As the city of San Diego launches the process for updating the Balboa Park Master Plan, one of the park’s key institutions has a new name better reflecting its purpose and focus.
Last month, Forever Balboa Park, the main partner with the city inside the 1,200-acre park, officially changed its name to Balboa Park Conservancy. The name echoes other nonprofits that play major roles in governance of other iconic parks nationally, such as the Central Park Conservancy in New York.
As we reported in August, the park is in need of substantial help — from a maintenance and infrastructure backlog approaching $1 billion — to governance and funding challenges. Reports and studies on the park over the years have encouraged establishing a conservancy to help meet those challenges, and better manage what is often referred to as the city’s crown jewel.
Katy McDonald, president and CEO of the organization, said in a new release that the name change “communicates our primary role as dedicated stewards of the park.” A survey of 1,000 community members showed 60% preferred the name change, according to the release.
The planning process will address funding strategies and governance in the future, among other issues. The city has set up a website outlining the process.