Balboa Park Museums Report 34% Attendance Drop After Paid Parking

Overview

• Attendance at Balboa Park museums fell an average of 34% from January to March after the city began charging for parking in January, with some institutions down as much as 60%.
• Cultural leaders say the downturn has persisted despite the mayor’s February changes that restored free parking for verified residents in several lots and ended enforcement at 6 p.m.
• Several institutions now project more than $10 million in lost revenue this year, and the Fleet Science Center reports hiring freezes, tighter spending, and trimmed programs.
• City forecasts for parking income have been reduced from $15.5 million to roughly $3–4 million, and officials say meters and kiosks have brought in more than $1.9 million that must be spent on park upkeep.
• The shift, which ended more than a century of free parking, comes as the mayor’s draft 2027 budget proposes over $11 million in arts cuts to close a $118 million deficit.