year. I tried not to cry and to focus on all the major obstacles that Scout had overcome. I was just happy to have her with us and see her riding her bike that she takes everywhere.

My hope is that one day Scout won’t remember any of this and that she will be a survivor with only the physical scars remaining.

So many of us have or will have to battle this horrible disease ourselves or with a loved one at some point in our lives. The darkest of moments often bring out the best in us. Through Scout’s battle, I have realized the importance of not fighting over things that inherently don’t matter and to accept and love everyone for their differences and who they are. Often times it takes something extreme to happen for us to realize what is truly important in life. All of the arguing and fighting over silly differences never changes anything. However, fighting to rid ourselves of this horrible disease and to support those fighting it, is something that should unite us all.

May 27, 2023

Getting to Cancer Survivors Park

This is a paid lot. Multiple kiosks are available on site

Spanish Landing Ntc, San Diego, CA 92101