Naples artist, Paul Arsenault displays a brush and painted fingers while working on a mural at Youth Haven in Naples. He is working with some of the youth at the center. Paint5347
San Diego, California – When a cherished Padres mural in North Park was defaced by rival fans, the local community didn’t just restore it—they made it even better. In true San Diego fashion, the Friar Faithful turned frustration into action, raising $5,000 to fund an even larger and more resilient tribute to their team.
The original mural, painted last fall by artists Chris Konecki and Carly Ealey, was commissioned by North Park Main Street to celebrate the Padres’ playoff run. But soon after its completion, it was vandalized by Dodger fans, leaving locals disheartened.
“It was really cool. It was really sad to see that it was defaced by Dodger fans,” said one Padres supporter, echoing the frustration felt throughout the neighborhood.
Rather than let the damage stand as a symbol of defeat, San Diego fans banded together. Marco Cazarez, founder of Padres Merch Marctic Creations, led the charge, launching a GoFundMe campaign that quickly gained traction. Contributions poured in from all corners of the city, including local figures and even the mother of Padres player Jackson Merrill.
“We had to step up,” Cazarez said. “This isn’t just about baseball. It’s about San Diego. It’s about turning something disappointing into something bigger, bolder, and brighter.”
And bigger, bolder, and brighter it will be. The new mural, set to adorn the Western Dental and Orthodontics building at University Avenue and Arizona Street, will measure an impressive 60 by 15 feet—far surpassing the original. Artists have hinted at special touches, including an anti-graffiti coating and potential nods to Fernando Tatis Jr.
“We feel blessed as artists to have a community-funded project that means so much to everyone in San Diego,” Konecki said.
For fans, this project is more than just a mural—it’s a statement. It’s proof that San Diego’s love for its team can’t be erased, painted over, or silenced.
“It’s to inspire hope and that camaraderie,” Ealey said. “Let’s go San Diego.”
With the new artwork set to be completed by opening weekend, what started as an act of vandalism has become a testament to resilience, unity, and the unwavering pride of a city that always has its team’s back.
