Cost to Finish Overdue East Village Green Park in Downtown San Diego Grows by $4.6M

Money from downtown funds will be used to pay for costs associated with construction delays and complete the park's performance pavilion as originally envisioned.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The long-awaited East Village Green park in downtown San Diego, which has been under construction since 2022, will now cost $83.9 million to complete and is slated to open in August. The city's Economic Development & Intergovernmental Relations Committee approved an additional $4.6 million to cover increased costs due to construction delays and to restore the park's performance pavilion as originally planned.

Why it matters

The East Village Green park has been envisioned for nearly two decades to accommodate downtown San Diego's growing population. The additional funding will ensure the park is completed as originally designed, providing a much-needed community space for families, seniors, and residents across downtown.

The details

The $4.6 million in additional funding will primarily cover increased costs associated with materials and construction delays, as well as allow for the construction of an ornamental structure to enhance the park's performance pavilion. The total project cost is now $83.9 million, with $61.6 million allocated for hard construction costs, $6.8 million for contingency, $6.1 million for design work, and $5.7 million for staff time. The city's former downtown planning agency, Civic San Diego, is being paid $3.7 million to oversee the project.

  • The East Village Green park has been under construction since the summer of 2022.
  • The park is slated to open in August 2026.
  • The City Council approved a much-inflated, $79.3 million budget for the project in May 2022.

The players

Civic San Diego

The city's former downtown planning agency, which is being paid $3.7 million to oversee the East Village Green park project.

Raul Campillo

Councilmember and chair of the Economic Development & Intergovernmental Relations Committee, who stated that the additional funding will ensure the park is completed to serve families, seniors, and residents across downtown.

Christina Bibler

Director of the city's Economic Development Department, who explained the reasons for the increased costs, including additional and unknown conditions during excavation, utility conflicts, and material availability issues.

Justine Murray

With the Downtown San Diego Partnership, who described the performance pavilion as essential infrastructure that will protect the city's investment and support downtown vibrancy.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The East Village residents have waited for a long time for this park. It's been envisioned for nearly two decades. So today's action represents one of the final steps to get this long-anticipated community space across the finish line.”

— Raul Campillo, Councilmember and committee chair (The San Diego Union-Tribune)

“A properly equipped band shell provides the lighting, sound capabilities (and) architectural anchor necessary for consistent programming, community events and civic gatherings. Programming drives activation, activation drives safety and safety protects public investment. Reinstating the pavilion ensures this space functions as a true civic gathering place, not just open space, but a destination that brings people together and supports downtown vibrancy as a whole.”

— Justine Murray, with the Downtown San Diego Partnership (The San Diego Union-Tribune)

What’s next

The full City Council will need to approve the additional $4.6 million in funding to complete the East Village Green park project.

The takeaway

The increased costs and delays for the East Village Green park highlight the challenges of large-scale public infrastructure projects, but the city's commitment to restoring the original vision for the park, including the performance pavilion, demonstrates its importance as a community gathering space that will serve downtown San Diego's growing population.