Good News About The Park To Bay Construction
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"PARK TO BAY LINK" GROUNDBREAKING COMMEMORATED

SAN DIEGO, CA - The Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) and Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB) celebrated the commencement of construction on the "Park to Bay Link" project on Friday, September 5. This $30 million public-improvement project will connect the new Ballpark and the northeastern area of downtown with a landscaped pedestrian promenade along Park Boulevard. The project will include widened sidewalks, parking, trees, lighting and public art to encourage private development and to aesthetically improve this public space. Additionally, the Market Street Trolley Station will be redeveloped and realigned for increased efficiency and an enhanced trolley riding experience.

"We are finally fulfilling the vision of planner John Nolen, who almost 100 years ago proposed a link between Balboa Park and the bayfront," Mayor Dick Murphy said at the afternoon event. "This project will connect downtown's two most beautiful natural resources and help revitalize East Village at the same time."

Councilman Michael Zucchet, SANDAG Chairman Ron Morrison, MTDB Chairman Leon Williams, CCDC Chairman Hal Sadler, and East Village Association President Kevin deFreitas also spoke at today's event.

Construction officially began in July 2003 and completion of the first phase of the project on Park Boulevard from Market to K streets is anticipated in early March 2004, prior to the opening of the Ballpark. Current and upcoming developments along the "Park to Bay Link" include the Smart Corner, a mixed-used development with 299 residential units and 93,000 square feet of new office space; Staybridge Suites, a 68-suite hotel by Holiday Inn; Island Village Apartments, a mixed-use development that includes 280 low-income studio apartments; Park Boulevard West, 117 condominiums with 10,000 square feet of retail space; Park Boulevard East, a 104-condominium project; and the City's 10-story new Main Library, scheduled to open in 2007.

The "Park to Bay Link" was first envisioned in 1908 by then City planner John Nolen, who viewed Balboa Park and the San Diego Bay as the City's finest assets. Although the promenade takes a different path than the one imagined by Nolen, it brings to life his vision of a pedestrian-friendly transit corridor where people can enjoy strolling, shopping, dining and art.