As the Freedom Park at Burnham Navy Pier project enters its fourth year, the pace of progress is accelerating rapidly. Much of the advanced engineering and preparation work on Navy Pier – building demolition, structural pier repairs and stabilization, utilities repositioning – is nearing completion, with construction work on the actual park scheduled to commence later this year.
The Port of San Diego and the USS Midway Museum continue to work in partnership on the park which, when completed in 2028, will be the largest park on the West Coast to honor military veterans and their families.
The park’s cost is currently estimated at $77 million. For the past few years, the park’s capital campaign committee has been working diligently to raise funds from a variety of local and regional donors. Along with the direct funding already provided by the Port and Midway, coupled with the more than $14 million in philanthropic commitments, the project still has a goal of raising an additional $30 million.
To complement the continued local fundraising efforts, Midway is now taking Freedom Park’s capital campaign national.
“While the USS Midway Museum has deep roots in San Diego, the legacy of Freedom Park at Burnham Navy Pier belongs to the nation,” said Christina Case, Freedom Park’s capital campaign director. “Complementing our local fundraising with a national campaign allows us to invite supporters across the country to take part in preserving a shared piece of our country’s history and ensuring this civic project remains accessible and impactful for generations to come.”
To support a national fundraising endeavor, Midway has entered into a partnership with Changing Our World, a national philanthropic and social impact consulting firm founded in 1999. Changing Our World has decades of experience in supporting non-profit organizations in high-profile campaigns.
Changing Our World will employ a 12-month, multi-phase approach by developing a fundraising plan followed by an implementation program that will not only provide strategic counsel and hands-on management, but will also include donor engagement and campaign communication support.
“We are honored to be working with Freedom Park at this important stage in its development,” said Raissa Smorol, the principal for nonprofit practice at Changing Our World. “Freedom Park has a powerful story to tell. While the national philanthropic landscape is highly competitive, we believe the project’s vision and significance can inspire broad support. At a time when fewer and fewer Americans have direct ties to military service, places like Freedom Park play an essential role in preserving that legacy and helping future generations appreciate the freedoms we enjoy today because of those who served.”
Supporting Changing Our World efforts will be Loma Media, a San Diego-based content creation and communication agency. Loma Media will provide integrated marketing and communications strategy and services to support and accelerate fundraising for Freedom Park.
“All of us at Loma are excited to help communicate the national importance of Freedom Park,” said John DeBello, Loma Media’s president and chief creative officer. “Freedom Park is a beautifully conceived, engaging environment that honors the sacrifices of our nation’s veterans. Our nation forever owes a profound debt to each of them, especially to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Welcoming visitors from across the country, this unique public space will reinforce the unbroken bond between all Americans and those sworn to protect them.”
As the Freedom Park project moves into its next exciting phase, the combined local and national fundraising campaigns will help bring the park to a successful fruition, significantly enhancing the experience of guests visiting Midway as well as all those enjoying the San Diego bayfront.
“Sometimes we take Midway for granted here in San Diego,” said Terry Kraft, Midway’s president and CEO. “What this campaign will accomplish is to help people realize that Midway, and Freedom Park, are truly national assets that need to be honored and preserved. This campaign will help spread that message on a national scale.”
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