BALBOA PARK VISION PLAN
After conducting several community workshops and charrettes, this vision and master plan for San Diego’s Balboa Park and surrounding neighborhoods was developed to address the concerns and needs of residents, community and city leaders, local businesses, and other stakeholders. The plan also established a vision for future growth and use of the park as both, a regional and neighborhood resource.
Central to the plan were six guiding principles and design ideas:
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Strategically reallocate uses to maximize value of land and improve adjacencies.
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Stitch the various park areas together with walkable connectors and bridges.
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Preserve and restore natural features and habitats.
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Use canyons to extend the park and wildlife into surrounding neighborhoods.
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Transform surrounding neighborhood wide streets into activated paseos.
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Create a neighborhood center with needed services.
CURRENT USES AND NEIGHBORHOOD DEMOGRAPHICS
Park resources are mismatched with population locations and density
Park needs to operate at two scales: Regional and Neighborhood
STEP 1: RELOCATE PORTION OF GOLF COURSE TO RECLAIM LAND FOR PARK USE ADJACENT TO NEIGHBORHOODS
Example golf courses built on land fills
STEP 2: STITCH TOGETHER PARK AREAS WITH TRAILS AND BRIDGES
Examples of canyon bridges
STEP 3: CONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE PARK WITH CANYONS AND PASEOS
Existing Wide Road
Existing Road Section
New Paseo Section
New Paseo
STEP 4: CREATE A NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
Existing Underused Parking Lot
New Center
Town Green
Local Retail
Outdoor Dining
Library
Housing
Bus Station
Neighborhood Centers