Freedom Park receives approval to start construction

Something big is on the horizon along the Embarcadero in downtown San Diego. The Board of Port Commissioners has approved a declaration of intention to build Freedom Park at Navy Pier — a 10-acre space that will make history and preserve it.

Why this is important

This approval allows construction to begin on a project that’s been discussed by the Port of San Diego and USS Midway Museum for over two decades . Specifically, the board approved a $7.4 million contract with AMG Demolition and Environmental Services, Inc. to start demo on the three-story headhouse on Navy Pier. The facility hasn’t been used by the US Navy since 2007.

This stage is expected to begin this spring and last about a year. Navy Pier will then undergo structural repairs before construction starts on Freedom Park’s new amenities.

What’s coming

Freedom Park is expected to be completed in 2028 and will bring more outdoor space along San Diego Bay. It will also honor the city’s military history and everyday heroes.

“Freedom Park at Navy Pier will be the largest veterans park on the West Coast,” said Terry Kraft, the USS Midway Museum’s president and CEO.

The Navy Pier redevelopment will cost an estimated $65 million . Once completed, it’s expected to include:

• A public promenade with trails and educational information.
• Gardens that emphasize native plants.
• Signage, seating, and bike parking.
• Two new monuments and a flagpole at the end of the pier.
• A concessionaire with low-cost snacks and public restrooms.

Much of the development costs center around the ~5-acre space on Navy Pier. The Port of San Diego has clarified that Freedom Park’s full, 10-acre footprint will encompass other areas around the museum and merge Navy Pier and Tuna Harbor Park into one entity.