The USS Midway Foundation announced the establishment of its capital campaign committee that will be the fundraising arm for the Freedom Park at Navy Pier project.
“This is an exciting moment,” said Ben Clay, chair of the USS Midway Foundation. “We are now kicking off our campaign to build Freedom Park around the USS Midway Museum. Our mission is simple, get the park built and celebrate our veterans. I look forward to beginning the important process of raising the funds needed to make Freedom Park a reality for all San Diegans and those who visit our wonderful city.”
The Port of San Diego and the USS Midway Museum are working together on Freedom Park at Navy Pier which, in connection with adjacent park areas, will be the largest veterans park on the West Coast. Freedom Park will tell the story of everyday heroes who served our country and preserved our freedoms. In February, the California Coastal Commission unanimously approved the development and construction of the park.
The chair of the capital campaign is Jack McGrory, CEO of La Jolla Management, LCC, a real estate investment company. McGrory also served as San Diego’s city manager from 1991-1997, and Chief Operating Officer for the San Diego Padres from 1999-2000.
It is estimated that Freedom Park at Navy Pier will cost around $65 million. Currently, nearly $29 million has been committed to the project from the Port of San Diego, the USS Midway Museum, and, with the support of Cong. Scott Peters, through Community Project Funding distributed via the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. An additional $36 million will be raised by the USS Midway Foundation’s capital campaign committee. Major fundraising efforts are scheduled to begin in fall 2023.
Members of the Freedom Park at Navy Pier capital campaign committee include Jerry Sanders, CEO of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce; John Hawkins, former president, and CEO of Cloud 9 Shuttle; retired U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Anthony Jackson; Tom Sudberry, founder of Sudberry Properties; Dr. Pha Le, senior physician partner at the Vituity Cares Foundation; Brandi Gill, senior legal counsel at L3 Harris Technologies; Chris Neils, chair of the USS Midway Museum; Ben Clay, chair of the USS Midway Foundation; and retired Rear Adm. Terry Kraft, president and CEO of the USS Midway Museum.
The campaign committee’s honorary members include philanthropist Malin Burnham; retired Rear Adm. Ronne Froman-Blue; retired Rear Adm. Mac McLaughlin, former president and CEO of the USS Midway Museum; and philanthropist Debbie Turner.
“Designs are currently being developed for this exciting new public park,” said Laura White, president of the USS Midway Foundation. “With Freedom Park, the USS Midway Museum, around to the Bob Hope Memorial, visitors will have countless opportunities to learn about and interact with many key milestones in our nation’s military.”
A Footsteps of Freedom promenade, that will run along the entire north side of Navy Pier, will be dedicated to the service and sacrifice of those who have worn the uniform of our nation. Additional monuments, play elements, benches and swings, walking trails and gardens, smart technologies, and other exciting features will be incorporated throughout the scope of the park.
Engineering efforts are underway, with structural repairs and rehabilitation proceeding on and under the pier. That work, along with the demolition of the last building on the pier, will take place over the next two years. It is anticipated that construction on the park will commence in 2025 and be completed by 2028.
