Waterfront Park getting new pickleball courts, basketball court, dog park, and more

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The Waterfront Park in downtown San Diego has several new amenities that are opening to the public next week.

San Diego County Parks and Recreation has announced the grand opening of a new active recreation space at Waterfront Park opening on Monday, July 22 following the weekend Bayfest at the park.

County parks and recreation says they repurposed the northeast coroner of the park into a 1.5-acre active recreation zone, which has several new amenities:

• two pickleball courts
• basketball court
• five-station fitness apparatus
• fenced off-leash dog park
• drinking fountains with pet bowls
• table tennis
• shaded seating/benches
• site lighting
• and accessible pathways

Also, new trees and plants will be planted in a half-acre garden area, county parks and recreation said in their initial announcement.

The ribbon cutting for the new recreation space at Waterfront Park will take place Monday, July 22 at 11:30 a.m. with officials from the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation, joined by Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Terra Lawson-Remer, among others.

After the grand opening presentation, park officials are inviting the public to stay for a free, interactive pickleball workshop on the new courts, along with basketball games; all equipment will be provided and all ages are welcome.

The basketball court and the pickleball courts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be a pickleball challenge court and an open play court as well.

County parks and recreation officials broke ground on the project in the fall of 2023 , and hosted public meetings in January and October of 2020, April 2021 and January 2022 to collect feedback from residents and park users to develop a final concept plan .

The new amenities will be free to use and open to all ages.

Waterfront Park is located at 1600 Pacific Highway near Harbor Island and the Embarcadero, and is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. It features the County Administration building in the park’s center, and has an interactive splash fountain, innovative play area, garden rooms, benches, restrooms and several picnic areas.

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