Piazza Basilone, Little Italy, SD

This plaza, essentially a bulb-out, was carved from parts of Fir and India Streets in 2004. Fir Street became one way and parking parallel to the curb on Fir was replaced with 45 degree angled parking.

This plaza, called Piazza Basilone, was created in part as a response to 9/11 along with a previous desire to honor veterans and servicepeople who never came home. Piazza Basilone is named after Italian war hero John Basilone. But the little plaza has many other dimensions too. First, as a place, the plaza is a remarkably pleasing environment to be in. The fountain, green foilage, and umbrellas provide comfort in the city surrounds. The plaza enlivens the adjacent building, a restaurant that itself provides sidewalk seating. The process of planning and building the plaza included political, civic, and corporate support, which is memorialized in the plaza by plaques and engravings.

This plaza is connected with servicemen and women of different eras, supported by the community, and now serves as a notable gathering place in Little Italy, San Diego.