Free parking at the San Diego Zoo may soon be a thing of the past.
The City Council has approved a plan to implement paid parking in Balboa Park, including the separately leased “Zoo lot.”
“Due to the current plans to implement paid parking in Balboa Park, the ( Zoological) Society approached the City and has requested to amend the parking section (Section 7) of the zoo lease in order to charge different rates for visitors who park in what is commonly referred to as the ‘Zoo Parking Lot’ and referenced in the lease as, ‘the parking lot at the east end of the gardens’,” reads a staff report from the city.
Paid parking is part of the city’s plan to offset a budget shortfall.
The Council is expected to revisit the parking fees and the amended lease at its next meeting on Monday.