Re “City needs elected leaders who care about what the public wants” (Jan. 10): Public parks exist to bring communities together by providing an accessible place for recreation, relaxation and social connection. Balboa Park serves as that meeting place for the city of San Diego. Its location and size make it ideal for people of all ages and backgrounds to find space for their activities. The city should be protecting and nurturing places where community life happens. Instead, the new parking costs make Balboa Park less accessible to many San Diegans. Residents should not be required to pay to enjoy a public space.
I understand that the park brings in tourism revenue. This role should remain secondary to the park’s primary purpose as a gathering point for our community. Allowing free parking for residents while charging out-of-town visitors is a practical solution that the city has not pursued. I urge residents to speak up and for the city to listen.
— Jack Pafford, Normal Heights
Now that parking is no longer free in Balboa Park and its surrounding streets, here are other things that are no longer free to the public: walking your dog, hiking, taking a walk, having a picnic, jogging, Dog Park, having lunch, yoga, tai chi, volleyball, frisbee, soccer, playgrounds, Timken Museum, Botanic Garden, organ concerts, sitting on a bench, the Houses of Pacific Relations, Spanish Village, Rose Garden, garden clubs, archery, showing visitors our beautiful park, watching lawn bowling, having your photo taken for special events and so many more activities. We all know how restaurants, theaters, museums and the zoo will suffer losses in revenue and visitation. To make matters worse, charging nonresidents more than residents pay is mean-spirited and unfair. I hope our next mayor and City Council will abolish paid parking in Balboa Park. I voted for our present mayor, but I won’t make that mistake again.
— Susan Brooks, Hillcrest