Visitors to Balboa Park will be asked to pay to park their vehicles in city lots Monday, breaking a tradition of more than 100 years of the city's crown jewel being free for visitors in private vehicles.
San Diego residents are now able to purchase a monthly, quarterly or annual parking pass at a discounted rate by visiting https://sandiego.thepermitportal.com/. The portal was made live on Friday.
Starting Monday, residents can choose to pay $30 for a monthly parking pass, $60 for a quarterly pass or $150 for an annual one. Non-residents can pay $40, $120 or $300 for the same levels.
City residents can apply for discount rates through a city website using address verification, which takes up to two business days.
The new parking fees will be enforced at Balboa Park everyday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
City spokesperson Nicole Darling said there will be a one month grace period for enforcement.
“If (city residents) show up at the park and haven't done that online verification, they will pay the nonresident rate,” she said. “That's why we want San Diegans to know they can go online through the portal, get registered, then they'll receive those parking discounts.”
Park employees, volunteers and those with an ADA placard will continue to park for free. A free tram service will continue to serve visitors, going from the Inspiration Point parking lot to a variety of stops within Balboa Park.
The move has proven controversial, with one vandal making their displeasure known last week. Multiple kiosks were vandalized on New Year's Day, filled with expanding contractor's foam and at least one smeared with feces.
Other locals are simply voicing their distaste with the change.
“To have to pay is not right,” said San Diegan Roberta Henry.
She was at the park Friday with her friend Joyce Clagett. When in town, they visit Balboa Park and the zoo multiple times a week.
“I don't care for it, I think it's going to keep locals away,” Clagett said of the new fees.
Philippe Gagne, 79, is a member of Redwood Bridge Club. The organization is located inside Balboa Park. He said the fees are a burden for seniors in the club with fixed incomes.
“It’s not fine for about almost half of our members, because half of our members live outside the city limits,” he said.
Those outside of the city limits do not qualify for resident discounts. Gagne said the roughly 400 members in the organization are coming together to help one another.
“Because some of us are more affluent than others, this group has been able to raise a fund in order to support those who can't support even that annual parking pass — so we're trying to make it work,” he said.
The fiscal year 2026 budget passed last summer anticipated $15.5 million in parking revenue from Balboa Park. That revenue number assumed $12.5 million in fee parking in Balboa Park and at least $3 million from zoo parking.
A revised figure presented to the City Council in November estimated non-zoo parking could generate just $2.9 million — $9.6 million less than initial projections. The city had originally planned to begin charging for parking in October, but delays stalled the rollout and resulted in the loss of three months of revenue. Expected parking rates have also dropped.
The parking passes come under 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 — $16 per day and $10 for up to 4 hours for nonresidents and $8 per day and $5 for up to 4 hours for city residents. These include: Space Theater, Casa de Balboa, Alcazar, Organ Pavilion, Bea Evenson, Palisades and South Carousel;
— Level 2 lots would be priced at $10 per day for nonresidents and $5 per day for residents. These include: Pepper Grove, Federal, Upper Inspiration Point and Marston Point; and
— Level 3 lots would also be priced at $10 per day with the first 3 hours free. Resident rate: $5 per day with the first 3 hours free. This includes the lower Inspiration Point lot.
The Office of the Independent Budget Analyst estimated revenues in this fiscal year from the non-zoo parking would be close to $4 million, still well short of plans.
The zoo, which operates on an independent lease from the city, will allow members to continue to park for free. For non-members and non-residents, general parking is $16 per vehicle, per day, $44 daily for oversized vehicles per day. City of San Diego resident rates are half that.
Councilman Raul Campillo was an outspoken opponent of charging to park in Balboa Park, but was also flummoxed last year that city staff hadn't done market surveys to determine what might be the best price point.
"We have no idea how much money we will actually get, just a projection. We could actually be losing money on this," he said, saying the city's budgetary issues should not come at a cost to its residents. "Instead of tightening our own belt, it's tightening the belts of people we are sworn to serve."
Campillo was joined by Council members Vivian Moreno and Stephen Whitburn in voting no on the parking passes.
Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera appeared to bristle at Campillo's insinuations about cutting city staff or services to shore up the budget shortfall.
"The idea that the way to have the things we want is by cutting city employees is just not true," he said. "There are no city services without city employees.
"I think the city residents carry the burden of this city being a tourist destination," Elo-Rivera said about Campillo's idea to charge a flat rate for all county residents, including city of San Diego residents. "We need more resources, I think it's fair to expect non-residents to pay for those resources."
The San Diego City Council also approved a special event rate intended to recoup some costs for the city for hosting events, with large events such as five-kilometer runs having to pay as much as $3,000 for full day parking.
Revenues from the parking fees paid within the park must be spent on Balboa Park. The funds can support ongoing maintenance, infrastructure, and visitor amenities and may include road repaving, lighting upgrades, sign improvements and landscaping.
While projected revenues remain paltry compared to what was anticipated, the city could face midyear budget cuts.
"The stakes of this program are high, given the reliance on the revenues in this fiscal year's budget," Mayor Todd Gloria said in September. "It's now incumbent on all of us to ensure it delivers so we can avoid steep and painful midyear cuts that will impact neighborhood services throughout the city."
If the projected revenue falls short, the city will need to find money elsewhere, with the library system a likely target.
Due to dealings at City Hall during the budget process, 17 of the city's 37 library branches are open Mondays. Recreation center hours, city- owned lake access, and other park and recreation services were some of the last things to be added to the budget, and thus may become the first to go if budget cuts are needed.
