Plan for Balboa Park Raises Parking Fees and Anger

There have been few issues in San Diego that have been more controversial than the decision by the City Council to charge for parking in Balboa Park.

There have been fights over other issues such as homelessness, city pensions, police license plate readers, ADU’s, bike lanes, red light cameras, Gaslamp vendors and even more than maybe we’ve forgotten about.

But the reactions to having to pay to park to go to Balboa Park, reveal an unhappiness and even a disgust over this issue among a lot of people.

From those, who live in the city and those who live on the other side of the city boundaries…to the people who work and volunteer in Balboa Park…to some in the tourism industry who worry that it could mean dollars lost among out of town tourists who won’t spend as much time visiting San Diego.

As one of the council members who put it, “We could actually lose money on this and therefore need to reduce services and maintenance in the park.”

And another saying about Balboa Park, “It’s a place where everybody is able to enjoy the beautiful scenery of San Diego.”

Come January 5th when the parking fees begin, you might not be able to say the same thing.

(Photo c.e. albert)