Proposed paid parking in Balboa Park raises concerns among senior groups

SAN DIEGO (FOX5/KUSI) -- Balboa Park visitors may soon have to pay to park, and the impending parking rates are a cause for concern for some groups that utilize the area and meet several times a week.

Groups, predominantly composed of seniors, such as the Redwood Bridge Club and the San Diego Lawn Bowling Club, are hopeful that city leaders will create solutions to address the added expense.

“It’s a great fellowship thing for the seniors and for the general public," David Wageman, a member of the San Diego Lawn Bowling Club, explained.

Meanwhile, Ainslie Kraeck, who is with the Redwood Bridge Club, said it is a place to escape social isolation.

“We’re playing cards. We’re being polite. Everybody is being generous and kind to one another, and it just offers us a way to escape social isolation," Kraek said.

Kraeck said paid parking will almost double the price to enjoy a game.

“It would double the cost of playing here," Kraeck said. "Our card games are $12 per session, and the parking would be $10 to cover the cost for that parking for that session. So, instead of paying $12, we would be paying $22 per session."

Meanwhile, the City Council is putting forth a plan to charge for parking in Balboa Park.

It would be a tiered plan with high-demand lots, such as the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, which will charge $12 per hour. Moderate-demand lots, such as the Starlight Bowl, will charge $6 per hour. Other lots will be free for the first two hours and then $6 for every hour thereafter.

Areas like Balboa Drive, where the Lawn Bowling Club and the Bridge Club meet, would be metered at a rate of $2.50 per hour.

“Over the last 10 years, that I know because my wife is the treasurer, we’ve spent almost a half a million dollars on maintaining the grass, the clubhouse and everything around it," David Wageman explained. "That’s a pretty big investment for the park. It’s not our property. It’s the city’s property and we take care of it. We feel like we are stewards for the park in this particular area, and for them to charge the public and us—it just doesn’t seem quite right."

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria's Office said it plans to provide a discounted rate for residents in central lots.

City staff estimate that the parking rates could generate $11 million in annual revenue for the park and $1 million for 6th Avenue and Park Boulevard.

According to the plan on the table, all parking fees collected would be retained within the park.

The Lawn Bowling Club would like the city to exempt them from parking fees during the periods when they are bowling.

The Redwood Bridge Club would like the city to consider offering a parking permit at a fixed rate rather than charging the full price.

Officials with the San Diego Mayor's office said that there is no plan in place to address discounted metered parking rates. But they said people can park anywhere that is free or discounted, and take the tram to Balboa Drive.

A representative from the Mayor's office will be meeting with the groups next week at this time.