Balboa Park Master Plan Update Begins

By Ross Porter

Among the priorities that  San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has set is an update to the 1989 Balboa Park Master Plan and related precise plans, including the  1992 one for Central Mesa, where most museums and cultural attractions are located.

In recent months, three grants have been made to the city to pay for the work of the plan updates: San Diego Association of Governments, $1 million; California Transportation Department’s sustainable transportation planning grant, $700,000; and the Prebys Foundation, $249,000.

City staff offered a preview of their work schedule at the official Balboa Park Committee (BPC) of February 5.

The presentation can be found here: tinyurl.com/BP-masterplan-update-Feb2026.

Commenting on the presentation, BPC members reminded staff of the extensive input offered by the public in meetings for the park prioritization framework study. The city’s online listing of related resources can be found at the BPC website, tinyurl.com/BP-reports-and-studies-2026, including AEA Consulting’s 2025 priorities study, tinyurl.com/BP-priorities-study-2025.

The Balboa Park Committee of 100, Forever Balboa Park, Balboa Park Cultural Partnership and other stakeholders are expected to participate in upcoming public meetings surrounding the master planning project.

City planners laid out these general guiding principles for the update:

•  Recreation and access for all

•  Historic and cultural Importance

• Connected park communities

• Sustainability and resilience

• World-class visitor experience

• Economic viability and long-term financial success

C100 plans to submit recommendations for the park update and encourages its members and other members of the public to attend meetings on the plan and submit their own ideas for consideration. A public process has not yet been finalized. A draft of the plan is expected to be ready for public hearings and action by the fall of 2028.