Balboa Park is one of San Diego’s most popular spots for tourists and locals alike, drawing in tens of thousands of people every year. Next week, the San Diego City Council could possibly take up a proposal that would implement parking fees for lots at the park.
“It’s just going to kill our attendance for the group hearing. People won’t show up,” said Paul Gunn, the President of the San Diego Beekeeping Society. The organization has been operating out of Balboa Park since 2008.
The San Diego Beekeeping Society is one of 38 nonprofits that are under the San Diego Botanical Gardens Foundation, encompassing about 3,000 active members. Gunn and his colleagues have been voicing their opposition to the proposal when city leaders were considering the plan in September.
“I think it should be free. I don’t think that we should pay a fee for the privilege of getting a bit of a discount. People aren’t going to do that,” said Gunn.
After pushback from residents, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department came back with revised numbers. Despite the lower proposed costs, Gunn believes that any change which introduces a new fee is a non-starter. If approved, Gunn said, nonprofits would have to look elsewhere to hold their meetings.
“That’s what collectively we’re all talking about, is where else can we meet to continue the good work that we do. Because we’re not going to let it kill our society,” said Gunn.
According to city documents, the fees would apply to any lots in the park, but not for the zoo lot or streets in and near the park. The City Council could discuss the proposal as early as next week.
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