Petition Aims to Repeal Paid Parking at Balboa Park

Initiative seeks to overturn fees that have impacted museums and volunteers since January launch.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 12:56am

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A new initiative has been launched to repeal paid parking at Balboa Park in San Diego, California. The petition drive comes after the implementation of parking fees in January, which has resulted in a drop in museum visitors and volunteers, according to park officials. Supporters argue the paid parking program is negatively impacting the park and are pursuing two potential paths to overturn the fees.

Why it matters

Balboa Park is a major cultural and recreational hub in San Diego, home to numerous museums, gardens, and other attractions. The paid parking program was intended to generate revenue, but has faced backlash from visitors, volunteers, and museum leaders who say it is deterring people from coming to the park.

The details

The Balboa Park Free Parking Restoration Act petition drive was launched on Saturday, with organizers aiming to gather 80,000 signatures to put the issue on the November ballot. Alternatively, they only need 24,000 signatures to force the San Diego City Council to reconsider the paid parking policy. Museum leaders say revenues and volunteer numbers are down 30-40% since the fees were implemented in January, warning that the financial impact could become unsustainable if the policy is not reversed.

  • The paid parking program at Balboa Park was launched in early January 2026.
  • The petition drive to repeal the fees was launched on April 5, 2026.

The players

Richard Bailey

The former mayor of Coronado and the leader of the initiative to repeal paid parking at Balboa Park.

Diana Hyatt

The president of the board of directors for the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, who says the paid parking program is negatively impacting museum attendance and volunteers.

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What they’re saying

“This initiative repeals the parking fees here at Balboa Park at all lots for all visitors.”

— Richard Bailey, Former Mayor of Coronado

“It's important to recognize that about half of the people who volunteer work at, and visit our museums are not residents of the city and our county of San Diego residents. They're getting no break whatsoever.”

— Diana Hyatt, President, San Diego Model Railroad Museum Board of Directors

What’s next

If the petition drive gathers 80,000 signatures, the issue will go before San Diego voters on the November 2026 ballot. Alternatively, if 24,000 signatures are collected, the San Diego City Council will be required to reconsider the paid parking policy.

The takeaway

The push to repeal paid parking at Balboa Park highlights the tensions between generating municipal revenue and preserving access to a beloved public space. The initiative's success could set a precedent for other cities considering similar parking fee programs at their major cultural attractions.