Park Progress

Robert Egger, Sr.-South Bay Community Park

Robert Egger, Sr.-South Bay Community Park in Egger Highlands has a new look! Our staff and contractor just completed a major improvement project, which included replacing two playgrounds, a basketball court, seating, shade structures and security lighting, among other elements. This is a nearly $7 million investment, with $2.9 million in federal funding acquired by the Economic Development Department. Come check out the upgraded space!

Ward Canyon Neighborhood Park

You may have noticed work at Ward Canyon Neighborhood Park in Normal Heights this summer. That was our contractor removing the vacant building along Adams Avenue. This long-awaited renovation is making room for more park space, which will be included in the design of a makeover of the entire park.

The building demolition is now complete and we hope to have construction crews back on site in 2027 to begin the full park improvement project.

Coral Gate Neighborhood Park

Soon, Coral Gate Neighborhood Park in San Ysidro will reopen to the public with some major improvements. For more than a year, our teams and construction crews have been working on nearly $5 million in upgrades, including a new playground, accessible walkways and security lighting.

Most of the work is done, but we are currently in the Plant Establishment Period, allowing time for the newly planted landscaping to begin growing and maturing before being used by the community. We plan to reopen the park later this year.

ADA 35th Anniversary

In July, we celebrated the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It was signed into law back in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush and we’ve remained committed to upholding the act for the 35 years since. Accessibility and usability for people with disabilities are one of the key components when putting together any City program and service and they are integral elements of planning any infrastructure project. From parks to curb ramps and everything in between, we take great pride in providing everyone a chance to enjoy everything our city has to offer. To learn more about our efforts to support the ADA, visit sandiego.gov/ADA.

Project Updates

Tecolote Canyon Trunk Sewer

A major improvement project in Tecolote Canyon is impacting the nearby golf course. Construction crews are making progress on the Tecolote Canyon Trunk Sewer project, which features 4.7 miles of sewer line replacement through the canyon to help prevent sewer line ruptures and provide additional capacity to the sewer system.

As a result, Tecolote Canyon Golf Course has been temporarily reduced from 18 holes to 9 holes to allow for work to take place. This 9-hole layout will continue through the fall, then the course is expected to close completely through next spring. The driving range will remain open.

Additional project updates can be found on the designated webpage.

Crystal Pier Repairs

It was a long wait, but the Crystal Pier fully reopened this summer. The public portion of the iconic pier in Pacific Beach was closed for 18 months after it was damaged by storms back in 2023. The damage continued to worsen over time, making repairs more difficult, but eventually construction crews stabilized the pier.

While the pier is safe and reopened for public use in July, staff will continue to monitor the nearly 100-year-old structure’s condition for any future damage and will address issues as they arise.

Harbor Drive Trunk Sewer

We are making progress on Harbor Drive. Construction crews continue work on a sewer main project underneath the busy street. They are replacing the major pipeline from Park Boulevard to Beardsley Street, which is impacting traffic.

Currently, traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction and some minor detours may be in place. If you are traveling in the area, expect delays both in and out. We advise that you allow extra time, find alternate routes or use public transportation to get where you are going.

International Women in Engineering Day

In June, we celebrated International Women in Engineering Day. Our team is made up of dozens of women dedicated to improving our communities with their engineering expertise, including our Director and City Engineer, Rania Amen. These women’s roles are critical in building our infrastructure and delivering quality amenities for the people of San Diego. Thank you all for your hard work!

Highlighting City Projects

This summer, a member of our department leadership had the opportunity to highlight the amazing years-long collaborative work of our City engineers and the local structural engineering industry at the Structural Engineers Association of San Diego’s annual awards gala. Assistant Department Director Elif Cetin was invited to speak at the event, which was hosted at the Central Library. Cetin spotlighted some of the unique design elements of the Central Library’s iconic structure, including the highly complex dome structure and the largest interior concrete gravity arch in California. She also touched on some of our other major projects, including the West Mission Bay Drive Bridge and the Ocean Beach Pier Renewal. To cap off the night, the Balboa Park Botanical Building renovation project received the “Excellence in Structural Engineering” award.

Road Resurfacing

We are picking up fiscal year 2026 where we ended fiscal year 2025 – making progress on fixing our roads. Our team and contractors are out across the city performing asphalt overlay, grinding down the broken layers of roadway and putting down fresh, smooth ones. It takes time to reach our overall goals, but we want to share the small wins along the way. Here are a few of the recently resurfaced roads:

• Little Italy
• Scripps Ranch
• Mission Hills
• Rancho Bernardo
• Otay Mesa West
• University City
• Carmel Mountain Ranch
• Clairemont

Fiscal Year 2026 Contracts

We are in the midst of a busy year for our Capital Improvements Program (CIP)! At the start of fiscal year 2026, we set out to award 95 CIP projects valued at $466 million and several of these projects are already underway. If you or your business is looking to contract with us and help build San Diego, check out our contracting opportunities on the City's Purchasing and Contracting webpage.

E&CP Mentorship Program

Founded in 1996 by Frank Belock, our Mentorship Program has boosted our team by pairing mentors with mentees. As part of the program, mentors coach, provide feedback and meet regularly with their mentees to discuss concerns, while mentees collaborate with and seek advice from their mentors.

The goal of the six-month program is to foster professional and personal growth amongst our staff. Some of the main objectives include supporting a positive culture, enhancing career and development skills and sharing institutional and industry knowledge. These pairs meet at least six times during the program and must also attend orientation, events and the completion ceremony.

For nearly 30 years, the Mentorship Program has produced closer relationships throughout our department and strengthened our team’s understanding of the construction industry. We are proud of the program’s results and will continue to connect staff in hopes of building a more unified team.

For 34 years, Abi Palaseyed dedicated his career to serving the City of San Diego through the Engineering and Capital Projects Department, most recently as a Deputy Director. His work — including bridges, roadways, sidewalks and rights-of-way that connect our communities — shaped the very character of San Diego’s neighborhoods. It’s no exaggeration to say each and every neighborhood in San Diego has been improved by Abi’s contributions.

Abi was both a hands-on engineer and a respected leader. He walked job sites, reviewed work and ensured projects were done right and with lasting quality. His signature on City plans and documents stood as a mark of integrity, accountability and excellence.

As a problem solver, Abi combined keen listening skills with honest assessments. He was known for his ethics and efficiency and held developers accountable, protected taxpayer dollars and brought teams together to resolve disputes. In challenging moments, his Abi-isms — like the memorable, “This team is GOING TO GET THIS DONE!” — inspired confidence and focus.

Abi’s leadership style balanced encouragement with honesty. He mentored staff to be flexible, adaptable and forward-thinking, often reminding them that nothing is permanent. He believed in loving your work, having fun and striving for excellence every day. Colleagues still find themselves asking, “How would Abi approach this?” — a testament to his enduring influence.

Even beyond official duties, service was in Abi’s DNA. He frequently used the City’s Get It Done app, reporting potholes, leaks and broken fences — always seeking to improve the city he loved.

A devoted family man, Abi also had the joy of working alongside his daughter, Semiera, for more than a decade within E&CP. To her and many others, he shared a guiding principle: “Nothing is handed to you. If it’s worth having, it’s worth working for.”

We congratulate Abi on an extraordinary career and thank him for his decades of dedication. His work and leadership have left a lasting mark on San Diego, benefiting residents today and for generations to come.

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