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<\/a>\u201cAfter 100 years of serving as the crown jewel of our world-class city, we\u2019re showing off Balboa Park in a whole new light,\u201d\u00a0stated Mayor Kevin Faulconer in a press release. \u201cThis is just one of the many ways we are elevating and improving Balboa Park to make sure it remains a treasure for future generations of San Diegans.\u201d<\/p>\n
Workers removed existing outdoor light fixtures and replaced them with red, green, and blue LED lights, which are programmable in 2,700 color hues and will allow for architectural color washes on building exteriors.<\/p>\n
The project was a partnership among the city of San Diego, SDG&E and CleanTECH San Diego.<\/p>\n
In addition, the city has installed energy-efficient lighting in its antique-style streetlights throughout the park and the string lights that connect them. The overall effort reportedly will save the city approximately $50,000 annually in energy and maintenance.<\/p>\n
Appropriately, a New Year\u2019s Eve party with marching units and a Spreckels Organ concert\u00a0kicked off the celebration.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been wonderful since the city has taken over the [Centennial] project,\u201d said Michael Ruiz, district manager for Balboa Park 2015.\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re really working with various non profit and profit organizations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ruiz said it was not the city\u2019s intention to dictate what the museums should or shouldn\u2019t do, but rather to encourage events with the main goal of celebrating the park.\u00a0He pointed to some changes and innovations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe tower will be open to the public for the first time in 80 years, signs will be updated and there will be an expanded Wi-Fi system, making it the largest on the West Coast.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other highlights will include an expanded Japanese Friendship Garden and a model railway garden exhibit, where visitors can take control with mobile phones.<\/p>\n
Although the disbanded Balboa Park Celebration, Inc. had planned to have professional acts and musicians, the city can call on many on the grounds. Several dance and ballet groups \u2014 including the San Diego Civic Dance Arts, San Diego Civic Dance Association and San Diego Civic Youth Ballet \u2014 as well as the San Diego Youth Symphony, are planning performances throughout the year.<\/p>\n
Ruiz said there is no other place \u2014 except for the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. \u2014 where there is such a diverse collection of cultural and\u00a0art institutions all in one place.<\/p>\n
At least 13 of the 17 museums have selected venues that fit their formats and some will bring attention to 1915 Exposition achievements. The San Diego History Center will display components of the 1915 Expo, while Marston House will feature 20 landscape and building designers of that era.<\/p>\n