Harbor Park

Petersen Studio is leading the design of 25-acre Harbor Park in Chula Vista, the central public-realm catalyst for the revitalization of the surrounding 535-acre Chula Vista Bayfront District, southern California’s last major post-industrial waterfront redevelopment opportunity. The signature park and adjacent $1.2 billion resort conference center will create a series of vibrant and active waterfront destinations that reconnect the City of Chula Vista to the bay.

The signature park encourages interaction with the bay by diversifying shoreline edge experiences, with a half-mile waterfront promenade, a destination pier, a salt-water marsh, and a new urban beach for south bay residents. The beach will be framed by headland terraces and an iconic beachfront café with unparalleled views to downtown and the Coronado Bridge. A boat house with watersport rentals will invite kayakers, windsurfers and paddleboarders to explore the bay and the adjacent National Wildlife Refuge, one of the largest remaining migratory bird mudflats on the western seaboard.

Park amenities will include a large multi-use lawn, family play and picnic areas, an interactive water feature, plazas, gardens, and public art. The multi-use lawn will accommodate the daily recreational needs of residents while hosting a wide range of performances, events, and festivals that will attract regional visitors.

After a year-long Schematic Design process including extensive coordination with the California Coastal Commission, the park received its Coastal Development Permit in late 2020.