The concept of siting and constructing a new building in Balboa Park came about through the continued efforts of the Mayor and City Council to accommodate the needs of all the citizens who utilize the Park as the cultural and recreational center of San Diego. The Balboa Park Activity Center will provide the space required for activities previously located in the Federal Building, which is currently being reconstructed as a new Hall of Champions Museum. The conveniently located site was selected after many months of review and discussion by the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, the Park and Recreation Department, and the public. Design of the facility represents a long and truly collaborative effort between users, the Park and Recreation Department, and the design team. The multi-use requirements of the building made both cooperation and innovation a requirement for success. Badminton, table tennis, volleyball, adaptive sports, the Science Fair, garden clubs, and numerous public events will draw more than 250,000 San Diegans and visitors to this facility annually. The athletic clubs trace their beginnings to the 1940s and claim several national champions and several thousand recreational players. Many of the clubs have national affiliations and participate in regional and national competitions. Memberships are open to the public. For several years the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Disabled Services has sponsored a year-round recreational and leisure program that serves over 50,000 children, teens, and adults with a variety of developmental, physical, and mental disabilities. The adapted sports program, which has received national attention, draws from teams all over the United States. An Extension of The Park The selected site in Balboa Park presented rich opportunities and humbling responsibilities to the design team. The Activity Center is the first major new structure built in the Park since the 1960s. If designed properly, the Activity Center would become the social catalyst for future involvement in the extensive formal gardens
