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Public Meeting to Provide Update on Ruocco Park

Wednesday, 09 September 2009
Contact: Marguerite Elicone (619) 686-6222

The Port of San Diego will be holding its second public meeting on the proposed Ruocco Park tomorrow, Sept. 10, 2009, at the Embarcadero Planning Center, 585 Harbor Lane in San Diego.  The meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m.

The public will hear about Lloyd and Ilse Ruocco, who provided the $3.5 million grant for an urban park.  Lloyd was a noted San Diego architect and considered the father of the modern architectural movement here.  His credits include the San Diego Civic Theater, the San Diego County Administration Center, the San Diego Design Center and many private residences.  His wife, Ilse, was a distinguished interior designer and a professor of art at San Diego State University.  Together, they established a trust fund to provide money for building and maintaining a park in the central area of San Diego. 

Ruocco Park is a 3.3-acre park planned for the southwest corner of West Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway on the former Harbor Seafood Mart site, north of Seaport Village.  The park’s lead designer and landscape architect is Dennis Otsuji of ONA, Inc., a San Diego firm that provides services in landscape architecture, urban design and land planning.  The Stephen Birch Aquarium and NTC/Liberty Station are two examples of the firm’s prestigious projects. 

At the meeting, an update on the conceptual design will be presented.  Following the update, the public will be given the opportunity to provide comment.  

The concept includes a sustainable water feature, which will be the main focal point of the park.  The water feature would include a reservoir and may use reclaimed water.  Quiet contemplative areas, family picnic areas and a distinctive plaza area will also be presented in the concept. 

The Port will be jointly funding the park with money allocated in its 2009-2013 Capital Development Program.

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