Phase 1: Led by the City of San Diego

• Includes the full restoration of the building to its original 1915 design, with current building code enhancements, rebuilding the historic arcades with Palladian windows, and restoring the grand entrances, thereby opening the inside space to the surrounding gardens as intended.
• State-of-the-art lighting and new irrigation systems will be added.
• A north annex to honor the glasshouse that once stood in that location will be added, as well as a north lobby entrance. 

Phase 2: The work Forever Balboa Park will undertake to help restore and revitalize the Botanical Building and Gardens.

• Restored and enhanced planting and irrigation in the exterior gardens, and a portion of exterior hardscaping, specifically walkways. 
• The pergola that originally stood on the west lawn near The San Diego Museum of Art will be reconstructed.
• Restoration of the two exterior fountains.
• All donor acknowledgements for the project.
• Forever Balboa Park is also raising funds for public engagement programming and for its volunteer garden stewards.

• The Botanical Building was closed to the public for construction preparation in January 2022.
• Phase I, which includes the interior and exterior restoration and renovation of the Botanical Building structure, is anticipated for completion in 2024. When Phase I is done and the public is invited back to the facility, the building restoration (structural) and the interior work will be complete. Exterior work may be ongoing at that time.
• Phase 2, which is spearheaded by Forever Balboa Park, will restore and enhance the exterior gardens, rebuild the historic pergola, repair exterior walkways, and restore the two exterior fountains, and is scheduled for completion in 2024. Forever Balboa Park is raising private philanthropic funding to hire a design consultant and a construction contractor, and will oversee the Phase 2 work.

• San Diego is on a path to urban environmental sustainability, leveraging local talent and ingenuity. In order to meet our climate goals, bolstering the public’s understanding of biodiversity and sustainability solutions is critical. A revitalized Botanical Building and Gardens will create community spaces where visitors can participate in educational programming. We’re on a mission to inspire new generations of plant enthusiasts and nature lovers. 
• Given the building’s age, many parts of the structure are damaged or in a dilapidated condition, including severe rust and corrosion of its steel structural elements, wood rot and termite damage on the structural girts, and deterioration of the redwood lath.
• The new walkway system will better support larger crowds and access for all visitors including those with disabilities.
• The irrigation system is faulty and not water efficient by today’s standards, and the plumbing and lighting systems are out-of-date and in need of repair.
• The support areas for the building are inadequate for appropriate care and maintenance of the botanical collection.
• Much of the authentic historic integrity of the Botanical Building and its contextual landscape is missing or damaged.

• Forever Balboa Park raised more than $600,000 during the planning phase, which paid for the conceptual plans,renderings, and 60% construction documents for the project, which were donated to the City of San Diego.
• The State of California granted the project $8.26 million for Phase 1, thanks to the advocacy from Forever Balboa Park and the persistent leadership of Senate President Pro Tempore Senator Atkins.
• The National Park Service “Save America’s Treasures” program awarded Forever Balboa Park $257,000 in support of Phase 2.
• The City of San Diego committed to more than $13 million in infrastructure funding.
• Forever Balboa Park is leading a $10 million capital campaign for Phase 2 which will fund design, planting and irrigation work in the exterior gardens, walkway upgrades, the reconstruction of the historic pergola, and restoration of exterior fountains. Forever Balboa Park’s campaign will also fund volunteer garden stewards and public engagement programming. For information on how to contribute to this campaign, please call 619.331.1991 or email info@balboaparkbotanical.org.

No, the funds raised privately will remain with Forever Balboa Park and fund its portion of work on the project, separately contracted from the City’s endeavor. Forever Balboa Park is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, Tax ID #33-0849518. If you’d like to learn more about contributing to the campaign, please call 619.331.1991 or email info@balboaparkbotanical.org.

• Phase 1, which includes the restoration and renovation of the Botanical Building, is scheduled for completion in 2024.
• Phase 2, which is spearheaded by Forever Balboa Park, is scheduled for 2024.

The City is committed to maintaining the facility as a botanical showcase at no cost to visitors.

• The City Parks and Recreation Department is the operator of the Botanical Building and Gardens. Forever Balboa Park supports the City’s commitment to maintaining the facility as a botanical showcase at no cost to visitors.

No, The Botanical Building and Gardens is a City of San Diego resource. As the City’s nonprofit partner on this project,  Forever Balboa Park supports the city’s efforts to maintain and operate it, keeping it free and accessible to all. 

• The new interior configuration more closely represents the building’s original 1915 design. The existing planting/display area is approximately 7,722 square feet. The proposed display area will be approximately 6,211 square feet.
• The restoration will increase public accessibility and usage with a flexible botanical display area, new multi-purpose rooms and wider pathways for improved circulation.
• The restoration of the Botanical Building is dedicated to the growth, care, observation, and education of plants and horticulture within the Balboa Park National Historic District. 
• The flexible square footage planned provides opportunities for rotating plant displays, horticultural education, visitor information, and increased usage.

• The City of San Diego is committed to maintaining the Botanical Building and Gardens at best-in-class levels as it seeks to do for all Balboa Park. 
• Forever Balboa Park has committed to supplementing the city’s garden maintenance program by deploying its volunteer garden stewards at the site. Forever Balboa Park’s garden stewards currently maintain and assist Parks and Recreation staff in the majority of the park’s gardens.
• If you would like to volunteer as a Forever Balboa Park volunteer as a garden steward or tree steward, submit an interest form at ForeverBalboaPark.org/volunteer.

• This website is regularly updated with new information. 
• You can also visit the City’s project website page sandiego.gov/cip/projectinfo/botanicalbuilding.
• The City provides regular updates through the Balboa Park Committee.
• Forever Balboa Park provides short updates in its monthly newsletter. Sign up here. Or, sign up to be a member, and support Forever Balboa Park’s work to enhance all 1,200 acres of Balboa Park. Sign up to be a Champion.