On April 30, we gathered at the historic Balboa Park Club for an evening dedicated to the people who help Balboa Park thrive—Forever Balboa Park volunteers.
It was a night filled with stories, laughter, and a shared appreciation for the work that happens behind the scenes every day. From tending gardens and planting trees to greeting visitors and answering questions throughout the Park, our volunteers show up seven days a week, all but three days a year, to support San Diego’s gem.
This year’s dinner was about more than celebration. It was about where we’re going.
The theme of the evening, “Building into the Future,” reflects a moment of transformation in the organization and across Balboa Park.
Through the motif Blooms and Blueprints, the space told a story of growth in motion. Floral watercolors represented the nine newly installed Central Gardens around the Botanical Building, while blueprint-inspired details paid homage to the planning and craftsmanship behind the Park’s evolving landscape. It’s a reminder that every garden begins as an idea—and becomes something lasting through care.
Right now, Balboa Park is in the midst of meaningful change.
The reconstructed historic pergola in the newly restored Central Gardens creates a new focal point and place to gather. Just a short walk away, work to rebuild the pergola in the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden is underway—another step in restoring and enhancing some of the Park’s most loved spaces.
These projects are visible signs of progress. But what makes them last is the steady, ongoing care of our volunteers.
A Park Powered by People
Our volunteers are the backbone of our organization.
To thank them, each volunteer received a Forever Balboa Park jacket, a small but meaningful way to recognize their role in the Park, sponsored in part by longtime Balboa Park supporters, The Thursday Club. Volunteers also received a choice of a plant or native seeds—something to take home, grow, and carry forward.
Because what they give to Balboa Park doesn’t stay in one place—it spreads.
This evening was made possible by the generosity of other local partners who helped us celebrate in a way that felt thoughtful and joyful. We’re grateful to:
Balboa Park has always been a place shaped by people—by those who imagined it, built it, and continue to care for it.
Our volunteers are part of that story.
As the Central Gardens continue to grow and new projects take shape, they will be there—planting, tending, guiding, and welcoming. Not just supporting the Park as it is today but helping define what it becomes next.
We couldn’t be prouder to be on this journey with them.
