Free Parking in Golden Gate Park is Ending

Say goodbye to one of the last free parking spots in San Francisco. The Board of Supervisors just voted to let the SFMTA begin charging for parking in Golden Gate Park starting January 1, 2027. This means popular destinations like the de Young, Cal Academy, and the Conservatory of Flowers will no longer be surrounded by free parking options.

The SFMTA expects the new parking fees to bring in $4.9 million annually. That revenue will go toward park maintenance, ranger staffing, and keeping rec centers running — services that are increasingly at risk as the city stares down a projected $800 million budget shortfall over the next two years. The SFMTA itself is facing a $322 million deficit and has already cut several Market Street bus routes to save money.

This new plan is part of a larger push to boost revenue, including proposals like raising meter hours, charging delivery drivers for curb access, and hiking residential permit fees. And with the collapse of Proposition L — which would have taxed ride-hailing companies to fund Muni — the city also lost out on $25 million in annual transit funding. For now, free parking in the park stays through 2026, but after that, it’s meter time.

Hat Tip: SF Gate