Our friends at Peninsula News have put together some history about the issue of “paid parking” in Balboa Park — now that the City of San Diego wants to balance its budget by installing paid parking in the “crown jewel” of the city (and other places like Mission Bay). Links in the original do not work but see them at the end.
Links in Above Post
killed this traffic/ parking proposal
City wants paid parking in Balboa Park (Axios San Diego)
San Diego is getting ready to charge for parking in Balboa Park and Mission Bay Park. Why it matters: The cash-strapped city’s latest attempt to address its budget woes walks it into territory where public backlash over previous paid parking proposals has been fierce.
Driving the news: On Thursday evening, city officials briefed the Balboa Park Committee on their intention to implement paid parking in San Diego’s cultural heart.
Officials will holding meetings with leaders of Balboa Park institutions next week and will then engage community groups from neighborhoods surrounding the park to begin shaping a final proposal, Rachel Laing, a mayoral spokesperson, told Axios.
State of play: The presentation shared data on parking usage from a citywide parking demand study completed in January that is guiding the city’s revenue-motivated revamp of policy. It did not include any details on pricing.
“All we have right now is a demand study, and the intent to implement paid parking in the park,” Laing said. “The shape of that is not yet determined, and the public will be listened to and engaged.”
What’s next: After its engagement tour, city staff will put together a proposal in hopes of a City Council vote later this year.
“We’re looking at several months, not several years,” Laing said.
Between the lines: Discussions on paid parking in Balboa Park are further along than those in Mission Bay Park, but Laing said the city will soon begin a similar process there.
Friction point: More than a decade ago, the push to revamp Balboa Park’s central mesa exploded in political controversy in part thanks to its inclusion of paid parking.
The plan has been revived and killed again multiple times since the City Council first approved it in 2012.
San Diego’s pursuit of paid beach parking came up short in 2005 and 2011, before a 2023 pilot program allowed parking meters in a portion of Pacific Beach.
Sure, lets provide yet another additional parking charge on top of all the other taxes, licenses, and fees that San Diegan’s and their families have to endure. In addition to adding parking meters at Balboa Park and elsewhere around the city, why stop there? While you are at it, why not tax pedestrians for access to sidewalks, Bicyclists for access bike lanes, surfers for access to the surf, etc. Why not charge people for the bags they use to carry their groceries home as well? Oh, we already do that? I mean, the city has already doubled it’s parking meter rates this year, why not double the number of meters as well? With energy prices increasing, trash disposal fees increasing, water pricing increasing, egg prices increasing, what’s an extra $2.50 an hour to park where it ought to be free to do so?
This is what your local government does for you….
Is t there a pact that as long as Balboa park remains free the city has access but the moment a cost is added to the park the city loses all land rights or something along those lines?
We go to the Park all the time and wouldn’t mind paying a nominal parking charge if we knew that the revenue would be specifically earmarked for Park operations and maintenance. The Park badly needs an assured revenue stream and the parking revenue could be used to offset a portion of the City’s current contributions to the Park.
You really are a pie in the sky kind of guy, aren’t you Bob? The government, particularly this city’s government, has never lied to the public about using revenue generated for one purpose for another (total sarcasm).
I love how this was published in the OB Rag where that neighborhood has lobbied so hard and, apparently successfully, to convince the City to WASTE $120 MILLION on a ridiculous, pointless, useless, futile NEW OB PIER!
If they really cared about Balboa Park they’d back off on that stupid quest and tell the San Diego Municipal Government to spend that money on the $100 million in DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AT BALBOA PARK!
I am opposed to paid parking in Balboa Park and yes, that was key to my opposition to the proposal for underground parking referred to in the article. I am a bit mystified as to how this is racing through approval and possibly implementation without the opposition we saw a few years ago. Is that a coincidence or has the information been cryptic until recently?
I agree most heartily with the fellow who noted that Park Blvd and 6th Ave already have greatly reduced parking for citizens and residents of San Diego who wish to bring their families to the Park for the traditional free activities like sitting on the grass and picnicking, playing catch, and relaxing. This is a park for everyone and paid parking is pretty darn mean, from my point of view. I can walk over there, but what about others?