Gallagher Square at Petco Park: Inside the Playground With the 35-Foot Bat

Gallagher Square is the 2.8-acre park just outside the outfield fence at Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. Formerly known as the Park at the Park, it took the Gallagher name in 2019 (Wikipedia), and in 2024 the Padres reopened it after a major renovation tied to the ballpark’s 20th anniversary (NBC 7 San Diego). At its center is a baseball-themed playground that Landrec designed and built with the Padres and Larimer Design. Here is what is inside it and how it came together.

What Is Gallagher Square?

Gallagher Square sits beyond the outfield at Petco Park in downtown San Diego, with a playground, lawn seating, a dog park and a viewing terrace. Outside of stadium events it works as a public park. The Padres list its normal hours as sunrise to sunset and note that hours and the schedule can change, so check the Gallagher Square schedule before you go.

What Changed in the 2024 Renovation

The Padres unveiled the renovated Gallagher Square in March 2024, just before Opening Day. According to NBC 7 San Diego, the project added an expanded playground for a wider range of ages and abilities, a fenced off-leash dog park, pickleball courts, tiered lawn seating and the Tony Gwynn Terrace, a viewing deck that doubles as a picnic area outside game time.

Inside the Gallagher Square Playground

The 35-Foot Baseball Bat

The anchor of the playground is a 35-foot baseball bat climbing sculpture. It serves as a lookout toward the ball field and lights up at night. NBC 7 San Diego called it “the tallest climbable bat in the world.”

Three Bat-Themed Towers

The big bat connects to three bat-themed towers that symbolize the bases. Inside the towers, children climb and cross between levels on rope nets and bridges.

The Pitcher’s Mound Net Floor

At the center of the playground is a giant pitcher’s mound net floor, where children can climb, crawl and lie back on the net.

Bat Rope Forest, Crawl Tunnel Mound and More

A bat rope forest of timber bats gives kids a place to weave, climb and hide. Around it are a crawl tunnel mound, a solid oak bat and a giant rubber baseball glove.

The Slides

Two custom slides were built for the site: a spiral tunnel slide from a 16-foot deck and a curved tunnel slide from an 8-foot deck, both fabricated from 304L stainless steel and powder coated. A shorter stainless steel slide also runs down one of the turf mounds.

Who Designed and Built It

The San Diego Padres were the client. Landrec worked with Larimer Design on the play environment and built its custom play elements, from the bat and towers to the nets and slides. The goal was a one-of-a-kind space that honors Petco Park’s baseball roots and gives fans and locals a reason to gather. You can see more photos on the Gallagher Square project page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Gallagher Square at Petco Park?

It is a 2.8-acre park outside the outfield fence at Petco Park in San Diego, with a baseball-themed playground, lawn seating, a dog park and a viewing terrace.

When is Gallagher Square open?

The Padres list normal hours as sunrise to sunset, subject to change. Check the official Gallagher Square schedule before visiting, especially on game and event days.

How tall is the bat at Gallagher Square?

The climbable baseball bat sculpture is 35 feet tall.

Who built the Gallagher Square playground?

Landrec designed and built the playground’s custom play elements for the San Diego Padres, working with Larimer Design.

Plan a Themed Playground Like Gallagher Square

Every piece at Gallagher Square tells part of one story, from the bat to the pitcher’s mound. If you are planning a themed play space, read our guide to playground sculptures, see our custom slides and custom climbing nets, or send us your project and call (888) 857-2001.