Col. Irving Salomon San Ysidro Community Activity Center

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History of the Center

The San Ysidro Community Activity Center was acquired by the City of San Diego in 1987 from the San Ysidro Boys Club. The property consists of an approximately 14,000 square-foot community activity center building on a 1.45-acre lot. It was dedicated for park purposes in 1989 by the City Council via Ordinance No. O-17239. The activity center includes several community rooms and a gymnasium. In the early 2000s, a fire damaged the activity center. It was reconstructed and reopened to the public in spring 2004. In the mid-2020s, a capital project installed new play equipment, picnic area, outdoor basketball court, and other amenities. These new outdoor facilities opened to the public on July 28, 2026.

The center was named to Colonel Irving Salomon San Ysidro Community Activity Center in honor of Colonel Irving’s substantial contributions to San Diego. Colonel Irving Salomon (1897 – 1979) was a prominent San Diego civic leader, philanthropist, businessman, Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, and a U.S. delegate to the United Nations under President Eisenhower. Colonel Salomon was altruistically involved in the San Diego Boy’s Club and funded numerous projects for children and young adults. Salomon founded the local chapter of the American Jewish Committee, and he received a knighthood from the Pope for his charitable work with Catholic charities.

In addition to these philanthropic efforts, Colonel Salomon served as a board member on the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, the Children’s Health Center, and the San Antonio de Pala Mission. He also served on boards of academic institutions including the Board of Trustees of the University of San Diego, Atlanta University, the School of Theology at Claremont, and he was a Trustee Emeritus at Georgetown University. Colonel Irving was Chairman of the U.S. Delegation to UNESCO Conference in Paris, later became a U.S. delegate to the United Nations, and represented the country in good will trips to many foreign countries. In 1972 he was conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Georgetown University for his service to the United States Government and Georgetown University.

Directions and Bus Route

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From Interstate 805 south, take State Route 905 west and the Picador Boulevard/Smythe Avenue exit. Turn left on Smythe and proceed to Avenida de la Madrid. Turn left on Avenida de la Madrid. Then turn left on Blando Lane. Proceed two blocks to Diza Road and turn left.

From Interstate 5 south, take State Route 905 east and the Picador Boulevard/Smythe Avenue exit. Turn right on Smythe and proceed to Avenida de la Madrid. Turn left on Avenida de la Madrid. Then turn left on Blando Lane. Proceed two blocks to Diza Road and turn left.

The center is accessible by bus via SDMTS Route 932 and the San Diego Trolley's Blue Line.