AT&T plans to put a 65-foot cell tower in Gershwin Park.
Let’s stand together to protect our park and protect our community.
Gershwin Park is the heart of our neighborhood — a cherished community space where children play, families gather, neighbors connect, and residents enjoy one of the few remaining quiet green spaces in Clairemont.
AT&T is proposing to install at 65-foot faux eucalyptus cell tower in the park, along with a 250-square-foot ground equipment enclosure and a diesel generator containing 50 gallons of fuel. This industrial-scale project would fundamentally change the character, safety, and atmosphere of the park our community depends on every day.
We need your help to stop AT&T.
The tower is unnecessary
According to the FCC National Broadband Map, the proposed location at 3549 Conrad Avenue already shows 100% AT&T outdoor wireless and in-vehicle mobile coverage, as well as full fixed broadband availability in the surrounding area. Neighbors with AT&T service have reported that they do not experience problems with coverage, and they do not want this tower.
If AT&T believes there are isolated service gaps in the area, those issues can be addressed through less intrusive and more community-compatible alternatives, including:
- Small cell antennas.
- Distributed antenna system (DAS) nodes.
- Signal amplifiers.
- Co-location on existing structures.
- Other engineering solutions.
A 65-foot tower in a neighborhood park should be the last resort, not the first option.
What’s at risk
This is about far more than the visual impact of a fake tree cell tower looming above the park’s natural landscape. The proposed project raises serious concerns about environmental impact, public safety, property values, noise, and the long-term industrialization of one of our community’s most valued green spaces. Residents should not have to sacrifice the character and tranquility of Gershwin Park for a large-scale telecommunication facility.
Environmental concerns
The proposed faux eucalyptus tower uses synthetic branches and PVC leaves attached to a steel monopole. These materials will degrade over time, creating macroplastic pollution, runoff into storm drains and protected areas, and ongoing maintenance waste. This proposal introduces thousands of pounds of artificial plastic materials into a public park that should be protected for children, wildlife, and families.
Ecological impact
The proposed site is directly adjacent to canyon habitat that supports nesting birds, pollinators, local wildlife, and native vegetation. Additionally, installation at the proposed site will require modification of the surrounding tree canopy, clearing vegetation, and modifying terrain, which can fragment habitat.
Noise pollution
Backup generators, cooling equipment, and ongoing maintenance activity may create intermittent noise that affects wildlife in otherwise quiet habitat corridors. Residents and parkgoers will be also impacted by the noise pollution, as the proposed site is just steps away from residential property lines, a tennis court, a horse shoe pit, and bike paths.
Increased fire hazard
A cell tower with a diesel generator near a canyon can create incremental wildfire risk because it introduces fuel storage, electrical equipment, and potential ignition sources into an environment that often already has dry vegetation, high fire dangers, and limited evacuation/access routes. Even small failures or leaks can pose an unnecessary risk to surrounding open space and nearby homes.
Future expansion risk
If approved, federal law may allow future expansion. Under Section 6409 of the Spectrum Act, the tower height may be eligible for an increase of up to 20 additional feet, potentially bringing it to 85 feet. This means approval today could open the door to an even larger structure tomorrow.
Home values
For many families, their home represents their largest financial investment. Installing a highly visible industrial telecommunications structure in a neighborhood park could negatively impact surrounding property values and permanently alter the character of the community. In many real estate transactions, the presence of nearby cell tower infrastructure may also become a required disclosure to prospective buyers.
Radiation safety
Residents are deeply concerned about potential radiofrequency (RF) exposure-related health issues, particularly for children. There is still a substantial amount of research to be done in order to understand the long-term effects of exposure to RF radiation. Despite these concerns, under the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, local zoning boards cannot deny cell tower applications based on health concerns related to RF radiation, provided the facilities comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations.
Jennifer Jones Memorial Nature Exploration Area
The City of San Diego opened the Jennifer Jones Memorial Nature Exploration Area in Gershwin Park in 2019. The proposed cell tower would significantly alter the natural character of this unique space, replacing a peaceful setting for nature appreciation and quiet observation with visible industrial infrastructure.
The nature exploration area was named after Jennifer Jones with the support of the community, the Greater North Clairemont Recreation Advisory Group, and City Council Offices District 2 and 6 — districts that will also vote on AT&T’s cell tower proposal. As detailed in the 2019 proposal to name this area in her honor, Jennifer Jones was “the young mother of two children and frequent patron at Gershwin Neighborhood Park. She was an environmentalist and shared her love for nature with her family and friends. It was her dream to create a Nature Exploration Area at Gershwin Neighborhood Park.”
Our community benefits from the plans that Jennifer Jones initiated to create the nature park, and we — including the city — must protect the park’s integrity.
“The Jennifer Jones Memorial Nature Exploration Area is designed to provide children the opportunity to interact with nature and promote fitness and creativity through play in natural environments.”
The City of San Diego’s Facebook post upon opening the nature exploration area at Gershwin Park on October 11, 2019.