The San Diego City Council Monday approved the creation of a parking district on Park Boulevard and Sixth Avenue around Balboa Park and offered suggestions to do the same for surface lots inside the park.
The implementation of the new parking district will go into effect by Oct. 1, as 300 spaces abutting Balboa Park will begin charging $2.50 an hour for a maximum of four hours between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a week.
Parking studies by city staff determined that the Balboa Park parking meter zone "should be the area south of Upas Street, west of 28th Street, north of Russ Boulevard and west to and including the western side of Sixth Avenue."
To go along with the new parking district, Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera proposed an amendment to consider offering discount or free parking to city residents in those same 300 spots, to be taken up when the council deals with the in-park parking management in September.
The ordinance passed 6-2, with Council members Raul Campillo and Jennifer Campbell voting no. Campbell said she would have supported the ordinance, but described Elo-Rivera's amendment as "chaotic."
City staff estimate the spots will bring in $750,000 to the city over the remaining course of Fiscal Year 2026, and $1 million annually thereafter. Signs, meters and markings will go up in September.
The two streets in question have high, but not full, occupancy rates on a typical day. Park Boulevard averages 72% occupancy and Sixth Avenue averages 81%, but the city expects those numbers to quickly climb as the council mulls over charging to park inside Balboa Park.
On Monday, the council also heard an informational update on the proposal, which gave an idea of key elements, such as proposed rates, discounts for city residents, how to enforce the payment, how to implement the new charge and more.
It's an item the council has plenty of motivation to see through later this year, as the city's precariously balanced budget rests on the estimated millions of dollars paid parking at Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo will collect every year — $11 million annually, according to a city document.
"We should all want it to be the best version of itself," Elo-Rivera said of the park. "But residents of this city are subsidizing visitors to this city.
"People from Arizona will still drive their trucks here, I promise you."
Revenues from the parking fees paid within the park must be spent on Balboa Park, according to the proposal. The funds can support ongoing maintenance, infrastructure, and visitor amenities and may include road repaving, lighting upgrades, sign improvements and landscaping.
A draft plan for the parking lots introduces three pricing tiers — Levels 1, 2, and 3 — based on demand and proximity.
— Level 1 lots, located in the core of the Central Mesa area, would be subject to the highest rate — $12 a day, $6 for residents. These include: Alcazar, Organ Pavilion, Pan American Plaza (Palisades), Casa de Balboa, Fleet Science Center North (Pepper Grove North), the Natural History Museum, and South Carousel lots;
— Level 2 lots would be priced at 50% of the Level 1 rate. These include: Fleet Science Center South (Pepper Grove South), Starlight Bowl (Federal), Marston Point, and Veterans Museum; and
— Level 3 lots would also be priced at 50% of the Level 1 rate, but with the first two hours free to preserve access for short-term visitors. This includes Inspiration Point.
Councilman Stephen Whitburn encouraged city staff to keep the park affordable, proposing a $10 daily cap for nonresidents and $5 for San Diego residents. He also said the Inspiration Point lot should remain free for four hours, noting the average parking in Balboa Park was a little more than three hours.
"A free option is of no value if there isn't enough time to use it," he said.
Campillo urged the city to include county residents in the residential discount, noting people in La Mesa, National City, Chula Vista and other nearby towns technically live closer to Balboa Park than many city residents in its northern reaches. He also backed up Whitburn's four-hour addendum for Inspiration Point.
In a city document, staff proposed adding $2.50 an hour parking to streets inside Balboa Park, including President's Way, Village Place, Balboa Drive, El Prado, Quince Street and Juniper Street.
"Balboa Park is indeed the crown jewel of San Diego, offering enriching cultural experiences as well as a place for our families and friends to enjoy together," said Parks and Recreation Department Director Andy Field. "This proposal offers reasonable and affordable options for parking, and the funds raised will be used to upkeep and maintain our beloved park."
According to the proposal, park staff and volunteers would continue to park for free.
