San Diego Mayor Reverses Some Balboa Park Parking Fees After Backlash

City residents will again be able to park for free in select lots, but premium lots will still have fees.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 2:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has announced changes to the parking fees implemented last month in Balboa Park, eliminating parking fees for city residents in select lots after receiving overwhelming negative feedback. The changes will reduce revenue, and the City Council has committed to identifying other service-level reductions to keep the budget balanced.

Why it matters

The parking fee changes in Balboa Park have been a contentious issue, with residents and local organizations criticizing the impact on access to the public park. The mayor's decision to listen to feedback and roll back some of the fees demonstrates responsiveness to community concerns, though the long-term budget implications remain to be seen.

The details

Under the new plan, San Diego residents who have verified their address will be able to park for free in several Balboa Park lots, including Pepper Grove, Federal, Upper Inspiration Point, Lower Inspiration Point, Marston Point, Palisades and Bea Evenson. However, residents will still be charged to park in premium lots such as the Space Theater, Casa de Balboa, Alcazar, Organ Pavilion and South Carousel lots. Enforcement will also end at 6 p.m. instead of 8 p.m. More than 3,000 residents have registered for the free parking program, and the city has collected nearly $700,000 in parking fees so far.

  • The changes are slated to go into effect on March 2, 2026.
  • The parking fees were first instituted last month.

The players

Todd Gloria

The mayor of San Diego who announced the parking fee changes in Balboa Park.

Joe LaCava

The San Diego City Council President who worked with other councilmembers to restore free parking for city residents in Balboa Park.

Balboa Park Cultural Partnership

A group representing Balboa Park institutions that supports the first step of the parking fee changes but believes more must be done to restore free parking for everyone.

Shane Harris

A San Diego activist who criticized the parking fee changes as a "false resolution" that does not address the fundamental issues.

Peter Comiskey

The executive director of the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership who said the changes are a start in the right direction but more must be done.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Good governing also means listening. I've heard from residents and from members of the City Council about how this program is affecting San Diegans who love Balboa Park as much as I do. That feedback matters, and it's why I am eliminating parking fees for city residents in select lots in the park.”

— Todd Gloria, Mayor of San Diego (nbcsandiego.com)

“Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee, Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, and I put forth a plan last week to restore free parking for city residents. Today, we achieved our goal, and I thank the mayor for his quick action. We are delivering affordability while protecting the park and city services.”

— Joe LaCava, San Diego City Council President (nbcsandiego.com)

“What was unveiled today is a false resolution to a very real and ongoing problem, and it does nothing to address the fundamental failure of paid parking in Balboa Park. The mayor's plan does not repeal paid parking. It preserves it. It maintains a two-tier system that continues to charge families, workers, volunteers and countywide residents to access a public park that has belonged to the people for more than a century.”

— Shane Harris, San Diego Activist (nbcsandiego.com)

“Administrative action to return free parking for city residents to several lots and make other improvements is the start of movement in the right direction. Our board supports this first step and believes there is more that must be done to restore free parking for everyone, but we will closely monitor the effects of this change to see whether, and how much, it reverses the dramatic decline in visitors.”

— Peter Comiskey, Executive Director, Balboa Park Cultural Partnership (nbcsandiego.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The mayor's decision to roll back some of the Balboa Park parking fees in response to community feedback demonstrates a willingness to listen and adjust policies, though concerns remain about the long-term budget impacts and the need for more comprehensive solutions to ensure equitable park access.