San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park: status, access and AB 2770

San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park is a state park on San Pasqual Valley Rd (SR-78), just east of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. It honors the Kumeyaay people of the valley and the soldiers who fought the Battle of San Pasqual on December 6, 1846. As of October 8, 2026, California State Parks lists the park as open with restrictions: the visitor center, parking lots and other facilities are closed for ongoing renovations, and no reopening date has been published. AB 2770, a bill to give the state's roughly 3.68 acres in the park to the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians at no cost, passed the Senate 40–0 and, on final concurrence, the Assembly 78–0. Gov. Newsom vetoed it on September 27, 2026.

Is the park open right now?

Partly. As of October 8, 2026, State Parks lists it as open with restrictions. The visitor center, parking lots and other facilities are closed for ongoing renovations. SPBVA's contact page says the park is not open until State Parks officially reopens it.

Where do I park, and can I walk the trails?

Park at the San Diego Archaeological Center, 16666 San Pasqual Valley Rd, which State Parks says is inside the park. Whether the trails are open for everyday walk-in use is unclear. State Parks' restriction notice says visitors "have to access to park trails" (wording as posted). The same page says special events are planned throughout the year "for visitors to access the trails." The April 2026 Assembly committee analysis described the park as closed for day use, with special events still held. The park's listed phone is (619) 688-3260.

The Archaeological Center's own website lists museum hours of Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The State Parks page lists different hours: Wednesday–Friday 10–4 and Saturday 10–2. The center's phone is (760) 291-0370.

Will there be a Battle Day this December?

None had been announced as of October 8, 2026. SPBVA says Battle Day is held on the first Sunday of December, which in 2026 is December 6. SPBVA cancelled it in 2023 and did not plan one in 2025 because the park was closed. As of October 8, 2026, neither SPBVA nor the State Parks park page had announced a 2026 event.

What would AB 2770 have done?

It would have required the state to quitclaim its three parcels in the park, about 3.68 acres, to the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians at no cost. The Senate floor analysis reported a State Parks estimate of about $278,000 in one-time General Fund costs if the state's land were transferred, not counting some moving and storage costs. The bill did not require the City of San Diego to transfer its land. If the city agreed to transfer it, the state would have had to give up its lease and permit interests in that land. The Senate floor analysis says the city indicated it would be unable to transfer its land.

Commercial use would have been limited to an educational or cultural center. Related uses such as a gift shop, snack bar and parking lot would have been allowed. Gaming and any other commercial use or development would have been barred. The center would have had to include exhibits on the 1846 battle, including the Mormon Battalion's role.

Public access would have been subject to the tribe's reasonable regulations. Recreation would have been limited to existing trails and roads, and off-road vehicles and e-bikes would have been prohibited. The land could not have been sold or transferred except into federal trust for the tribe. It could not have been mortgaged, and it would have been exempt from property tax.

The bill's findings state that a tribal cemetery lies within the lands, and that the tribe intends to run a park there, open to the public, celebrating its history. Alvarez's office said the tribe envisioned a museum and cultural center open to the public.

Why did the governor veto it?

In his September 27, 2026 veto message, Gov. Newsom wrote that he is concerned that "piecemeal measures, like this bill, could undermine" a systemic approach to ancestral land return. He said that work should be approached systemically, by building processes that are transparent and fair to all interested parties. He wrote that he shares "the author's goal of further advancing ancestral land return."

Did anyone oppose the bill?

No opposition was recorded. No member voted no on the floor or in any committee; some members did not vote. The April 2026 Assembly committee analysis listed no opposition on file, and the August 24, 2026 Senate floor analysis said none was received. The April analysis listed the San Pasqual Band as the bill's sponsor, and both analyses list the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation in support. The April analysis also noted there was no memorandum of understanding between the San Pasqual Band and State Parks covering the property.

Who owns the park?

Ownership is split. The state owns about 3.68 acres, and the City of San Diego owns the rest, according to the Senate floor analysis of AB 2770. That analysis says the city indicated it would be unable to transfer its land. The State Parks park page, the Senate floor analysis and a State Parks staff report for the State Park and Recreation Commission's July 2, 2026 meeting give acreage figures that do not agree, so this page does not give a total size.