Sat Jun 28 15:40:00 UTC 2025: ## San Diego Parks to Benefit from SeaWorld Settlement with $7.9 Million Investment

**SAN DIEGO, CA -** San Diego’s parks are set for a significant upgrade after the City Council allocated nearly $7.9 million from a settlement with SeaWorld. The funds, stemming from a dispute over unpaid lease payments dating back to 2020, will be distributed across 11 park locations throughout the city, promising improved facilities and enhanced accessibility for residents and visitors.

The largest portion of the funding, a substantial $3.6 million, is earmarked for Robb Field in Ocean Beach. This investment will address long-standing community concerns with plans to replace aging restrooms and upgrade playgrounds.

“San Diegans have been asking for new bathrooms, safer playgrounds, and upgraded facilities — and that’s exactly what we’re delivering,” stated Mayor Todd Gloria. “This investment will replace aging restrooms at Robb Field, repair sidewalks in La Jolla, improve accessibility in Mountain View, restore historic facilities in Rancho Peñasquitos and more. These are real improvements that will make our parks cleaner, safer, and better for everyone.”

The SeaWorld settlement, totaling $8.5 million, was reached in January and designated for the San Diego’s Mission Bay Park Improvement Fund and the San Diego Regional Park Improvement Fund. While a portion of the funds, approximately $560,000, was used to address past revenue shortfalls, the remaining funds are now being allocated to projects already in design or construction phases.

Other Mission Bay locations benefiting from the settlement include:

* **South De Anza:** $235,000 for basketball court and parking lot improvements (construction expected July 2025).
* **Dusty Rhodes:** $719,629 for restroom, playground, and parking lot improvements (construction expected January 2026).

The San Diego Regional Park Improvement Fund will receive nearly $2.8 million for various projects including:

* Restroom improvements at the Organ Pavilion, Spanish Village, and Morley Field in Balboa Park.
* Electrical service improvements at Chollas Lake.
* Replacement of damaged wooden pier piles on Crystal Pier.
* Sidewalk repairs at Ellen Browning Scripps Park.
* Restoration of the historic barn at the Rancho Peñasquitos Equestrian Center.
* Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements at the Mountain View sports courts.
* Park improvements at the West Sycamore Staging Area.

The Robb Field project, approved in April 2024, is currently in the design phase, with construction scheduled to begin next year. The city anticipates these improvements will significantly enhance the enjoyment and accessibility of San Diego’s parks for both residents and tourists alike.

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