San Diegans Call for Balboa Park Governance Overhaul at Public Forum

Community members seek to shift park oversight beyond city control to address funding and management concerns.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 9:33pm

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Dozens of San Diego residents attended a public forum organized by the San Diego Community Coalition to discuss major changes needed in how Balboa Park is governed and funded. Attendees expressed frustration with the current city-controlled management structure and called for a new system that would extend oversight and financial support beyond just the city, potentially to the county level.

Why it matters

As one of San Diego's most iconic public spaces, Balboa Park has long been a source of civic pride, but also ongoing challenges around funding, maintenance, and decision-making. The public forum highlighted growing community dissatisfaction with the status quo and a desire for a more sustainable, collaborative model of park stewardship.

The details

The forum, held at the Mission Valley Library, featured discussions around governance, funding, and long-term oversight of Balboa Park. Vicki Estrada, a community member and moderator, said the most pressing issue raised was the need for a new management structure, with attendees suggesting ideas like shifting control from the city to a county-managed system that could draw on broader tax support and shared responsibility.

  • The public forum was held on March 28, 2026.
  • Organizers plan to meet again in a few months to compile feedback into a formal proposal.

The players

Vicki Estrada

A community member and moderator of the public forum, who said the most pressing issue raised was the need for a new governance structure for Balboa Park.

San Diego Community Coalition

The organizer of the public forum, which brought together dozens of San Diego residents to discuss concerns and potential solutions for Balboa Park's management and funding.

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What they’re saying

“What I heard at the session we just had, over and over today I heard governance, governance, you know, what we are doing now with the city is not working, that we need a new system on how to govern Balboa Park.”

— Vicki Estrada, Community member and moderator

“What I heard today is people are so frustrated. We've got to do something that, we've got to keep this going.”

— Vicki Estrada, Community member and moderator

What’s next

Organizers plan to meet again in a few months to compile feedback from the public forum into a formal document outlining potential solutions and models used elsewhere. The coalition hopes to then bring its proposal to the San Diego City Council and County Board of Supervisors.

The takeaway

This public forum highlights the growing frustration among San Diego residents with the current city-controlled management of Balboa Park and the desire for a new governance model that could draw on broader regional support and oversight. The conversation represents an important step towards finding a more sustainable, community-driven approach to preserving and enhancing one of the city's most beloved public spaces.