FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
May 5, 2021

CONTACT:
MayorPress@sandiego.gov

SAN DIEGO – Continuing his commitment to creating vibrant public spaces that encourage walkability and enhance quality of life, Mayor Todd Gloria today was joined by Council President Pro Tem Stephen Whitburn and civic leaders to break ground on a major project to improve Children’s Park in Downtown San Diego’s Marina neighborhood.

“A city can’t truly be great without vibrant public spaces,” said Mayor Gloria. “With the redevelopment of Children’s Park, we’re transforming this space into a place where residents and visitors can gather, relax, picnic, play, exercise and enjoy a beautiful part of our Downtown area. This is how we create a city that works for all of us.”

The $9 million urban park project will revitalize the existing 1.4-acre park, including the Civic Pond that was built in 1995. Construction on the park will begin immediately and is expected to be completed by Summer 2022.

“This renovation of Children’s Park is desperately needed,” said Council President Pro Tem Whitburn, who represents Downtown. “These improvements will revitalize one of our prized Downtown open spaces, in line with the community plan. I thank Mayor Gloria for working with local residents and my office to help make our Downtown neighborhoods even better.”

New trees will be planted, and sidewalks will be improved to be more consistent with the  Downtown Streetscape Manual. The project also includes the additions of a children’s play area, a walkway through the Civic Pond, a vendor building, adult exercise equipment, a picnic area, an off-leash dog run, and a lawn area with access to a public restroom staffed by an attendant. An art piece highlighting the urban-forest theme has been created for the project by artist Miki Iwasaki.

“We are excited to be a part of this park improvement project in the Marina neighborhood,” said Maddy Kilkenny, chair of Civic San Diego. “The new and improved Children’s Park will provide residents, workers, and visitors of all ages with access to an incredible park that represents the best of San Diego.”

While the project will help transform Downtown San Diego into a world-class urban center, it also aligns with the goals of the  Downtown Community Plan, which encourages development of a diverse range of outdoor opportunities for residents, workers, and visitors.

“It’s hard to overstate the significance and impact of green spaces to the economic prosperity and cultural vitality of our Downtown,” said Betsy Brennan, president, and CEO of the Downtown San Diego Partnership. “We’re happy to continue lending the expertise of our DSDP Clean & Safe maintenance and safety ambassadors to make sure the future park’s water feature and its surrounding public spaces shine. We can’t wait for this new amenity to provide another opportunity for local families, visitors, and everyone in between to rediscover Downtown.”

The project is being funded with fees that developers pay to promote civic benefits.

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