Highlighting the progress his administration has made to improve Balboa Park and outlining plans to preserve the future of San Diego's iconic crown jewel, Mayor Todd Gloria delivered his second annual State of Balboa Park address last night. The event, held at the Natural History Museum, focused on the importance of harnessing the power of partnerships to ensure Balboa Park remains a vibrant and sustainable cultural and recreational gem for generations to come. 

“I delivered the first State of Balboa Park last year because I wanted to keep San Diegans updated on the progress we’re making as we maintain and improve our city’s crown jewel,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “Since then, so much work has been done, and so many new decisions have been made, that I felt I needed to do it again, to provide lovers of Balboa Park with new updates on how we are renewing our dedication to maintaining this magical place.” 

Mayor Gloria’s speech was delivered on the day San Diego’s newest ambassadors, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, two giant pandas from China, made their public debut at the world-famous San Diego Zoo, located in Balboa Park. The San Diego Zoo was the first in the U.S. to receive giant pandas in 21 years, and their arrival is emblematic of San Diego’s stellar conservation reputation around the globe.  

In a theme that resonated throughout the evening, Mayor Gloria spoke about the importance of impactful collaborations and working together to ensure Balboa Park remains a civic treasure and beacon for those seeking inspiration from its rich culture and heritage found throughout its lush grounds.  

Recognizing one such person for being an incredibly ardent and fervent park supporter, Mayor Gloria presented Senate President pro Tem Emeritus Toni Atkins with a “Key to Balboa Park.” Her significant contributions to Balboa Park over the past 25 years include helping fund the Botanical Building, the International Cottages, improvements to the Fleet Science Center, the Worldbeat Cultural Center, and the Natural History Museum. 

“Toni’s passion for the park runs deep, and she has backed that passion up with action and leadership at both the local and state levels for more than a quarter of a century,” Mayor Todd Gloria said. “In her various roles as City Councilmember, Interim Mayor, Assemblymember, Assembly Speaker, Senator and Senate President pro Tem, Toni Atkins has come through for Balboa Park time and time again.”  

Additional key highlights in Mayor Gloria’s address include: 

·       Nearing completion of the $28 million ground-up reconstruction of the Botanical Building that recreates the building’s original 1915 design thanks to $9 million in state funding secured by Senate President pro Tem Emeritus Toni Atkins.

·       Signing a lease agreement earlier this week with the Worldbeat Center that formally recognizes center’s 30-year of providing cultural programming and education related to the African diaspora. This agreement, along with a $1 million state grant, will provide much needed improvements to the building.

·       Completing SANDAG’s $27 million Pershing Bikeway Project to greatly enhance the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists along Pershing Drive while improving our environment. 

·       Restoring historic Marston House with a $1 million state grant provided by Assemblymember Chris Ward to repair brickwork, windows and trim so that visitors can soon enjoy its rich heritage. 

Mayor Gloria also announced several projects on the horizon. Under his leadership, the city is: 

·       Issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Starlight Bowl to find a partner for the rehabilitation and operation of the beloved, iconic outdoor amphitheater, marking the beginning of its decades-long anticipated revitalization.

·       Anticipating the release of an RFP to restore the Village Grill Restaurant to add to the unique culinary offerings in the park for visitors to enjoy.

·       Announcing the upcoming ribbon cutting of the World Design Capital Pavilion in the Plaza de Panama; the pavilion will be a vibrant hub for global design discussions for the next few months.

·       Refurbishing the delicate innerworkings of the pipe organ and providing upgrades to the building’s infrastructure located in Spreckels Organ Pavilion.  

Mayor Gloria noted that looking to the future, the time has come to revisit the planning documents that guide development in the Park.   

“The Balboa Park Master Plan is over 35 years old, and while the primary tenets of the plan still hold true, it is time for an update,” Mayor Gloria said. “Tonight, I am directing our Park and Recreation Department and Planning Department staff to seek out grants or other funding that will enable us to begin a new Balboa Park Master Plan Update as well as updates to the various Precise Plans that govern the park.” 

He also asked the City’s Financial Services Department to set up a new fund, where revenue generated in the Park is solely dedicated to making park improvements, instead of being diverted into the General Fund. 

With all these exciting initiatives in the works, Mayor Gloria acknowledged the need for even more revenue to achieve Balboa Park’s full potential. 

"We are making the most out of the City’s limited resources to maintain and elevate this civic treasure," said Mayor Gloria. "However, there is still a long list of unfunded projects and deferred maintenance that we must address." 

The second annual State of Balboa Park attracted more than 150 attendees, including Senate President pro Tem Emeritus Atkins and City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, key stakeholders, City employees, donors, supporters, and others.  

Event Livestream will be available here. High-resolution photos available upon request.