The JFK Neighborhood Park Improvements Project was a City of San Diego led effort to completely renovate the interior of the park with modern and accessible amenities for this Lincoln Park community by replacing outdated playground equipment and restrooms within this 4-acre park. The park upgrades centered around a new playground and included a BBQ picnic area with shade structure, fitness equipment area, new bathroom building, ADA improvements, security lighting, stormwater improvements, decorative planting, and irrigation systems. To encourage community engagement and stewardship, design staff helped to create a unique ‘Shipwreck Island’ theme for the playground featuring boat ‘remnants’ with multiple level play platforms that connect several climbing and play features including slides, net climbing ladders, balance stumps, and ship ‘bow’ that can be climbed up and over. Other design details included taking advantage of a natural berm to incorporate roller slides, a flagpole plaza, and overlook binoculars to view landmarks in the surrounding neighborhood. Wave-shaped retaining walls further bolstered the theme while providing seating along the perimeter of the play areas. 

As the Project Manager/Landscape Architect serving in the prime consultant position, RES staff members David Preciado and Jaime Sandoval were responsible for developing the thematic park design that involved managing the subconsultant team while maintaining daily contact with the City Project Manager.  

This project is expected to begin construction in 2023 with an estimated total project cost of $3.5 million.