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San Diego Council Approves Balboa Park Paid Parking Starting Jan. 5, 2026

City staff now forecast far less parking income than budgeted, raising the risk of midyear service cuts.

Overview

  • Residents can buy parking passes for $30 per month, $60 per quarter or $150 per year, while nonresidents will pay $40, $120 or $300.
  • Daily pricing will follow three lot levels, with core lots at $8 per day for residents and $16 for nonresidents, peripheral lots at $5 and $10, and Level 3 offering the first three hours free.
  • The measure passed on a 6–3 vote, with Councilmembers Raul Campillo, Vivian Moreno and Stephen Whitburn opposed.
  • City staff estimate $612,500 to implement the program in FY2026 and project roughly $2.9 million in non‑zoo revenue this year, or $5.8 million annualized, far below earlier budget assumptions.
  • Park employees, volunteers and ADA placard holders keep free parking, a free tram will continue, special‑event fees were approved, and parking revenues collected in the park must be reinvested in Balboa Park.