California Construction News staff writer
Construction is underway on Carlsbad’s largest park after city officials, military veterans, community members and state and federal leaders gathered July 6 to break ground on Veterans Memorial Park.
The 93.7-acre park, planned near the intersection of Faraday Avenue and Cannon Road, will feature recreational amenities, a dedicated Veterans Memorial Plaza and nearly half the site preserved as open space.
The project is designed as a community gathering space and a place to honor veterans. It will be the first park in Carlsbad dedicated specifically to recognizing veterans.
“After years of planning, partnership and community outreach, we are proud to break ground on what will be Carlsbad’s largest park,” City Manager Geoff Patnoe said. “It’s especially fitting that this space will honor our nation’s veterans as we mark the country’s 250th anniversary.”
The park was designed with input from residents and will include areas for active recreation as well as spaces for reflection. Planned features include a Veterans Memorial Plaza with six panels honoring each branch of the U.S. military, bronze inlaid mottos, a flagpole, seating and a platform area.
Other amenities will include Carlsbad’s first bike park, an inclusive playground, picnic and gathering areas, outdoor fitness spaces, a fitness climb to the park’s upper plateau, restrooms and event support facilities.
The site also will include public art on the upper plateau with views of the coastline and Agua Hedionda Lagoon, as well as connections to the citywide trail network. Two parking lots will include drop-off areas and electric vehicle charging stations.
“The park was thoughtfully designed to reflect what our community told us they wanted,” Parks & Recreation Director Kyle Lancaster said. “It will provide a range of amenities and open spaces that support both active use and quiet reflection, while creating a meaningful place to honor our nation’s veterans.”
The park’s north and south sections will be connected by passive open space, with a prominent public art feature planned near the site’s highest point.
U.S. Rep. Mike Levin and California Assemblymember Tasha Boerner attended the groundbreaking and helped secure funding for the project. Levin obtained a $3 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, while Boerner secured a $5 million grant from the California Natural Resources Agency.
Members of the San Diego Veteran Honor Color Guard also participated in the ceremony.
Construction is expected to take about two years to complete.
The combined cost of Veterans Memorial Park and related improvements along Faraday Avenue is estimated at about $58 million. The city secured reimbursement agreements totaling $8 million in federal and state grant funding, including $3 million from HUD and $5 million from the California Natural Resources Agency.
The project will initially be funded through the city’s Community Facilities District No. 1 Fund, with reimbursement provided after the city meets the requirements of the grant agreements.
