A notice circulated by the City of Santa Monica sheds new light on plans to renovate and expand Memorial Park. 

The 10.3-acre park, located along the north side of Olympic Boulevard between 14th and 16th Streets, currently includes multiple baseball fields, a gym, tennis courts, and a children's playground, among other offerings. The proposed expansion would extend the park onto the neighboring Fisher Lumber site, increasing its footprint to 13.2 acres and giving it frontage on Colorado Avenue.

Current status of Memorial ParkCity of Santa Monica

A full buildout of the expanded park would include:

  • Two synthetic turf combo fields (two playing fields per combo field)
  • Three natural grass youth fields (one fast-pitch softball and two baseball fields)
  • Four rooftop tennis/pickleball courts
  • A new community hub building and the replacement of the children’s playground with a new universally accessible playground
  • Renovation and expansion of the skate park
  • Replacement of the existing community recreation center with a new community recreation center
  • New covered parking lot and passenger loading zone

Construction is expected to occur in four phases, commencing with the demolition of the northwest corner of the park site and the Fisher Lumber property. 

Proposed improvements to Santa Monica Memorial ParkCity of Santa Monica

Phase one construction would include the first combo field, the covered parking area and pickleball courts, mobility and streetscape infrastructure along Colorado Avenue and 14th Street, and potentially a temporary dog park or playground. 

The second phase would complete demolition along Colorado Avenue and most of 16th Street, clearing the way for the second combo field, the community hub building, a playground, and a temporary practice field. 

Phase three would expand the existing skatepark, add a walking loop with exercise equipment, and replace existing fields along Olympic Boulevard, while also implementing new streetscape improvements along 16th Street and Olympic Boulevard. 

The fourth phase would redevelop the community center at the southwest corner of the site, while also implementing streetscape improvements along 14th Street.

These improvements will not come cheap. In 2019, prior to the escalation of construction and material prices that occurred after the pandemic, it was expected that the four phases would cost upwards of $116 million.

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