Why Paid Parking Threatens the Heart of Our Cultural Crown Jewel
In my 20 years leading the San Diego Air and Space Museum, longer than any other CEO currently serving in Balboa Park, I have witnessed countless challenges. However, nothing compares to the threat we face today: the proposal for paid parking in our beloved cultural and sciences sanctuary, Balboa Park.
Balboa Park is already experiencing a significant parking crisis. We have lost nearly 500 parking spaces in recent years. Park Boulevard alone lost 300 spaces to a bus lane restriping, the Palisades another 144, and Plaza de Panama yet another 50 more. On our busiest days of Saturdays, Sundays, and Fridays, we are already operating with a parking deficit.
The historic Starlight Bowl, with its 3,500 seats, if activated, would further complicate the parking deficit. Additionally, the myriads of permitted special events, take from the parking needed from the regular Park guests. Now, instead of addressing this deficit with solutions, the city proposes to charge people for the limited spaces remaining. It just does not make sense.
Every morning, I watch new mothers pushing strollers, exercising together in our beautiful park. Families enjoy free museum days and organ pavilion concerts. Seniors come to volunteer their time and expertise. These are not wealthy tourists with unlimited budgets. These are our neighbors, our community members who view Balboa Park as their backyard cultural oasis.
The park’s volunteer force of 7,000 people has already expressed concern. These dedicated people who give of their time and talent, some in their eighties and nineties, cannot be expected to park in distant lots and navigate long walks or shuttle systems. When volunteers tell me, “If I cannot park close for free, I am not coming anymore,” we are losing the heart and soul of what makes our institutions special.
The 3,500 employees working throughout the park face the same challenge. Are we really going to ask people to pay for parking near their workplace or where they volunteer their time?
Consider what we are really threatening: free concerts in the park, free museum days, free graduation ceremonies, free December Nights, and simply free strolls through our gardens.
Rather than nickeling and diming our community, we should be expanding parking capacity. A new structure at the Organ Pavilion parking lot or the Starlight Bowl location could add up to 2,000 or more spaces, actually solving our parking problem.
Balboa Park is not downtown. When people go to clubs, restaurants, concerts and sporting events, they expect parking fees. But Balboa Park is our crown jewel, a place where discovery, learning and beauty should be accessible to everyone, regardless of economic status.
We are at a crossroads. We must honor Balboa Park’s legacy as a place everyone can enjoy without having to pay just to come there. Our community’s greatest treasure deserves better than parking meters and fees
Sincerely,
James G. Kidrick
President and CEO
San Diego Air and Space Museumwww.sandiegoairandspace.org
