I’m eagerly awaiting the opening of East Village Green, a long-promised public park intended to bring much-needed recreational space to one of downtown San Diego’s most densely developed neighborhoods.
Despite the fences currently surrounding it, East Village Green looks inviting. When it will actually open is anyone’s guess.
As we wait for the fences to come down, there’s another relatively new patch of green worth exploring on the west side of the city: Progress Park.
This public space is tucked alongside the gleaming buildings of the Research and Development District, better known as RaDD, located on North Harbor Drive across the street from the USS Midway Museum.
From Navy buildings to green space. The park’s location has a history that predates the modern glass towers surrounding it.
For decades, this stretch of waterfront was part of the Navy Broadway Complex, a collection of office and support buildings occupying valuable land along San Diego Bay.
As part of the waterfront’s redevelopment, the property became home to RaDD, a major project designed to accommodate life-sciences companies, research facilities, offices, restaurants and public spaces.
Developed by IQHQ, RaDD has dramatically changed the appearance of this portion of downtown, and this redevelopment created room for Progress Park.
The 1.5-acre park opened in October 2025. It was designed by OJB Landscape Architecture and includes lawns, landscaped areas, seating and gathering spaces.
Interestingly, although the park is open to the public, its construction and long-term maintenance are the responsibility of the private developer. Under an agreement with the City of San Diego, IQHQ is responsible for maintaining and managing the park for decades to come.
More than a patch of grass. Progress Park isn’t particularly large, but its design incorporates several features intended to make the space more than simply a lawn between buildings.
There’s an open grassy area where visitors can relax, along with an amphitheater-style gathering space that can accommodate community events and performances.
One of the park’s most distinctive features is a sculptural installation called Shhh Pavilion: The Hopekeeper. The shell-inspired artwork, with its barnacle-like exterior, feels particularly appropriate for a park located just steps from San Diego Bay.
Progress Park is a lovely spot to enjoy the outdoors in downtown San Diego…while we continue to wait for progress to be made on East Village Green. SDSun
Award-winning columnist Deanna Ratnikova is the creator of The GO Deck – grab a deck today and be inspired to Get Outdoors and GO on new adventures.
