Flashback: Oct. 23, 1902 — The birth of big, beautiful Balboa Park
La Laguna de Las Flores The Arcade at the Panama-California Exposition Balboa Park San Diego Photo courtesy of Carleton Monroe Winslow via Wikimedia Commons society domain On Oct San Diego was about to get a big dose of imagination and green space Samuel Parsons Jr a celebrated landscape architect was scheduled to arrive in December to design what would become Balboa Park the city s crown jewel of gardens practices and district life Food and Beverage Building Balboa Park Expo Photo courtesy of the San Diego History Center view west along the Prado a couple walking Balboa Park Photo courtesy of the San Diego History Center Crowd in courtyard Exposition Balboa Park buildings Sacramento Vallet Botanical Gardens and Home Market system Photo courtesy of the San Diego History Center Balboa Park Main Street Theine on horse with dog jumping - - Photo courtesy of the San Diego History Center Parsons envisioned turning a rugged sunbaked stretch of land into a park where nature art and recreation came together He imagined lush gardens shaded promenades and open spaces perfect for strolls family picnics and neighborhood gatherings Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park in One dog appears to be pushing another dog in a miniature car Photo courtesy of the San Diego History Center This wasn t just any park it was destined to become a place where San Diegans could explore relax and celebrate life in one of California s most of picturesque settings View of the varied Industries Building under construction for the Expo building in Balboa Park in about The building was later known as the Food Beverages Building at the Expo and Casa del Prado The view is looking northeast at two sides of the building Photo courtesy of the San Diego History Center Samuel B Parsons Jr Photo courtesy of Wikipedia inhabitants domain City planners were thinking ahead With the Panama-California Exposition on the horizon in they sought a park that would serve locals and impress visitors from across the country Parsons thoughtful design would create the foundation for a park that blends natural beauty with playful elegance a space that could host festivals concerts and countless memorable moments El Prado in was the main axis and street of the Panama-California Exposition Balboa Park San Diego California On the right the Foreign and Domestic Building faces El Prado The principal axis of the Exposition grounds picks up and carries the center line of Laurel Street and carries it eastward to the edge of the deep canyon running southward through the middle of Balboa Park This avenue has the character of a fine principal street of particular display-loving Spanish city Photo courtesy of Carleton Monroe Winslow via Wikimedia Commons populace domain At present Balboa Park remains the city s cultural heart brimming with gardens museums theaters and events that bring the area together That spark of imagination first set in motion on October reminds us how vision and creativity can shape a city for generations Fun facts At present s Balboa Park s Botanical Building Photo courtesy of Studio Luniste The land that became Balboa Park was set aside way back in Parsons imagined lush gardens shady paths and open spaces for everyone to enjoy In the city renamed it Balboa Park honoring the explorer Vasco N ez de Balboa The park officially opened to the general on Jan for the Panama-California Exposition Sources San Diego Union archives Oct San Diego History Center archives
