La Mesa, a city just nine miles east of Downtown San Diego, is nicknamed the "Jewel of the Hills." Its location within a major metropolitan makes it attractive for many, and it has a nice balance of commercial and residential neighborhoods.
With about 60,000 people living there, the city has a typical Southern California climate. It's fairly hot and dry in the summer, being just far enough away from the Pacific Ocean to avoid most of the fog that frequently rolls in during summer mornings. Winters are fairly warm as well, and this is the season during which most of the precipitation falls. High temperatures typically range from the mid-80s in August to the high 60s in December and January. While it can dip below freezing, it's quite rare.
This type of weather is ideal for several types of grass. For instance, bermudagrass is a warm-season type that's relatively resistant to heat and drought. Tall fescue is better suited for the shade, and it can grow year-round. Finally, St. Augustine is a grass that grows quickly, able to make a yard seem lush in just a short time. It does require maintenance to maintain its healthy look.
There are several parks in La Mesa where you can enjoy the greenery. Harry Griffen Park, on the east side of town, is where people can jog, take walks, and take their four-legged friends to run around. It has a canine park with separate fenced-in areas for dogs of different sizes, and some dog owners come by every day to socialize. Harry Griffen Park also has a playground and picnic area, and it's home to many summer concerts. La Mesita Park, Highwood Park, and Collier Park are other popular public spots. They're all sizable, with several acres of land. Collier and Northmont Parks both have tennis courts, with Northmont having a skatepark as well.
The layout of the city makes it fairly easy to get around. Many of the city streets are flat and arranged in a grid, so you can take a short walk or a long, stroll any time of the year. Martin Luther King Jr Freeway is on the southern border, and La Mesa extends to Blue Lake Drive in the north. Part of the neighborhood goes past 125, into the area around Mount Helix. Here, the terrain is quite hilly, so you could get in a workout just going up one block. On the west, the border of La Mesa goes just past 70th Street. In terms of transportation, several freeways cut through the neighborhood, including Interstate 8. Several bus lines criss-cross the area, including many that run along University Avenue, Spring Street, and La Mesa Boulevard.
Those streets are centers of commercial activity, with several shopping centers and smaller stores being located in the city. La Mesa Springs Shopping Center is right in the center of town, and it has a grocery store, bank, chain restaurants, a coffee shop, and some offices. Nearby are places of worship, independently owned ethnic eateries, government buildings, and gas stations.
Another place where locals of all ages tend to hang out is the Grossmont Center. It's an outdoor mall that has some large stores like Walmart, Target, and Macy's in addition to smaller places that sell apparel, footwear, and home goods. Banks, fitness centers, and restaurants can be found here, along with a large movie theater.
Across the street is the Sharp Grossmont Hospital. Having a local hospital is convenient and gives many people peace of mind, and it also attracts many doctor's offices to the nearby properties.
For families in the area, many schools serve the community. The La Mesa-Spring Valley School District covers most of the area, with Grossmont Union High School District reaching into the western parts of the city. La Mesa-Spring Valley is a large district, with 17 elementary schools and four middle schools. Some of those schools within the borders of La Mesa are Rolando, Maryland Avenue, Murdock, and Murray Manor. The high schools in the city are Helix High School and Grossmont High School. Both are large schools with many opportunities for students to get involved in extracurricular activities. After school and on the weekends, it's a frequent sight to see teams on the baseball, football, and soccer fields.
As has been shown for decades, La Mesa is a nice place to put down roots. If you want to keep your yard looking its best, you can turn to Lawn Love for assistance.
