A special ceremony will be held on Saturday, Aug. 25 at Chula Vista Community Park next to EastLake High School. The party begins at 4 p.m., with activities and presentations to recognize some of the many people who have made significant contributions to the quality of life in the neighborhood.

EastLake High School’s retiring principal Stan Canaris is among those to be honored. Special mention also will be made of EastLake “firsts” – those residents who were the first to get married, the first born, the first to graduate from EastLake schools, and many others.

Some of EastLake’s pioneering residents also will share photographs and memorabilia displays of the early days in the neighborhood.

The birthday bash is being held in conjunction with the final night of the Summer Sounds Concerts in the Park series. The Heroes, one of San Diego’s most popular party bands, will perform a 90-minute concert starting at 5 p.m. Picnicking is encouraged during the concert and food will be available at the park.

And, of course, there will be birthday cake for all, compliments of the local Costco and The EastLake Company. The Starbucks-10,000 RV Sampling Motorhome will be on hand along with several other popular local businesses joining in the celebration.

“EastLake residents won’t want to miss reliving some of the neighborhood’s historic moments, meeting some of our hometown heroes and enjoying a great afternoon and evening with friends and neighbors,” says Bill Ostrem, president and CEO of The EastLake Company.

History in the Making

Fifteen years ago, the EastLake community premiered with the advertising slogan “City Close, Country Quiet.”

People were intrigued by the idea of a new home community where they could live, work and play, all in close proximity. Hundreds of homebuyers camped out to be the first to view the models and put their names on a waiting list to purchase the 1,823 homes in the initial phase of Chula Vista’s first master-planned community.

In the summer and fall of 1986, the first residents moved into the communities first two neighborhoods, EastLake Hills and EastLake Shores.

Many of those first residents still call EastLake home. Some reside in their original homes in EastLake Hills and EastLake Shores, while others have resettled in EastLake Greens and EastLake Trails.

Among the early settlers of EastLake are Debbie Dunlap, a 15-year resident who moved from a rented condo in Mira Mesa and now works with the EastLake II Community Association.

Jody and George Ochoa moved to EastLake in the late 1980s from Irvine and now have two children active in local schools and community groups.

Long-time residents Eddie, Patricia and Pamela Geniza epitomize the EastLake spirit of community involvement. He is the facilities manager at the Olympic Training Center, and daughter Pamela is an accomplished singer who recently performed the National Anthem at EastLake’s 4th of July celebration.

Bonnie and John Schmuckle also were among the first EastLake residents. They now live in EastLake Greens, where their kids are members of the EastLake Piranhas swim team.

Future Looks Bright

The success of the first two neighborhoods was followed in 1989 with the opening of EastLake Greens, the 846-acre neighborhood centered on the Ted Robinson designed golf course. And in spring of 1999, construction began on EastLake Trails, bound on one side by the historic Salt Creek Corridor, which is being developed as a community park by the City of Chula Vista.

Today, the vibrant EastLake community is home to more than 11,000 residents and boasts four schools, nine private resident parks as well as city parks, lakes, miles of walking and biking trails and an 18-hole championship golf course. Current phasing in EastLake includes the residential neighborhood of EastLake Trails, along with the EastLake Business Center and the EastLake Village Center.

Next summer, sales will begin in two new neighborhoods, EastLake Vistas and The Woods. These neighborhoods, overlooking the upper and lower Otay Lakes, will include lot sales for custom-built homes and several high-end and luxury home communities.

Fifteen-year residents agree that EastLake just keeps getting better with age.