SF's Golden Gate Park Will Soon Charge For Parking

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Visitors to one of San Francisco's most coveted third spaces will soon need to dip into their bank accounts to park there.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors authorized the Municipal Transportation Agency to set parking rates at Golden Gate in 2025. Those rates will begin on Jan. 1, 2027, and will be enforced from 9 to 10 p.m. each day.

People seeking to park must pay varying prices depending on the time of day and park locations, according to the San Francisco Recreation and Parks.

The area east of the crossover drive will have the costliest hourly rate: $3.50 on weekdays from 9 to 6 p.m. and $4 on the weekends during the same time frame.

Prices drop to $2 and under from 6 to 10 p.m. Parking will remain free for people with valid disabled parking placards or license plates.

Many people are not happy with the decision, according to a KRON4 report.

"Yeah, I’m disappointed to hear that," one parkgoer told KRON4. "The park is one place I can come and not worry about parking."

City officials say revenue from parking fees, however, is meant to help close a $15 million budget shortfall, according to the report.

It helps maintain parks and fund programs, including summer camps and after-school programs, according to city officials.