Paid Parking in the Park: The Latest

By Ross Porter

In a March 5, 2026, update to the city’s Balboa Park Committee (BPC) , mayoral representative Emily Piatanesi, outlined the latest changes to the paid-parking program in the Central Mesa and West Mesa.

Verified San Diego city residents can now park free in Tiers 2 and 3 lots once they have registered the cars.

A map of the tiers, parking lots and metered streets plus registration details are available at San Diego.gov/parking/balboapark.

Families line up to pay for parking at a Holders of handicap placards and license plates can now park on any park streets and in any lots for free. Other details are available at balboapark.org/plan-your-visit/parking/.

Enforcement with citations was scheduled to begin March 16 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in lots and park streets and until 8 p.m. on Park Boulevard and Sixth Avenue.

The city is expecting to collect about $2.5 million by the end of the current fiscal year, June 30, 2026 — enough to cover startup costs. The city has pledged to set aside net income in a new park fund but it is unclear how much will be generated to cover the park’s budget. BPC will continue discussing the parking issue at its monthly meetings, held at 4 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at the Balboa Park Club, 2150 W. Pan American Road.

The San Diego Zoo is operating a separate paid parking program and has negotiated a revenue-sharing agreement with the city. Details are available at zoo.sandiegozoo.org/parking.

In February, C100 communicated its position on parking to the mayor and City Council, saying in part:

“As you know, we remain concerned about paid parking’s impact on the park’s institutions and visitors, and have opposed the idea from its inception. We appreciate your comments at our annual meeting last fall  and support your goal of establishing a robust revenue stream that supports the park into the future. However, as the policy has taken effect, we’d like to request an update on revenues. Specifically, is the money collected covering the cost of collection and enforcement?”

Photos: C100

The Balboa Park Cultural Partnership (BPCP) and its Balboa Park Cultural District have been closely monitoring the paid-parking program, particularly as it affects institutions’ staff and volunteers.

Contact information: bpcp.org, (619) 232-7502; hotline, (800) 350-6945; request-a-ride shuttle service (8-11 p.m. for park institutions’ employees and volunteers),  (858) 466-7795; parking@balboaparkculturaldistrict.org.