San Diego Zoo Keeps $16 Parking Fee While Balboa Park Goes Free

Balboa Park in San Diego is undergoing a major change in its parking structure this year. The San Diego Zoo announced that it will continue to charge visitors for parking in 2027, even though the rest of the park will eliminate paid parking next year. This decision creates a split system within the historic park, where zoo guests must pay while other visitors drive for free.

The zoo sets its parking fee at $16 per vehicle. Officials state that half of the net revenue from these fees, roughly $3 million annually, goes directly to upgrading and beautifying the park. City residents, zoo members, and active-duty military personnel can park for free in the zoo lots. This exemption is designed to keep the zoo accessible to locals while generating revenue from out-of-town guests.

Some Balboa Park museums and advocates argue the zoo is on strong financial footing and does not need the extra cash. They warn that cost-conscious zoo visitors will drive to the free lots a few hundred yards away. This shift could flood those lots with cars, making it harder for museum guests and local businesses to find parking. Artisans in Spanish Village and several food vendors rely on that nearby traffic for their livelihood.

Economists and local executives offered mixed views on the strategy. David Ely of San Diego State University supports the fee, noting that visitors are willing to pay for the convenience of less crowded lots. Caroline Freund of UC San Diego agreed but suggested the zoo should stop receiving taxpayer subsidies, which exceed $20 million a year. Kelly Cunningham of the San Diego Institute for Economic Research argued the fee creates a burden, as visitors will walk extra distance to save money.

Business leaders also weighed in on the fairness of the arrangement. Phil Blair of Manpower said the zoo should share its tax savings with the wider park. Gary London of London Group Realty Advisors proposed using funds to build a new lot on the park's eastern mesa. Chris Van Gorder of Scripps Health called the move a reasonable compromise but urged transparency on how the revenue is spent. Jamie Moraga of Franklin Revere criticized the decision, saying it reinforces a divide between the zoo and the rest of the park.

The zoo has stated that parking fees are expected at major attractions. Alan Gin of the University of San Diego noted that the fees provide necessary funds for maintenance. He added that zoo officials have likely considered the impact on attendance. The final decision rests with the zoo, which holds a lease extension tied to the city's parking agreement. The new rules take effect when the city-wide fee repeal begins on January 1.