As of January 5, Balboa Park has introduced paid parking. This decision has drawn significant backlash from San Diego residents. Meters on Balboa Drive, El Prado, Juniper Road, Presidents Way, Quince Drive, Zoo Drive, Village Place, and some adjacent roads. Meter rates are $2.50 an hour and $10 a day. Between 8 am and 8 pm. Parking lots are also now paid, with lots one to three priced from $16 to $10 for a full day. Though residents get discounted parking for both metered and lot parking. Parking passes are also available for discounts on parking, a free park tram, and disabled parking is still free. Still, residents are upset. On January 25, over 100 people gathered at the park to protest the new fees. They argue that the price could keep low-income families from enjoying the park. Senior Rozelin Cabrera stated, “They shouldn’t have to pay because it’s public and a lot of people go there, and fewer people are going to go or park far away… People who live here shouldn’t have to pay for a museum, but not parking.” Balboa’s Museums are also reporting a 20% decline in visitors since the fee was introduced. Paid parking is expected to bring in $3.7 million by the end of June. Mayor Todd Gloria explained that the fees are to help pay for San Diego’s deficits of over $100 million dollars per year. The community remains upset, and the lasting impact the fees have on Balboa Park is yet to be determined.
