Don't Miss the Grand Opening Celebration for the North Embarcadero | Public Invited to Celebrate the Visionary Plan’s First Phase Completion on Saturday, November 15

Photo courtesy of Port of San Diego

November 9, 2014

In the past year, the the San Diego Bay Embarcadero area has received an amazing and most exciting renovation. It started with the completion of The Headquarters at Seaport Village, then the gorgeous Waterfront Park and now, get ready to welcome the completely new North Embarcadero. To celebrate, the Port of San Diego will host a grand opening celebration for the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan Phase I completion on Saturday, November 15, from 12-4pm. This free family event will take place on San Diego’s new and improved “front porch” at the foot of West Broadway and Harbor Drive and feature roving musical entertainment, music ensembles, street performers and exhibitors to delight community members as they explore the improvements to San Diego’s newest public meeting space. A formal ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony will be held at 3:30pm

Photo courtesy of Port of San Diego

During the event, food will be available for purchase from local specialty food trucks. For younger guests, a kids’ zone will be available with an arts and crafts station. For adult guests, San Diego craft beer will be for sale aboard a floating beer garden featuring live music on the California Spirit vessel. There will be a zip line on the pier and Flagship Cruises will be offering complimentary rides on the Patriot Jet Boat. There will also be opportunities to win passes to local attractions. The theme of the event is “San Diego’s Passport to the Waterfront.”

The ceremony will feature Naruwan Taiko Drummers and the Port of San Diego’s Harbor Police Department Honor Guard. Speakers confirmed who represent the partnership and commitment of this project include Port Chairman Bob Nelson, Port Commissioner Marshall Merrifield, Acting Port President/CEO John Bolduc, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, San Diego City Council President Todd Gloria and Civic San Diego Chair Cynthia Morgan. 

Photo courtesy of Port of San Diego

The event commemorates a historic milestone for San Diego’s most prominent waterfront site. The North Embarcadero Visionary Plan Phase I is a comprehensive project to enhance the waterfront and create new public open space that welcomes residents and tourists. This $31.1 million joint project of the Port of San Diego, the City of San Diego and Civic San Diego beautifies the waterfront from Navy Pier to B Street Pier. The project’s contractor, USS Cal Builders, started construction in January 2012.

Highlights of the North Embarcadero project include dramatic, swooping streetlights (imported from Poland) along the new “Grand Hall” along West Broadway; lush jacaranda trees, whose purple blooms are synonymous with San Diego because it's the city’s official tree; iconic public art by the internationally acclaimed artist Pae White incorporated into the design for new pavilions, café building, information center' and a new bathroom building that is also a Pae White art piece!

The design team is led by Project Design Consultants and includes Civitas, Spurlock Poirier Landscape Architects and Joseph Wong Design Associates, among others. Dramatic, swooping streetlights can be seen lining the new “Grand Hall” along West Broadway. Lush jacaranda trees (the tree of San Diego!) donated by the Village Garden Club of La Jolla adorn the area with purple blooms. A 105-foot-wide public esplanade provides an inviting place to walk. There’s also a new information center, and a new café building where a a Carnitas' Snack Shack restaurant is expected to open as early as Spring next year.

Photo courtesy of Port of San Diego

Iconic public art by the internationally acclaimed artist and Californa-native, Pae White, is incorporated into the design for the new pavilions, café building and entertainment center. The new restroom building is also a Pae White art piece. The project also includes significant improvements to roadways, utilities and storm water systems. One example of these improvements is a water quality band. It is a natural water filtration system, created by layered mulch, soil and gravel. Water runoff from the street and sidewalks enters the band and trickles down through the layers, allowing only clean water to go into San Diego Bay.

Photo courtesy of Port of San Diego

This year has been highly significant for San Diego’s waterfront. Not only does the North Embarcadero have a new look, but the County of San Diego’s waterfront park opened May 10. Construction is underway at Lane Field with a hotel and a new public park, adding to the amenities to in the area.

Parking for the community event is available at metered parking spots and paid parking lots near the event. Attendees are encouraged to carpool or take public transportation. The San Diego Trolley has convenient stations with service to the Harbor Drive and Embarcadero areas with free and paid parking lots.

The new North Embarcadero is located at 1000 North Harbor Drive in downtown San Diego. For more information, visit portofsandiego.org.