Port Commission Awards Contract For Construction of Ruocco Park

Tuesday, 09 August 2011
Contact: John Gilmore (619) 686-7206

Groundbreaking is expected in early October for the Port of San Diego’s newest waterfront park — the 3.3-acre Ruocco Park that will provide picturesque views of San Diego Bay, as well as a quiet green space.

• Ruocco Park development project website

The port’s Board of Port Commissioners on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011, voted to award the $3.5 million construction contract to Ledcor Construction Inc., a general contracting company, which has offices in San Diego and across North America. The company’s local projects include the San Elijo Town Center, a Scripps Health clinic and a ViaSat building, all in Carlsbad.

The park — located near Seaport Village on West Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway (map) — could be open by the end of 2012. It will be the port’s 18th public bayside park.

“This will be one of the jewels of the port tidelands,” Commissioner Lee Burdick said before the seven-member board’s unanimous vote awarding the contract.

The park will include more than 100 trees, ornamental flowers and plants, decorative hardscape, quiet contemplative areas, restrooms, and an art element that features a trellis sculpture by artist Roman de Salvo.

Landscape architect Dennis Otsuji of ONA designed the park features.

The park is jointly funded by the port and a $3.5 million grant from the Lloyd and Ilse Ruocco Fund, which is administered by the San Diego Foundation.

Lloyd Ruocco was a noted San Diego architect and is considered the father of the modern architectural movement in the area. He and his wife, Ilse, were educational leaders in the city throughout the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s.

More than 25 years ago, the couple established a trust that would provide money to build and maintain parks in the central area of San Diego. The Ruocco Fund was specifically established to help create a public waterfront park that would feature a distinctive urban design.

The port provides a variety of community services on San Diego Bay and its surrounding tideland for boaters, cyclists, fishermen, runners, art enthusiasts, along with amenities enjoyed by both residents and tourists. The port manages 17 public parks along the bay that include children’s playgrounds, basketball courts, soccer fields, baseball fields and miles of scenic walkways. Other amenities include four public fishing piers, four public boat launch ramps and several accessible boat docks.