The Plaza de Panama project in Balboa Park has been put on hold due to rising construction costs and legal delays, Mayor Kevin Faulconer said Tuesday.
The grand project that aimed to make the park more pedestrian friendly relied heavily on donations, Mayor Kevin Faulconer said, but rising costs have forced the committee behind the project to stop fundraising efforts.
According to NBC 7's media partner, The Voice of San Diego, three recent construction bids were tabbed at least $20 million more expensive than earlier estimates.
Faulconer said he respects the Plaza de Panama Committee's decision not to move forward, and said city administration will remain committed to bettering the park in other ways.
The park's museums, promenades and general infrastructure are in need of attention and repair, the Faulconer said.
"The City is fully committed to strengthening Balboa Park's position as the cultural heart of San Diego," his statement said.
The project to create acres of pedestrian-friendly public space in Balboa Park was approved by the San Diego City Council in 2016.
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Proponents believed the changes will help preserve the park. Environmentalists and historic preservationists fought the efforts through city hall and legal challenges.
