Overview

• The City Council voted 6–2 to adopt a three‑tier system that charges nonresidents $16 or $10 per day depending on lot location, with San Diego residents paying $8 or $5 and getting the first three hours free at Inspiration Point.
• No in‑park fees will begin until a resident verification portal is operating, quarterly or annual passes for frequent users are available, and a parking arrangement is set for San Diego High School students.
• Roughly 300 on‑street meters on Park Boulevard and Sixth Avenue are slated to start this fall at $2.50 per hour with a four‑hour limit, generating an estimated $750,000 in the remainder of FY 2026.
• The FY 2026 budget projected $15.5 million from Balboa Park parking, but city analysts now expect a shortfall of several million dollars that could trigger mid‑year cuts, with all revenue restricted to park uses.
• Concessions include free parking for San Diego High students, discounted passes for volunteers and frequent users, exemptions for accessible spaces and major holidays, and kiosks that accept cards and coins.