Thirteen public restrooms in Mission Bay have closed as the City of San Diego continues implementing cost-saving measures mentioned in the fiscal year 2026-27 budget approved unanimously by the City Council last month.

The closures are part of the city’s ongoing effort to address its budget deficit. The idea originated with Mayor Todd Gloria’s budget proposal, which called for closing 38 city-run public restrooms to help reduce spending.

Visitors are already noticing the changes.

Nancy Alvarez said she came to Ski Beach after hearing the restroom had closed. Her family gathers there every year for a large reunion because of the easy access to restroom facilities.

“I just heard it was closed. I came to confirm,” Alvarez said. 

Alvarez said she walked toward the nearest open restroom, Ski Beach South, to see whether it would be manageable for older members of her family, but that it was a “pretty far walk” for them and their age. 

The City of San Diego has posted a map on its website showing which public restrooms are closed and which remain open. The map currently shows 13 Mission Bay restroom closures, including some at Ski Beach and Crown Point, but not all. 

A screenshot of the map posted on the City of San Diego’s website showing open restrooms in the Mission Bay area. Jul. 8, 2026.

According to the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst, closing 13 of the 28 public restrooms in Mission Bay Park is expected to save about $547,000. The analysis also projected savings of about $18,000 by closing seven of the 14 portable restrooms on Fiesta Island. Additional savings would come from closing all five public restrooms at Shoreline Beach, except those near the Children’s Pool in La Jolla, as well as some comfort stations in Balboa Park and public restrooms in downtown San Diego. Together, those additional closures were projected to save more than $1.5 million.

Some visitors questioned whether the savings justify the inconvenience.

“I think it would be sad,” Dan Mazzone said. “I imagine for folks who drive here and bring their families here it might be a little difficult for them to enjoy this area.”

Throughout this year’s budget discussions, Mayor Todd Gloria and City Council members acknowledged that difficult decisions would be necessary to address the city’s financial challenges. 

The closed restrooms in Mission Bay have laminated flyers posted on gated doors preventing visitors from entering and offering a code to scan for the updated map of nearby restrooms.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.