port of san diego parks | Russel Ray Photos

A few people asked some questions about the photo that I used in my Wires, wires everywhere! (And how to remove them easily in Photoshop) post. Here’s the picture:

That was taken at Ruocco Park shortly after the park opened.

Ruocco Park comprises 3.3 acres overlooking San Diego Bay and the downtown skyline. It is located at the corner of North Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway.

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Ruocoo Park is the eighteenth park under the auspices of the Port of San Diego. The photo above shows a commissioned public art piece titled, “The Riparium,” a sculptural gateway of eucalyptus tree branches designed by Roman de Salvo, a local artist.

Here are a few other pictures of The Riparium and Ruocco Park:

Other than the public art, there really isn’t much at Ruocco Park on those 3.3 acres other than a lot of concrete, a walking path, restrooms, and, according to their web site, picnic tables. The picnic tables were not there the last time I visited the park, and I don’t find any pictures on the Internet of picnic tables in the park. Being a new park means that there are no mature trees for shade, so if the picnic tables are not protected from the sun, I can see them becoming extraordinarily hot on a summer day during tourist season, certainly not a place I would choose for a picnic. Maybe a quick sit-down for tourists tired of the long walk along the harbor, but not long enough for a picnic.

I also found all the rocks placed in the concrete to be a little dangerous. I tripped over a couple of them because I was busy looking up at the eucalyptus (which is how I got that last picture) rather than watching where I was going. I suspect I’m not the first one to do that. If you’re going to look up, stop walking first!

Ruocco Park is within easy walking distance of Seaport Village, Petco Park, the USS Midway Museum, the Convention Center, and the huge Marriott (shown below) and Hyatt hotels.

The San Diego Trolley has several stops nearby, too. Parking is almost non-existent right now because of the bayfront renovation that has been going on for a couple of years, and is scheduled to continue for another couple of years. Leave the car at home or at the hotel and either walk or take the Trolley.

You can also come into San Diego via Amtrak or the Coaster, arriving at the historic Santa Fe Depot, which is just a couple of blocks from Ruocco Park. If you’re arriving by plane, the airport is at the far end of North Harbor Drive. You’ll need a rental car or taxi to get to the southern end where Ruocco Park is.