Here's how much the city wants to charge for parking in Balboa Park
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Street parking on Park Boulevard is part of the city's paid parking proposal for Balboa Park. Photo: Andrew Keatts/Axios
San Diego officials are rolling out how paid parking in Balboa Park is going to work.
The big picture: The city helped close a budget deficit last month by deciding to charge for parking in its crown jewel after years of similar proposals failed amid public backlash.
- But the city had not yet outlined a detailed proposal for its plans.
Driving the news: The mayor's office last week presented its initial proposal for a parkwide paid-parking system to the Balboa Park Committee.
- The mayor's office is aiming for the City Council to approve the proposal by July 28 so the city can begin charging in October.
How it works: Parking lots inside the park are split into three price tiers based on proximity to the central mesa, with a minimum of $5 per day and a maximum of $15 per day.
- The city wants to install parking meters and charge $2.50 per hour for street parking within the park, and on Sixth Avenue along its western edge.
- Residents could get half off the highest tiered rate by registering for an account that would grant a permit.
- Parking in the Inspiration Point lot would be free for the first two hours.
Context: The mayor's office stressed the proposal can undergo changes ahead of council approval.
Zoom in: Zoo parking is not included because the zoo's lease prohibits the city from changing its parking situation, mayoral spokesperson Rachel Laing told Axios.
- The city says it's working on a separate proposal for park employees and volunteers.
Between the lines: The city's fact sheet says staff worked with park advocacy groups Forever Balboa Park and the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership to create the proposal.
- But another group, the Balboa Park Committee of 100, submitted a letter to the city last week opposing the plan.
What they're saying: "There are many reasons to oppose this action, for both philosophical and practical reasons. But we want to focus on the highest level of concern: equity," wrote the group's president, Kevin Carpenter.
- 90% of park visitors drive, Carpenter argued, so paid parking will create an unnecessary barrier to park access.