KTU+A

Founders Plaza, Balboa Park

Founders Plaza is the generous gift to the citizens of San Diego by a local family who wanted to pay tribute to the three men of vision who dreamed of a city park that would provide enjoyment and recreation for its citizens. These founders, Alonzo Horton, Ephraim Morse, and George W. Marston, were visionaries who were instrumental in making their dream a reality by initiating the founding of Balboa Park, the shining jewel of San Diego.

Sited as an entrance feature to Balboa Park, Founders Plaza features a quiet, reflective lily pond, seat walls of natural materials, and interpretive graphics. The sculptures were the creative work of a local sculptor, who intensively researched the subjects to assure their historic accuracy. The posing of the sculptures adds an interactive element into the life of the Park.

The landscape planting was organized to represent the various time periods that the founders were involved in establishing Balboa Park. The plant arrangement begins with the native plant materials that were found in the area at the time Horton and Morse were initiating their work, and progresses to the later time of Marston and the many unique and colorful plants that were introduced into the Park throughout his life.