Balboa Park | A landscape of Arts and Culture

Project Statement

“I am saddened at the court’s decision that has effectively ended the Plaza de Panama Project. It is a shame that this action could prevent us from having the pleasure of watching children happily playing in a car-free Plaza de Panama, or enjoying a quiet cup of coffee in the Plaza de California. In the future, when it becomes obvious to all that the use of the Plaza de Panama and the Plaza de California for traffic thoroughfares and parking is not a reasonable beneficial use, the city will have available for reference detailed plans and a comprehensive EIR which has withstood the assault of one CEQA law suit.

I would like to thank all of the members of the Plaza de Panama Committee, consultants, leaders of the Park institutions, project supporters, and the many city workers who provided expertise to ensure the plans not only were in conformance with city rules but also would provide a great improvement to the core of the park.” - Dr. Irwin Jacobs

Updates

Plaza de Panama

EIR and Public Outreach Updates- 5/25/2011

Environmental Impact Report

From March 23 through April 22, the City of San Diego led public scoping for the Plaza de Panama Project. The scoping period allowed the public to provide input on project alternatives that will be included for study in the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The City held a scoping meeting on April 14^th in the Balboa Park Ballroom to solicit public input regarding the scope and alternatives of the proposed EIR.

Now that the scoping process has been completed, the City is evaluating which project alternatives will be studied further in the EIR. The Draft EIR is anticipated to be released for public review and comment in late summer 2011.

Public Outreach

The Plaza de Panama project team has been making informational presentations about the project to interested groups all over San Diego. These groups have included the League of Women Voters, the Catfish Club, the East Village Association, the San Diego Downtown Partnership and the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.

Most recently, at the League of Women Voters’ forum, project team members participated in a panel titled “Balboa Park: The Next Four Years”. The event was well-attended, and there was a discussion about the Plaza de Panama project, the Balboa Park Conservancy and other issues relevant to the park.

If you would like the project team to make an informational presentation to your group about the Plaza de Panama project, please send an email to info@plazadepanama.org . Please include your name, contact information, and the name of the organization requesting the presentation. For upcoming presentations that are open to the public, please visit our Calendar page.

Feb. 3 Presentation Posted (2/19/2011)

The Plaza de Panama Committee's February 3 presentation is available on the designs page of this site.

The PDF includes detailed information about the project vision and goals; design alternatives; existing conditions and the proposed plan; and the project schedule.

Project Summary and Historical Issues Document Posted (01/2011)

For details about the project's vision, history, and process, download the "Project Summary and Historical Issues" document on the Public Letters page of this site.

Jan. 8 Presentation Posted (01/2011)

The presentation from Saturday, January 8 is now available on the designs page of this site.

Divided into two PDF documents, the presentation includes design principles and preliminary design ideas for the Plaza de California, Plaza de Panama, Alcazar Lot, Organ Pavilion Parking Garage, Rooftop Park, and Bypass Road.

Renderings added to the Designs page (01/2011)

We have added a PDF to the designs page with renderings of what the proposed bypass bridge by the Museum of Man would look like. Stay tuned for additional renderings and other visuals.

You are invited to share your comments at the public meeting on Saturday morning at the Balboa Park Club.

Public invited to Plaza de Panama Project Meeting on January 8, 2011 (01/2011)

On January 8 at 9am, the public is invited to a special meeting about the Plaza de Panama Circulation and Parking Structure Project. The meeting will focus on the uses, character, and design for the Plaza de Panama, East Prado, Mall (Esplanade), and rooftop park areas of the park. See the full meeting agenda.

Saturday, January 8 at 9am

Balboa Park Club Ballroom

2150 Pan American Road West

San Diego, CA 92101

Construction & Access

The Plaza de Panama project was approved by the City Council on July 9, 2012. While construction was scheduled to begin in Fall 2012, the Plaza de Panama Committee has postponed the start of construction until mid-February 2013 to allow for the resolution of litigation filed by project opponents. Construction on the project is scheduled to be complete in early October 2014, in time for the 2015 Centennial Celebration in Balboa Park.

The construction phasing for the project has been highly sequenced to provide continued access to Balboa Park and its attractions throughout construction. The phasing ensures that two-way vehicle traffic through the park and access to institutions is maintained.

The construction phases, durations and areas impacted are described below and in this two-page overview.

PHASE 1: UTILITY RELOCATION

Timeline: Mid-February through March 2013
Duration: 6 weeks
Areas impacted: East side of Organ Pavilion Parking Lot, northern portion of Pan American Road West
Access: Through traffic will continue as it does today

PHASE 2A: ORGAN PAVILION PARKING STRUCTURE, TEMPORARY ROAD, TUNNEL DECK, CENTENNIAL BRIDGE

Timeline: April through June 2013
Duration: 3 months
Areas impacted: Organ Pavilion Parking Lot, Pan American Road East, Archery Range in Cabrillo Canyon
Access: Free tram service begins between Inspiration Point and the Plaza de Panama - service anticipated between 6 am-12 am approximately every 10-15 minutes; through traffic maintained using Pan American Road West and Pan American Place (roads around International Cottages)

PHASE 2B: ORGAN PAVILION PARKING STRUCTURE, ROOFTOP PARK, CENTENNIAL BRIDGE

Timeline: Late June 2013 through April 2014
Duration: 10 months
Areas impacted: Organ Pavilion Parking Lot, Archery Range in Cabrillo Canyon
Access: Free tram service continues between Inspiration Point and the Plaza de Panama - service anticipated from 6 am-12 am approximately every 10-15 minutes; through traffic returns to Pan American Road East (same route that is used today)

PHASE 3: ALCAZAR PARKING LOT & UTILITY RELOCATION

Timeline: Mid-March through Mid-June 2014
Duration: 3 months
Areas impacted: Alcazar Parking Lot
Access: Free tram service continues between Inspiration Point and Plaza de Panama - service anticipated between 6 am-12 am approximately every 10-15 minutes; through traffic continues as it does today

PHASE 4: PLAZAS, ESPLANADE & PROMENADE

Timeline: Mid-June through early October 2014
Duration: 3 1/2 months
Areas impacted: (work will be sequenced to ensure access to institutions) Plaza de California, West El Prado, Plaza de Panama, Esplanade, Pan American Promenade (formerly Pan American Road)
Access: Alcazar parking lot open for disabled parking, drop-off and valet service; Organ Pavilion parking structure open; free tram service continues between parking structure and Plaza de Panama - service hours to be determined (construction will be sequenced to allow tram access to Plaza de Panama, as possible); through traffic uses Centennial Bridge and Road

SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. UPDATES WILL BE POSTED REGULARLY.

Media

Plaza de Panama

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Press Releases

Media Coverage

2012 Coverage

Hall: Would you pay to park at Balboa Park? (UT San Diego: October 24, 2012)

Balboa Park Construction Delayed to February (UT San Diego: October 19, 2012)

Plaza de Panama: Balboa Park renovation set to begin in October (The Daily Transcript: August 30, 2012)

Filner Flips, Backs Balboa Park Remodel (Voice of San Diego: August 22, 2012)

SOHO Sues City Over Balboa Park Plan (UT San Diego: August 13, 2012)

The Plaza de Panama Comittee issued a statement in response:

It’s disappointing that SOHO has chosen to waste taxpayer dollars by suing the City of San Diego in an attempt to subvert a two year democratic process. The Plaza de Panama project was approved after extensive community outreach and input (with over 200 meetings), a unanimous planning commission recommendation, and a 6-1 city council vote. The environmental review for the project was the most extensive ever done in Balboa Park history and considered over 20 alternatives. This painstaking and comprehensive effort balanced the interests of all San Diego citizens and Balboa Park users, and concluded that the approved project best prepares Balboa Park for the next 100 years while still honoring its past. It is now time for all of us to move forward with reclaiming the plazas from cars and returning them to the people.

Will Balboa Park's new look be better? (UT San Diego: July 15, 2012)

Idiotic? Let us count the ways (UT San Diego: July 11, 2012)

Letter to the Community: Todd Gloria explains his vote on Balboa Park changes (San Diego Gay & Lesbian News: July 10, 2012)

Plaza de Panama Plan Approved (UT San Diego: July 10, 2012)

Council Approves Plaza de Panama Plan (NBC San Diego: July 10, 2012)

City Council Approves Controversial Balboa Park plan (KUSI News: July 10, 2012)

Editorial - Plaza de Panama Approved at City Council - My Thoughts (Scoop San Diego: July 9, 2012)

A new Balboa Park: What's gained and lost (UT San Diego: July 6, 2012)

Balboa Park: Time to act (UT San Diego: June 30, 2012)

Balboa Par k Could Be Even Greater if Jacobs Plan Implemented (Voice of San Diego Letter: June 26, 2012)

Jacobs Plan for Balboa Park 'Once-In-a-Lifetime Opportunity' (Voice of San Diego Letter: June 22, 2012)

Planning Comission Approves Plaza de Panama (KPBS Radio News: June 8, 2012)

Planning Commission Approves Balboa Park Makeover (Fox 5: June 7, 2012)

Balboa Park Plan Approved by Planning Commission (UT San Diego: June 7, 2012)

Jacobs Deserves Thanks for Offering to Pay for Balboa Park Changes (Voice of San Diego: June 7, 2012)

Balboa Park Parking Solution 'Has to be Done,' Commission Chairman Says (UT San Diego: June 5, 2012)