Petition to Repeal Balboa Park Parking Fees Cleared for Signature Gathering

The 'Balboa Park Free Parking Restoration Act' initiative aims to put the issue on the November 2026 ballot.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 10:56pm

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A petition seeking to repeal the parking fees at San Diego's Balboa Park has been officially cleared to begin gathering signatures. The 'Balboa Park Free Parking Restoration Act' initiative, led by Richard Bailey, a candidate for the District 2 City Council seat, is aiming to collect at least 82,000 verified signatures to put the issue on the November 2026 ballot.

Why it matters

The parking fees at Balboa Park, introduced in January, have faced immediate public backlash. While the city council considered exempting San Diego residents, Mayor Todd Gloria instead expanded the number of free lots and reduced enforcement hours, forestalling a full repeal of the fees. This petition drive represents an effort by residents to directly challenge the parking fees through a ballot measure.

The details

The petition drive was officially launched on Saturday with a gathering at the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. Bailey, who served as mayor of Coronado from 2016 to 2024 and moved to Point Loma in 2025, stated that the petition can force the matter back before the city council prior to becoming eligible for the ballot if they collect 24,000 signatures over the next three months. The group has already collected over 10,000 signatures through their website and an additional 1,000 at the launch event.

  • The petition was first announced in early March 2026.
  • The petition drive was officially launched on Saturday, April 5, 2026.
  • The group is seeking to collect at least 82,000 verified signatures over the next three months.

The players

Richard Bailey

A candidate for the District 2 City Council seat and the leader of the 'Balboa Park Free Parking Restoration Act' petition drive.

Todd Gloria

The mayor of San Diego who introduced measures to expand free parking in Balboa Park, rather than suspending the fees altogether.

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What they’re saying

“If we collect just 24,000 signatures over the next three months, we can go ahead and submit that to the city of San Diego and they are required for their charter to go ahead and rehear this item.”

— Richard Bailey, Petition Leader

What’s next

If the petition drive collects at least 82,000 verified signatures, it will generate a ballot item for the November 2026 election, where San Diego voters will have the opportunity to repeal the Balboa Park parking fees.

The takeaway

This petition drive represents a grassroots effort by San Diego residents to challenge the recently implemented parking fees at Balboa Park, which have faced widespread public backlash. The outcome of this initiative could have significant implications for the future of parking policies and access to one of the city's most beloved public spaces.