In 1971, Friendship Park was created along the US/Mexico Border as a binational meeting place. The park was located at a joint San Diego/Tijuana beach and was a place where friends and family separated by border politics could meet and spend time together. In 2009, a secondary border fence was built, severely limiting access to the park. La Línea Borrosa or the line blurred, is a project that gives the community a new binational meeting place without the separation of a fence. The project consists of a pedestrian border crossing, the Spiral Pier, and the Americas Gateway Bridge. It is located at the original site of Friendship Park. There is also a proposed trolley line, which runs along the border and connects with the trolley stop at the San Ysidro border crossing 5 miles to the east.
Courtesy of Patrick Cordelle
The Spiral Pier is a wooden and concrete structure located offshore just beyond where the border fence disappears into the ocean. The new pier would be considered a legal gray zone, neither US nor Mexico, allowing visitors to meet on common ground without fear of deportation. The Spiral Pier would have access by trolley or from two pedestrian bridges, one above the trolley line, and the Americas Gateway Bridge. The Americas Gateway Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans from the Spiral pier across the border to Plaza Monumental de Tijuana, an existing bullring that has a capacity of 21,000 spectators. By wrapping the bridge around the bullring, pedestrians are given the opportunity to view the activities within the bullring.The pylon for the bridge located in the Spiral Pier features an elevated view deck, giving visitors a new aerial perspective on the border region.
Site plan. Image Courtesy of Patrick Cordelle
The Americas Gateway Bridge and the path of the Spiral Pier could be considered an unconventional walking promenade. Along the outside of the spiraling ramp are a series of gathering and meeting places that could be reserved in advanced by visiting family and friends. People could send in pictures before their scheduled visit, which would be displayed on a large welcoming screen located at the border crossing on land.
La Línea Borrosa would create a new place removed from political bias. The Spiral Pier provides the opportunity to reflect on current immigration policies and the people that it impacts.
Roof plan of the Spiral Pier. Image Courtesy of Patrick Cordelle
Project Credits
Project name: La Línea Borrosa
Name: Patrick Cordelle
School: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Supervisor: Karen Lange
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