It’s True! Free Parking Will Return to Balboa Park

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

It might go down as one of the biggest outcries for reform in San Diego’s political history.

The highly controversial implementation of paid parking in Balboa Park that went into effect in January was repealed on May 20. The parking plan was met with negative media coverage and organized protests from Democrats and Republicans on nearly a monthly basis ever since the unsightly pay stations were installed throughout the grounds.

The deal to scrub paid parking in the park (except for within the San Diego Zoo’s massive parking lot) was struck between city council members Stephen Whitburn and Joe LaCava, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, and well-known local attorneys Mike Aguirre and Maria Severson.

News of the policy reversal incited joyous reactions across social media by local businesses and organizations that were negatively impacted by paid parking. They included The Prado restaurant, the San Diego Museum Council and the San Diego Natural History Museum. Chief executive officer Judy Gradwhol of the latter stated on Facebook: “The repeal is huge for us.”

Katherine Engles, a regular park goer from Golden Hill who we spoke with as she was exiting the Mingei International Museum noted that she had scaled back on her visits to the park because of the parking fees. “I’m looking forward to coming back more frequently. This was a terrible idea that I hoped wouldn’t last.”

Free parking is due to be restored by Jan. 1, 2027 or sooner. There is still no word as to when removal of the pay stations will begin—but we will be keeping a watchful eye on them in the coming months.