Horton Plaza Park is an outdoor venue located in the heart of downtown San Diego, which had its grand opening on May 4, 2016. Located on the corner of 4th Avenue and Broadway, the plaza preserves the history and integrity of the original Horton Plaza, while adding key features to enhance the area. In addition to restoring the Broadway Fountain, the park includes an amphitheater for live music acts, retail Pavilions and a new, interactive fountain. The city-owned park was designed by architect Walker Macy and built by Civic San Diego.
Video Horton Plaza Park
History
1890 - 1960
The area of the Park was sold to the city of San Diego in 1890 by its namesake, Alonzo Horton. Originally, the plaza was intended for use by his guests staying at the Horton House Hotel. Louis J. Wilde, banker and part-owner of the U. S. Grant Hotel, donated funds to help build a fountain located in the center of the Park. Irving J. Gill designed the Broadway Fountain, which was completed in 1910.
In 1926, a plaque commemorating the western terminus of the Jefferson Davis Highway was installed in Horton Plaza. It has since been moved to the western sidewalk of the plaza following the 2016 renovation. Following the Charlottesville terror attack in Virginia, the San Diego City Council removed the plaque on August 16, 2017.
1960 - 1970s
Throughout the years, the Horton Plaza Park was the backdrop for many notable events. On November 2, 1960, then-Senator John F. Kennedy spoke at Horton Plaza to make a last-minute appeal for votes just days before the 1960 Presidential Election. On March 19, 1971, the City of San Diego designated the plaza as a historical landmark.
2010 - present
In 2011, the San Diego City Council unanimously voted to approve a unique public-private partnership between Westfield and the City of San Diego. This plan involved Westfield demolishing the former Robinsons-May and Planet Hollywood building at Westfield Horton Plaza Shopping Center and transferring the land to the city. The overall project aims to restore the historic Horton Plaza Park and fountain, re-establishing it as the regional treasure that it was in the early-to-mid 1900s.
Maps Horton Plaza Park
Amenities
Spanning over 53,000-square-feet, Horton Plaza Park is composed of three sections: South Plaza, Amphitheater, and Historic Park. Included in the plaza are granite finishes, an interactive pop-jet fountain and 8 Luminaries (23-foot-tall color-changing light sculptures). There are three food and beverage Pavilions located at Horton Plaza Park including Starbucks and Sloan's Ice Cream. Each Pavilion has adjacent patio seating covered by a trellised overhang.
The onsite ArtsTix Ticket Booth offers tickets to local theaters and other attractions and is operated by the San Diego Performing Arts League. The Park offers recreational, cultural, educational and promotional events for the community, including Park Unplugged, a free ongoing entertainment series, and Plaza Play, an ongoing game series. Horton Plaza Park is available to rent for public or private functions.
See also
- Horton Plaza and Broadway Fountain
- List of parks in San Diego
References
External links
- Official Website
- Horton Park Plaza Opening May 4
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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