The new installation, unfolding at 2510 University Avenue on the wall of Western Dental & Orthodontics from March 24 to March 27, is a collaborative effort by San Diego Muralists, celebrating the energy, pride, and resilience of the Friar Faithful. This project follows the vandalism of a previous Padres mural in North Park earlier this year, reflecting the community’s determination to honor their team through public art.
The new mural comes on the heels of a disheartening incident in February 2025, when a beloved Padres mural along University Avenue - featuring the rallying cry "LFGSD" (Let's F'n Go, San Diego!) and a tribute to Manny Machado’s home run celebration - was defaced with Dodgers graffiti, including the word "Dodgers" and hearts in the Los Angeles team's colors. The original artwork, created by muralists Chris Konecki and Carly Ealey, was covered up, leaving a blank green wall.
With the space now occupied by Replay Toys and the North Park Main Street Group lacking funds for restoration, local Padres fans launched a GoFundMe campaign, raising around $4,800 of a $5,000 goal to commission Konecki and Ealey for a new piece. The artists planned a larger tribute, collaborating with a local photographer to recreate a memorable Padres playoff moment, aiming for completion by Opening Day.
The incoming art piece features the "Let's Go San Diego" phrase along with a swinging Jackson Merrill, the All-Star 2024 rookie who delivered clutch home run after clutch home run last season. This latest mural adds to San Diego’s rich tradition of Padres-inspired public art, which includes tributes to legends like Tony Gwynn in City Heights, Trevor Hoffman in Encinitas, and Joe Musgrove in Little Italy and Grossmont High School, as well as a Chula Vista mural depicting the 2022 playoff run’s iconic goose.
The North Park installation at Western Dental & Orthodontics, a prominent location on University Avenue, underscores the community’s unwavering support for the Padres, especially after last season’s near-miss against the Dodgers in the NLCS. Fans and residents alike are invited to witness the mural's creation this week.
