San Diego Canyonlands received the Opening the Outdoors grant from San Diego Foundation to mentor youth through habitat restoration. Through this grant, we worked with youth from Urban Corps of San Diego to restore land in Olivia Canyon and create a native plant garden. With the support of City Farmers, a local business situated on the canyon edge, Moosa Creek Nursery, Urban Corps of San Diego, and San Diego Foundation, we planted 250 native plants for the community to enjoy.
In 2021, San Diego Canyonlands petitioned the City of San Diego to name this garden and the adjacent trail after late community hero Bill Tall. Bill Tall was the founder of City Farmers in City Heights and passed in January 2021. The garden is now named Farmer Bill’s Habitat Garden and the trail is named The Tall Trail to honor the legacy of Mr. Tall.