SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and community leaders broke ground Tuesday on a Mission Bay park makeover in honor of a woman who died serving her community.
Maruta Gardner was struck and killed by a DUI driver in 2016 while she was removing graffiti.
The park in Bonita Cove is being named in her honor and receive a “much-needed makeover” for the playground, city officials say.
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Other improvements to the park include a new shade structure, comfort station, repaired sidewalks, updated restrooms, improved lighting, and pedestrian curb ramps. Security lighting will also be enhanced.
The cost of the park improvements will be $3.4 million and the project should be completed by fall 2020.
Maggie Frazier, a friend of Gardner's, told 10News, "She'd be dancing in her red cowboy boots and jumping for joy. She was so passionate about this program and wanted to see it fulfilled. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case."
