Port of Los Angeles Commits $4 Million Toward Battleship Iowa Expansion

The Port of Los Angeles will invest $4 million to support the construction of the Freedom of the Seas Park and Pavilion adjacent to the Battleship USS Iowa. The Board of Harbor Commissioners authorized the funding through an amendment to the site's existing lease with the non-profit Pacific Battleship Center.

The overall project carries an estimated cost of $17 million. Plans call for an initial phase centered on an approximately 17,500-square-foot multipurpose pavilion capable of hosting up to 550 visitors. Designed by SWA, the broader master plan incorporates public green space, outdoor gathering areas, and public art along the waterfront. Project timelines anticipate completing the pavilion by 2027, with additional open space phases rolling out between 2028 and 2030.

The expansion aligns with continuing public and private investments across the LA Waterfront, complementing nearby developments such as the West Harbor project promenade and open-space improvements in Wilmington. For developers and commercial operators, the sustained public commitment to waterfront infrastructure enhances foot traffic and visitor-serving commercial potential throughout the harbor area.