The reopening of Horton Plaza Park — long anticipated by San Diegans — will be held on Wednesday, May 4.
Adjacent to Westfield Plaza Shopping Center, Horton Plaza Park is viewed as a dynamic urban plaza where San Diego residents and visitors can gather or rent areas for major celebrations and events.
“The expanded Horton Plaza Park is going to be a true civic treasure,” said Mayor Kevin Faulconer. “I am looking forward to celebrating the grand opening with the entire community.”
The reopening will feature a two-part celebration, highlighting the start of a 25-year public-private partnership between the City of San Diego and Westfield. The afternoon portion will consist of a ribbon-cutting with the mayor and community leaders, followed by a larger community celebration in the evening. The community celebration will include live music, art and entertainment, featuring an internationally renowned performer and artist (to be announced at a later date). Both events will be free and open to the public.
The 2-acre park project began in 2011 and will cost an estimated $17 million. The plaza’s parent Westfield Corp., headquartered in Sydney, Australia, serves locales in the United Kingdom and the United States. Its 34 shopping centers carry a portfolio of nearly $20 billion U.S. dollars in assets. Westfield has agreed to operate the park for 25 years.
When completed, Horton Plaza Park will be open seven days a week, free of charge. The 53,000-square-foot city-owned facility will be programmed and managed by Westfield, who will be responsible for activating the park with 75 events initially, growing to more than 200 events each year. Daily activities will range from lunchtime concerts to cultural festivals, holiday celebrations, weddings and movie screenings. To kick-start programming at the park, Westfield will launch two programs — Plaza Play and Park Unplugged. Plaza Play will feature lifesize games and will encourage community members to engage with each other through friendly competitions and challenges. Park Unplugged will feature local musicians performing in the park.
“This is not a park in the traditional sense, rather a world-class urban plaza and entertainment destination in the heart of the Gaslamp,” said Kim Brewer, Westfield’s Vice President of Development. “Westfield is committed to working with local organizations to ensure the park celebrates San Diego’s diverse culture, spirit and community traditions.”
The park will contain a number of amenities, including:
• Three food and beverage pavilions, with partners including Starbucks, Bruxie and Sloan’s Ice Cream (as well as a trellised patio and seating at each Pavilion);
• The Irving Gill Fountain, one of San Diego’s oldest civic landmarks that has been restored to its original condition from the early 1900s; and • An amphitheater suited for live performances, an interactive pop-jet fountain and eight iconic 23-foot tall color-changing light sculptures.
In addition to being a public facility, Horton Plaza Park will be available to rent for private functions. Westfield has launched an events calendar reservation system on its website to manage requests. — San Diego Metro