Final Design Process Underway for First Phase of Harbor Park Improvements on the Chula Vista Bayfront

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View from the Gaylord Pacific hotel of the existing Bayside Park and new park area where the Port will construct improvements, resulting in an expanded public park and becoming the 25-acre Harbor Park.

The Port of San Diego is entering the final step of design for the first phase of improvements for Harbor Park, currently known as Bayside Park, on the Chula Vista Bayfront. Construction on the first phase, referred to as the Upland Improvements project, is anticipated to begin in the fall, with completion scheduled for summer 2026.

The existing Bayside Park is being expanded to what will become Harbor Park. It will include the approximately 12 existing acres of Bayside Park as well as nearly 13 additional acres of new park space created as part of the Gaylord Resort & Convention Center project, creating an approximately 25-acre park for the public and bayfront visitors.

On Friday, June 6, 2025, the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners approved a contract with BN Builders for progressive design-build services for the Harbor Park Upland Improvements. The primary objective of this first phase of park improvements is to expand the footprint of existing park space to the sidewalk edge of the new E and H Streets bordering the Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center.

Some of the improvements in this phase include:

• Landscaping between the edge of the existing Bayside Park and the Gaylord Hotel site, to provide useable groundcover for general park use and gathering spaces;
• Landscaping along the east edge of the area between H Street and the marina;
• Playground areas encompassing two age groups;
• Circulation pathways connecting E and H Streets to the existing Bayside Park including internal circulation pathways;
• Pedestrian lighting and park furnishings including picnic tables, benches, shade structures, trash and recycling receptacles and bicycle parking and shade trees throughout.

As additional funding is secured, the Port of San Diego will continue to build out Harbor Park in phases to deliver the community's vision. A full build-out concept was created through extensive stakeholder and community engagement. Proposed features at full buildout include:

• Parking improvements on the north end of the park
• An enlarged and improved beach surrounded by terraced headlands;
• A pocket marsh with salt marsh plantings;
• A boat launch at the north end for hand-launched personal watercraft such as kayaks and paddleboards;
• North and south meadows with paths and picnic tables;
• Multi-use lawns and large public gathering areas on both ends;
• More pedestrian and bicycle pathways;
• An interactive fountain, and more.

The expansion of Bayside Park into the larger Harbor Park and added new public amenities is part of the Chula Vista Bayfront redevelopment. In partnership with the City of Chula Vista, the Port of San Diego is transforming the Chula Vista Bayfront into a world-class destination in the South Bay for residents and coastal visitors to enjoy. The first phase of the Chula Vista Bayfront redevelopment includes the brand-new, 39-acre Sweetwater Park, the newly opened Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center, the Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay RV Resort, and the Bayside-to-Harbor Park expansion. More information about the Chula Vista Bayfront is available at portofsandiego.org/chulavistabayfront.