San Diego, California – Beginning in September, parking in downtown San Diego will cost significantly more during major events at Petco Park, with rates for certain meters reaching $10 per hour. The change, announced by city officials, applies to parking meters within what they describe as a half-mile radius of the stadium — though the exact boundaries have become a point of contention.
Residents at the edge of the designated “Special Event Zone” argue the map overreaches. Some say they live closer to a mile from Petco Park yet are still included in the higher-rate zone. “The bigger issue is they said it’s within a half mile of Petco Park, and we are further than a half mile but included in the increased rate,” said Kristine Kappel, who lives in the Marina District. “It’s not right for us, it’s not right for residents.”
The higher rates will take effect two hours before a stadium event and remain in place for four hours after it begins. For a standard 6:40 p.m. Padres game, that means $10-per-hour parking from 4:40 p.m. until 10:40 p.m. City officials have also set six-hour limits for parking meters during those periods…