Roving lady stilt walker with parasol welcomes people to Broadway Pier celebration.
I really enjoyed checking out a special event around the Broadway Pier today. San Diego’s bayfront is in the middle of a very large-scale multi-year renovation, and the completion of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan Phase I was marked this afternoon with a public celebration!
The big Port Pavilion on the pier itself and various improvements and new structures around the foot of the pier have added color, new life and functionality to an area popular with both tourists and locals. A once narrow sidewalk is now a broad promenade, with lots of fun and exciting new features. There are new benches, shady pavilions, beautiful landscaping and other welcome amenities.
I’ll post some of my better photos, and you can enjoy a bit of what I saw…
San Diegans check out the newly revamped section of the North Embarcadero.New benches along Harbor Drive are festive today for the celebrationMusicians near entrance to Broadway Pier entertain folks for the Port of San Diego.A crazy magician wowed young and old on the action-packed pier today.Exactly who are you pointing at?New tables and chairs provide great view of the bay at end of Broadway Pier.Brave souls soar down a zip-line with a docked cruise ship in background.A kids fun zone near the pier featured a very cool Seal Tours amphibious vehicle.Chalk art created on the pier beneath the zip-line celebrates San Diego sights and tourism.Artist of Mexikota Art works on a canvas south of the pier near Harbor Drive.Folks check out a new sign which features nearby places on the Embarcadero.The unique design on this restroom was created by renowned artist Pae White. This artwork is titled Birds’ Words.Art for the North Embarcadero improvement was created by Pae White. The pavilion buildings’ glass colors were selected based on how sunlight affects the bay.Mariachis take a break between performances near one new colorful pavilion.Mural around walls of a pavilion shows timeline of this bustling stretch of San Diego Bay.Both North and South Embarcadero have seen dramatic changes over the decades.More colorful glass artwork incorporated into a new pavilion along Harbor Drive.San Diego’s waterfront has become more beautiful, user-friendly and interesting!
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Trees ready for planting in new park on Embarcadero.
Major improvements to the North Embarcadero are well underway, and I was able to get some interesting pics yesterday!
Harbor Drive is undergoing a facelift from the Coast Guard Station down to the USS Midway Museum. This area is considered San Diego’s front doorstep, but until this renovation it’s been more parking lot than park.
Many large-scale changes are going to make San Diego even more beautiful! The two ugly parking lots on either side of the County Administration Building are being transformed into grassy waterfront parks; Harbor Drive is being made more pedestrian friendly with pavilions, flower beds and new restrooms; most of the traffic on Harbor Drive will now be diverted onto Pacific Highway.
I’m really looking forward to the project’s completion!
Workers prepare public park near Star of India.County Administration Building will have grass parks on either side.Working on a new pavilion on San Diego’s front doorstep.New pavilion being built behind the Bay Cafe.Sign near Broadway Pier describes Embarcadero improvements.Anchor on Harbor Drive near USS Midway Museum.
Here are two pics I took on 5/24/14…
New waterfront pavilion under construction.Building made of words to be part of new Embarcadero.
And two more pics from 9/20/14…
Pavilion near Broadway will complete part of North Embarcadero Visionary Plan.The word SKY allows light to shine in from the sky!
UPDATE!
I took the following pictures on November 9, 2014. The improvements around the Broadway Pier appear to be nearly finished!
New pavilion near Broadway Pier is almost finished in early November 2014.Colorful glass, shiny surfaces and word-shaped skylights are a delight!Worker putting final touches on a ticket booth to be used by harbor cruise company.Word shining from roof of pavilion spells JOY.Restroom walls are formed of crazy letters spelling various words.A new hotel is rising across Harbor Drive, at site of old Lane Field, north of Broadway.
Roof of Broadway Pier’s beautiful Port Pavilion and clouds in blue sky.
I really like the above photo. That’s the rooftop of the relatively new Port Pavilion at San Diego’s Broadway Pier. I got this colorful pic while standing to the south on nearby Navy Pier.
Until recently the Broadway Pier was a bit barren. Years ago I remember a small two-level observation structure in the middle, with some potted trees arranged about it.
The pier itself was built in 1919. It has been used by the Navy, the local fishing fleet, and even the royal yacht Britannia during a visit in 1983 by Queen Elizabeth. Today the pavilion accommodates special events and cruise ships.
Broadway Pier and downtown San Diego skyscrapers.
This second photo puts that rooftop in context. What a gorgeous December day!
Here comes a third pic taken on a summer day. The silvery stainless steel artwork on the building’s facade was created by internationally renowned artist and lighting designer Leni Schwendinger. It’s called Tidal Radiance.
The shining public art appears like sunlight reflected from rippling water. It also lights up at night.
Tidal Radiance on front of Port Pavilion, facing Harbor Drive.
Here’s another pic taken on a later day just for fun…
Water, pier piles, harbor cruise boat and the beautiful pavilion.
And, finally, two more! The last photo, taken in early October 2014, shows colorful umbrellas and tables recently added near the foot of the Broadway Pier.
Very nice!
Altered photo of the glittering Tidal Radiance.Tables and umbrellas have been added near the foot of the Broadway Pier.
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This photo was taken from Navy Pier just south of the Broadway Pier. It shows a cluster of Hornblower and Flagship harbor excursion boats, plus the big Celebrity Solstice cruise ship at the San Diego cruise ship terminal. If you were to turn to the right, you’d see the historic Santa Fe train depot and shining downtown skyline closeby.
The red, white and blue Patriot speed boat is a new addition to the growing fleet of tour and charter boats seen daily on our beautiful Big Bay!
The following pics were taken on another day:
Harbor tour ships and a Water Taxi next to Broadway Pier.Harbor tour photographer gets photographed!People linger on dock near water taxis.Harbor cruise ships with Navy Broadway Complex in the background.A view of downtown and harbor cruise ships from approaching ferry.The Lord Hornblower approaches as people disembark from Coronado ferry.Patriot speed boat leaves dock, passing USS Midway.
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