The Park is Coming!

View from Bayside - Open Daily
Contact: MarshaShepard@prusd.com 619-995-1520

Another step forward took place for the progression of a new park along the San Diego bay as a third public meeting was held Monday evening.
The gathering took place to inform the public of the revised designs from the park's lead designer and landscape architect, Dennis Otsuji of ONA Inc.
The revision was done to please residents -- after previous meetings -- on what they wanted to see in the Ruocco Park, a 3.3-acre park planned for the southwest corner of West Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway.
The park calls for open space for activities, events and gatherings, as well as areas to relax with seating and tables.
The design also includes opportunities for public art and different types of drought tolerant plants and landscaping.
The park is being considered thanks to a $3.5 million private donation from the Lloyd and Ilse Ruocco Fund.
"Together, they established a trust fund to provide money for building and maintaining a park in the central area of San Diego," said Marguerite Elicone, the Port's spokesperson.
Lloyd was a well-known San Diego architect and considered the father of the modern architectural movement in San Diego, according to Elicone, and his wife Ilse was a professor of art at San Diego State University and a notable interior designer.
Elicone added that all the Ruoccos requested was the Port use Otsuji as the lead architect and that the initial drawings of the park be used.
ONA Inc. is a San Diego-based firm that has worked on both the Stephen Birch Aquarium and NTC/Liberty Station projects.
"The Port had been looking into building a park down the road, but this grant speeded up the process," she said.
At the first public meeting for the park, the initial plan was presented, which had mostly open green space.
At the second meeting residents had a change to voice their concerns and opinions of the park.
Participants expressed the need for more public utilities, like a playground area for children and restrooms.
The public also wanted the project to integrate with its surrounding waterfront development.
Elicone said the architect and Port took all this into consideration and come up with the final Ruocco Park plan last Monday.
"The public was receptive to all the revisions," she stated, which included using recycled water.
Now before the project can start, the Port will need to use about $1 million of its funds to demolish the former Harbor Seafood Mart site to complete the 3.3-acres needed for the park.
The park's newly revision plan will go to the Port's board of commissioners for approval on Dec. 1.
Then the fourth and last public hearing will take place in January 2010 where the park's art concept will be heard.
The California Coastal Commission will also need to approve a permit for this project, said Elicone, adding that will happen sometime next summer.
"If everything going as scheduled, construction should start in early 2011," Elicone said, with construction slated to take about a year to complete.