San Diego Lawmaker Aims to Protect Mission Bay Park from Development

Proposed legislation would prevent commercial properties within the park from being declared surplus land for new leases.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 7:47am

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San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria's proposal to declare three commercial properties within Mission Bay Park as surplus land in order to negotiate new leases faced backlash from the community. In response, a local lawmaker has introduced a bill that would exempt all lands comprising Mission Bay Park from being declared surplus, effectively preventing any new development or commercial leases within the protected public space.

Why it matters

Mission Bay Park is a beloved public green space in San Diego, and residents are concerned about preserving its natural environment and recreational areas from potential commercial encroachment or residential development. This proposed legislation aims to enshrine the park's protected status and keep it free from future development.

The details

The bill, introduced by a San Diego-area state legislator, would exempt all lands that make up Mission Bay Park from being declared surplus property, which would prevent the city from negotiating new commercial leases on those parcels. This is in direct response to Mayor Gloria's proposal last year to declare three commercial properties within the park as surplus in order to renegotiate their leases.

  • In 2025, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria proposed declaring three commercial properties within Mission Bay Park as surplus land.
  • The new state bill was introduced in early 2026 to prevent any future attempts to develop or commercialize land within the park.

The players

Todd Gloria

The mayor of San Diego who proposed declaring certain Mission Bay Park properties as surplus land to renegotiate commercial leases.

San Diego City Council

The city governing body that would have to approve Mayor Gloria's proposal to declare park properties as surplus.

San Diego-area state legislator

The lawmaker who introduced a bill to exempt all of Mission Bay Park from being declared surplus land and protected from development.

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What’s next

The state bill must now go through the legislative process, including committee hearings and votes in both the state assembly and senate, before potentially being signed into law by the governor.

The takeaway

This proposed legislation demonstrates the community's strong commitment to preserving Mission Bay Park as a protected public green space, free from commercial development or encroachment, in order to maintain San Diego's cherished natural areas for recreation and environmental conservation.