Paid parking at Balboa Park is deterring visitors, according to some museums

Museums like the San Diego Automotive Museum report their head count is down 38% from this time last year.

SAN DIEGO — Since parking fees took effect in January at Balboa Park, museums like the San Diego Automotive Museum are reporting that the added parking costs are discouraging visitors and impacting revenue. 

The San Diego Automotive Museum told CBS 8 that its head count is down 38% from this time last year.

“Today is a holiday weekend. It’s a Sunday right in the middle of a three-day weekend. And it’s quiet. There’s hardly anyone here. The parking lot should be overflowing,” Brandi Wilson, the Chief Operations Officer at the museum, said. 

Wilson told CBS 8 that the parking fees are leading to a steeper decline in ticket sales than the museum expected. 

“We had a birthday party that was interested in booking this weekend, and they cancelled because of paid parking,” Wilson said. 

She also reports that 10% of museum volunteers quit due to having to pay for parking. 

“We actually even had a petition that we had people sign to go to the City, voicing our concerns, over the paid parking. But it just goes unheard,” Wilson said. 

CBS 8 reached out to the City of San Diego for comment Sunday, but is still waiting to hear back. 

Meanwhile, for those visiting Balboa Park on Monday, parking is free in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.