City charging for Balboa Park parking has readers upset, wary

Re “What should it cost to park in Balboa Park? San Diego City Council members haggle over plan’s details” (July 28): Please stop! Millions spent on bike lanes that benefit a very few and make it harder for the majority. Millions spent on studying and implementing a trash fee that most are unhappy with. Millions spent on a building that no one can use.

And now city leaders want us to pay for all of that by charging to enjoy the most beautiful spot in our city. How many millions will they spend installing the parking meters for this? Oh, wait, can’t do that on Park Boulevard because of the 300 parking spots lost to bike lanes.

Please, city leaders, just stop and rethink your solution to the millions of our tax dollars spent on poor decisions. This wonderful city deserves better!

— Sari Camacho, San Carlos

While I am in favor of charging for parking in Balboa Park and live within one block of the park, the City Council’s focus should only be parking, not revenue or other aspects.

The critical issue is to have prices reflect congestion and the technology exists to implement dynamic prices. Aspects included in congestion are proximity to the park, time of day, day of week and seasonal events. If congestion is not the focus, then the impact of paid parking is anticipated to be more negative than positive.

One unintended consequence is the displacement of vehicles to outside the park into surrounding neighborhoods. Knowledgeable people will park in nearby neighborhoods, overcrowding an area that is essentially at capacity. During busy seasonal events, these streets have substantial illegal parking and driveways frequently blocked. Thus, this unintended consequence must also be addressed.

— H. Michael Arrighi, Hillcrest