Date: 1/6/26 12:57 pm From: Lisa Ruby via groups.io <lbruby1...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Balboa Park parking
Hi,
I imagine everyone is aware that the City of San Diego is now charging
for parking at Balboa Park. This was supposed to have started after the
first of the year. In it's usual fashion in recent years the city
created a mess of the whole thing, so they are holding off on
enforcement for now. Maybe for a few weeks. Here is some info on how
things are supposed to work:
- If you are a resident of the City of San Diego (not the county, has to
be the city) you can get discounted parking rates.
- As of right now residents can purchase parking permits online for
various time frames ranging from 1/2 day to 1 year.
- Non-residents only seem to be able to purchase permits online for 1
month, 3 months, or 1 year. Maybe they will change that at some point.
- Everything else is handled via machines at lots, or meters in some areas.
- Street parking along the edges of the park, and I think inside the
park near Marston House is metered.
- There is a lot called Lower Inspiration Point where parking is free
for the first 3 hours for everyone. Some of those spaces are reserved
for the nearby High School. It's first come first serve. I believe they
have trams that run from that lot to the park.
- The Zoo is also charging for parking now (forced by the city). If you
have a Membership you get free parking. Not sure if that applies to all
Membership levels. The Zoo has been sending out emails to members on and
off for a number of months about the parking situation.
In order to purchase a permit online (resident or non-resident), or get
the parking discount for being a resident, you have to register/create
an account.
If you are a non-resident and don't plan on purchasing any long term
permits, there is probably no reason to register.
This is the web site where you register, buy permits, and manage your
account:
sandiego.thepermitportal.com
At the top of the page click Register and fill out the form. You will be
charged a $5 one time registration fee.
You will get an email with a verification link to click and then you can
log in.
Log in and click the Permits option. Then click Edit Profile. Scroll
down and click Add Vehicle to add your vehicle information.
I don't know if you're required to keep a credit card on file. I have
not added one yet.
If you want to buy a permit, click Buy Permit and select the correct
Location (currently just Balboa Park resident, or Balboa Park
non-resident). Depending on the location of parking lots the rates vary.
There is a map to help figure that out when purchasing a permit.
This is all I know right now. I haven't tested out actually buying a
single or half day permit (I don't go enough to warrant buying longer
term permits). I haven't gone to the park and tried to get a resident
discount via one of the parking lot machines. Apparently that was the
part they screwed up the worst. Nobody could figure out how to get the
discount, and there was no info anywhere saying people had to register
and that it takes a few days to get the registration fully in place.
I tried calling the city parking admin department today to get
additional questions answered and it was hopeless. Sat on hold for a
half hour and gave up. I am sure they are getting bombarded with calls
about all of this. I'll wait a number of days and try again.
If anyone goes and gets first hand experience maybe you can post and let
us all know how it went.
Lisa Ruby
Sabre Springs
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Lisa Ruby
Sabre Springs
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