January 29, 2007 – As change takes hold throughout city operations, the future of Balboa Park has become a concern to many San Diegans. Although the importance of preserving the grounds and facilities of San Diego’s beloved Balboa Park is obvious, what it would take to do so is unknown. Many key facts – future operating, maintenance and security costs, possible sources of additional revenue, and the feasibility of private sector support – need to be determined in order to evaluate how best to care for this valuable regional asset, say community leaders.
“Because of the importance of Balboa Park, any changes should be based on input from a broad constituency and, most importantly, should be based on an understanding of all relevant facts. At the present time, those facts are not available,” states Peter Ellsworth, president of the Legler Benbough Foundation.
The foundations met with Mayor Jerry Sanders, who said he supports this study of Balboa Park. The foundations also consulted with Councilmember Toni Atkins, who responded, “I wish to thank the foundations for their efforts. This is a responsible and prudent approach to gathering valuable information for our Park."
The Legler Benbough Foundation, the Parker Foundation and The San Diego Foundation have formed a task force to commission the necessary research. The task force includes one representative from each foundation. That group will engage consultants with appropriate expertise to create a report for the benefit of all concerned.
The task force proposes research to include the following:
- The cost to operate the Park efficiently under current circumstances and those anticipated through natural growth and development.
- The capacity of the City of San Diego to provide necessary support for the Park including the potential for support from city sponsored bond issues, taxes or fees.
- Other possible revenue that might be available for the Park from the county, other cities, the state or national government, or from existing park support organizations.
- Other models for Park support from other cities.
- Survey questions such as who is visiting the Park? How are they getting there? What are they doing when there?
- Security and deferred maintenance in the Park. When does it have to be addressed and how much is it going to cost?
- How much money can be raised from the private sector, from whom and for what can it be raised?
“This report will not be concerned with recommendations,” states Bill Beamer, president of the Parker Foundation. “Its purpose is to create a credible and integrated factual basis on which future decisions can be made by those who are charged with the responsibility for making those decisions.”
“This is very much in keeping with The San Diego Foundation’s Understanding the San Diego Region approach,” explains Paul Meyer, chair of The San Diego Foundation’s Balboa Park Endowment Advisory Committee. “We must understand. Then we can act.”
The initial members of the task force are Peter Ellsworth, president of the Legler Benbough Foundation, Bill Beamer, president of the Parker Foundation, and Bob Kelly, president and CEO of The San Diego Foundation. The task force may be reached by contacting Sara Wilensky at The San Diego Foundation
(619) 814-1338.
About The San Diego Foundation
Founded in 1975, The San Diego Foundation is a broad-purpose community foundation helping individuals, families and organizations carry out their charitable plans, with the common goals of improving the quality of life in the greater San Diego region, now and for generations to come.
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