Friends of Balboa Park

Friends and the San Diego Police Foundation funded the purchase of the Polaris vehicle that patrols the park! The off-road vehicle with specialized law enforcement equipment offers officers the ability for wider and quicker coverage of the park’s 1,200 acres, especially in canyons, narrow corridors around museums and other hard-to-reach areas of the park. The vehicle went into service in January 2020, and has proven an invaluable asset in security enforcement, medical emergencies, and much more. #BalboaPark #SDPD

We are almost at the finish line! To jumpstart our merger with the Balboa Park Conservancy, several dedicated donors have teamed up to offer a match of donations to either organization up to $100,000, now through June 30. We have already raised over $90,000, and your gift to this Collaboration Campaign will generate expanded support for Balboa Park, as will our new, united approach to sustaining its natural beauty and cultural and economic benefit. Support today! https://bit.ly/2RkR3WJ #BalboaPark #Merger

This week, we hosted the last meeting of the board of directors of Friends of Balboa Park. We want to thank each and every supporter who has been a presence in the organization since 1999. If you have ever made a donation, ridden the Balboa Park Carousel, attended one of our events, or engaged with us on social media, you have made a difference in the enhancement and preservation of Balboa Park. This mission will continue as we merge with the Balboa Park Conservancy effective July 1, and we look forward to making a bigger impact in the park together. #Friends #BalboaPark #Merger

Happy Father's Day to all dads and father figures! Our own "Father of Balboa Park," George Marston, supported Balboa Park's transformation to a lushly landscaped, floral oasis that hosted two successful international expositions he assisted in guiding. The Marston House and gardens is a captivating estate listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and can be toured now that it has reopened. #FathersDay #BalboaPark

Give fathers the gift of Balboa Park! We offer exclusive opportunities for your dad’s legacy to live on in the park, from benches to tree dedications to Carousel ride sponsorships. Visit our website to learn more: https://bit.ly/3gtcQ8u. #SanDiego #FathersDay #BalboaPark

Earlier this week, we unveiled the newest park signage at the Golden Hill Grotto, which many don’t realize is part of #BalboaPark. The grotto is believed to be the oldest designed decorative feature in Balboa Park built in the early 1900s, and was a major attraction during the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/35jv1a5. #SanDiego #history (: Julie Davidson Photography https://bit.ly/3pKHFs9)

Looking for fun Halloween activities in the Balboa Park? Check out some fun offerings by numerous insitutions! #balboapark #halloween #sandiego

While we have missed all our friends riding the Balboa Park Carousel, Carousel Operator Bill Brown and his socially distanced volunteers have been busy restoring rides, including the newly completed "Pina & Chuy," sponsored by Friends' Board of Directors! The frog with the tuxedo is a mascot of the carousel's manufacturer, Hershell-Spillman, and is the only ride wearing clothing. #BalboaPark #Carousel #Restoration

The Moreton Bay Fig Tree project is nearing completion, and was just bolstered by a generous $5,000 contribution from the Rice Family Foundation! That puts us less than 2% to the fundraising goal, with decking and fencing being installed. We hope you consider a donation in any amount to help reach our goal, and our next update will be a completed project for San Diegans to enjoy! #BalboaPark #MoretonBayFigTree

As the days get shorter, there is no better time to enjoy an evening stroll in Balboa Park and gaze at the COMPLETED Plaza de California sconce restorations! We are grateful to longtime friend Marie Tuthill for being a major sponsor of this project (and many others!) to help keep Balboa Park the Jewel of San Diego. #BalboaPark

Today is the day! Join us from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for the for FREE virtual 2020 Balboa Park Awards Celebration that will recognize individuals and institutions who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make the park the Jewel of San Diego. We hope to see you tonight! https://bit.ly/3ldaQRd #balboapark #awards #sponsorship #free

If you are shopping Amazon prime deals, please support Friends through AmazonSmile! By selecting Friends, Amazon donates a portion of your purchase to our nonprofit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continued support! #AmazonPrimeDay #AmazonSmile #BalboaPark

Calling all educators and parents! The Balboa Park Educator’s Council is sharing resources, funding opportunities, and programs to increase student engagement in a virtual "Balboa Park Educator Hour" tonight at 3:30 p.m. Get a sneak peak of free new programming, field trips, remote workshops, and funding sources. Event is FREE, RSVPs are requested. #BalboaPark #Education #VirtualLearning

Thank you to our nearly 300 friends who tuned with us for Friday's Voice of San Diego mayoral town hall about the future of Balboa Park! If you missed the program or wish to re-listen, the full recording can be heard here. https://bit.ly/33PGsXq #BalboaPark #SanDiego #Mayor

What a great round up by our friends at the San Diego Museum Council! Check out the latest resources from San Diego museums, ranging from virtual field trips to videos and activities that bring classroom curriculum to life. Thank you to so many wonderful institutions for providing this content! #SanDiego #DistanceLearning

For the first time ever, we are bestowing an Inspiration Award posthumously to a dear friend of Balboa Park and the San Diego Junior Theatre, Denise Walker. "Nene was a one-of-a-kind, no-nonsense, Boston-strong presence always helping around SDJT, from serving breakfast to kids before a matinee (and offering leftovers to a woman’s shelter), to removing a disruptive audience member. She was also a dedicated usher at many theatres, including Cygnet and The Old Globe. She will be dearly missed by parents, board members and students, and we are happy to include her among this year's Inspiration honorees. https://bit.ly/2ZLPDFK #balboapark #Awards

This evening, Friends of Balboa Park and the Balboa Park Conservancy co-hosted a Mayoral Forum with the Voice of San Diego, focused on the needs and future of Balboa Park. Both of our organizations are committed to serving the best interests of the park and are exploring whether a merger of our two nonprofits would meet that goal. Our combined resources and expertise would strengthen and enhance support for Balboa Park through fundraising, advocacy, projects and programs. As a result, we are pleased to announce our two organizations have executed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to guide merger discussions. We are in the early stages of this endeavor and look forward to sharing more at a later date. Your support and passion for Balboa Park and our organizations are greatly valued! #balboapark

Join us TONIGHT for a town hall featuring City of San Diego mayoral candidates Barbara Bry and Todd Gloria. Hosted by Voice of San Diego and presented by Friends of Balboa Park and the Balboa Park Conservancy, the virtual event will highlight candidates' views on the future of Balboa Park. The event will be live streamed from 5 to 6 p.m. on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, tune in tonight! #BalboaPark #TownHall #SanDiego #Mayor

Get a sneak peak at this fun and engaging Balboa Park Carousel story by our friend Jeff Zevely at KFMB 8: Jeff was born at the Balboa Naval Hospital, and took his first spin on the Carousel during this segment! The story will air on KFMB 8 this evening at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., and the CW at 10 p.m. #BalboaPark #Carousel