Larimer Design Leads Dynamic Gallagher Square Transformation
Dynamic project celebrates petco park’s 20th anniversary, honors legend, redefines fan experience in downtown San Diego
San Diego, CA — Completed in 2024, the renovation of Gallagher Square reimagines Petco Park’s most prominent public gathering space—and the heartbeat of the East Village neighborhood. In celebration of the ballpark’s 20th anniversary, this transformation creates a dynamic venue within a venue, seamlessly hosting concerts and festivals by night while serving local businesses, residents, families, and even furry friends by day. Gallagher Square is now a vibrant, multi-functional destination that enhances community engagement on game days and beyond.
A New Era for an Iconic Venue
Originally envisioned in 1998 as a community gathering space with an elevated grassy berm and a Wiffle ball field, Gallagher Square has evolved alongside Petco Park. As operational demands grew, the 2.2-acre venue required a comprehensive overhaul to meet the ever-changing needs of fans and the surrounding community. Recognizing the need for modernized facilities and an enhanced fan experience, the Padres invested $40 million in this ambitious project, reaffirming their commitment to excellence both on and off the field.
Honoring a Legend
A standout feature of the renovation is the memorial tribute to Tony Gwynn, a San Diego sports icon. The redesigned Tony Gwynn Terrace group deck now hosts his statue, positioned above a dedicated walkway that leads to the statue of his longtime teammate, Trevor Hoffman. Interpretive displays and an audio loop of Gwynn’s voice further celebrate his monumental contributions to Major League Baseball, with a visually striking walkway featuring 108 red stitches symbolically connecting the legacies of these two revered figures.
Accelerated Construction Schedule
One of the most remarkable aspects of this project was the challenging construction timeline. The entire venue was completely overhauled within six months—strategically scheduled between the Padres’ 2023 and 2024 baseball seasons. This rapid turnaround demanded close coordination among all project partners, ensuring that the renovated space would be fully operational and ready to welcome fans for the 2024 season.
Key Project Highlights:
A Grand New Entry Gate: Creating a striking welcome for all visitors that also alleviates congestion at the Gaslamp and East Village Gates
A 20,000-Square-Foot Plaza: Featuring terraced seating designed for diverse events and community gatherings, including four pickleball courts
Elevated Viewing Deck: Accommodating up to 600 visitors to enhance the game-day and concert experience.
Expanded Picnic Hill: Provides a larger viewing area for families and friends at the most affordably priced area in the ballpark
Relocated Wiffle Ball Field: Reconfigured to mimic Petco Park’s footprint and enhanced with a Left Field Video Board displaying the action
Upgraded Kids Play Area: Showcases a sliding hill and mound play area for younger kids, and a new, multi-level play structure featuring the world’s tallest climbable bat, slides, and sensory-safe play areas, for the young and young at heart
Pet-Friendly Off-Leash Dog Park: Ensuring that even four-legged fans have a place to play
Innovative Retail Experience: The deck-level concessions stand doubles as a concert bar, while the ground-level team store now boasts a back-fed reach-in cooler that immediately yielded the highest food and beverage per-cap spending in the ballpark
Terraced Seating Areas: Plentiful terraced seating throughout the plaza
Thoughtfully Integrated Landscaping: Featuring Southern California native species that complement the urban environment
Shaping the Future through Empowered Collaboration
Larimer Design is proud to have led the design effort on this transformative project, made possible through a dynamic collaboration with the Padres, Clark Construction, and our Professional Design Team. We don’t just design buildings—we empower our clients to shape the future with precision, innovation, and purpose. Every project is a testament to bold vision, expert craftsmanship, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
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