Balboa Park
Preserving a regional treasure.
Balboa Park has been a place for culture, recreation, education and community for generations. Today, it is one of San Diego’s greatest opportunities to think bigger about what a shared civic space can become.
The BCCA is bringing people together to secure Balboa Park’s future, strengthen its foundation and ensure it remains a world-class asset for all San Diegans.
Challenge
A future in question.
Balboa Park faces an estimated $1 billion in deferred maintenance—a figure that will only rise as projects are identified and costs are fully assessed. Current governance models struggle to meet the Park’s evolving needs and sustain its long-term viability.
There is currently no long-term plan or dedicated funding to address aging infrastructure, essential repairs, and overdue upgrades to preserve the Park for future generations.
Solution
Proactive, multi-sector collaboration.
We’re helping to preserve and enhance Balboa Park by:
- Identifying best practices and actionable solutions to address the Park’s challenges.
- Bringing together public, private and nonprofit partners to align goals and strengthen Park governance.
- Positioning the Park to generate new funding for maintenance and modernization efforts.
- Ensuring the community’s voice is at the heart of decisions about Balboa Park’s future.
Snapshot
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≈$1B
Deferred maintenance facing Balboa Park.
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25+
Balboa Park Working Group members.
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2
Major research reports published.
News
View All
“I applaud the Burnham Center for Community Advancement’s work to address the long-term fiscal and governance needs of Balboa Park.”
Research
Balboa Park Community Progress Report
Charting progress and outlining actionable next steps. The report offers a clear roadmap for modernizing governance, improving financial oversight, and ensuring Balboa Park remains a world-class asset for all San Diegans.
Working Group
BCCA brings stakeholders and leaders with different perspectives, expertise, and resources together to address shared goals.
*Balboa Park Coalition Members
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Betsy Brennan*
President & CEO Downtown San Diego Partnership
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Bill Fulton
Professor of Practice in Urban Studies and Planning UC San Diego
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David Rice
Architect and Planner
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Dawn Welch
Girl Scouts of San Diego Board member
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Erik Bruvold
San Diego Institute for Policy Research President & CEO
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Howard Blackson
Urban Designer
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Jack Carpenter
Forever Balboa Park
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Jessica York
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Jim Waring
Project Manager
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Katy McDonald
Forever Balboa Park CEO
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Kerri Verbeke Kapich
COO San Diego Tourism Authority
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Michael Stepner
Park and Rec Board Member City of San Diego
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Vicki Estrada
Estrada Land Planning
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Vickie Estrad*
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Victoria Hamilton
Chair Forever Balboa Park
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Victoria Hamilton*
Get Involved
Share your ideas. Join a conversation. Become a partner. Or support the work. There’s a place for you here.