The Story of How Freeways Divided San Diego
Exploring the historical division of San Diego communities and our vision to reconnect them
State Route 163 (opened in 1945) and Interstate 5 (completed in 1964) took away 200 acres of parkland, divided the park into several smaller parks and lost nearly 200 acres of the southwest corner.
The historical images below tell the story of how this massive infrastructure project transformed the Balboa Park area and the surrounding neighborhoods, creating divisions that persist to this day.
Green The Gap aims to heal these divisions by reconnecting communities through innovative freeway lid and bridge projects.
Historical Timeline
Clash of the Titans
Early Balboa Park planners (then called City Park), suggested the 1915 Exposition be placed in the Southwest corner of the park. Planners and Landscape Architects leading the effort were the two Olmsted Brothers. They felt that it was important to pin down the corners of the park so that it would not be taken by non-public uses.
But sentiments changed the exposition location to the center of the park and future development and infrastructure took more than 200 acres of the park.
California Exposition Planning
In this southwest location, the park was well connected to existing neighborhoods. The Olmsted Brothers proposed bridges to connect with the community and with parts of the park that were interrupted by major canyons.
If the exposition occurred in the south end of the park, it would have made it more difficult to be developed by private developers and agency interests.
Southwestern Edge of Balboa Park
This historical image shows the southwestern portion of Balboa Park before the freeway construction, highlighting the continuous urban fabric that existed between the park and surrounding neighborhoods.
Before I-5, there was a natural flow between neighborhoods and the park, allowing for community integration.
South Edge of the Park
The southern edge of Balboa Park once featured gradual transitions to adjacent neighborhoods, creating a more integrated relationship between the park and the city before the freeway created a hard boundary.
Communities had direct access to park amenities, fostering a sense of ownership and connection with this public space.
Park 5: Planned Connections
Initial plans for the freeway included provisions for maintaining connections between neighborhoods and Balboa Park, though many of these connections were ultimately scaled back or eliminated.
The Bisecting of Communities and Balboa Park
The construction of freeways created permanent divisions between neighborhoods and Balboa Park, severing connections that had existed for decades.
How the I-5 affected the Bay-to-Park Link
A central feature of John Nolen's 1908 plan was a Beaux‑Arts inspired boulevard. This landscaped promenade or “paseo” would have connected the Bayfront Plaza at San Diego Bay with a civic center and further extend to Balboa Park. His vision responded to the lack of public open spaces beyond Balboa Park and the absence of civic grandeur in the downtown core.
This Bay‑to‑Park linkage was intended both as a functional route and a strong civic gesture, aligning city life with both public design and natural beauty.
Features Lost with the Freeway
This map highlights the various community features, connections, and public spaces that were lost or compromised when I-5 was constructed through the area.
Green The Gap's mission is to restore these lost connections and create new public spaces that heal the urban fabric.