Balboa Park, for all its history and beauty, has two challenging problems as it faces the future. In the view of the Burnham Center for Community Advancement (BCCA), those are governance and finance.

The nonprofit was founded by local philanthropist Malin Burnham and is led by Tad Parzen. The BCCA issued a white paper in 2022, outlining the choices faced in administering the Park, which kicked off a dialog that is ongoing and promises to continue well into next year.

Tad Parzen, born in Chicago, earned a bachelor’s in philosophy from UCLA and graduated from the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge Bundy Law School. He was a partner at the Hillyer & Irwin law firm, general counsel of the San Diego Unified School District, executive vice president of Price Charities, executive director of the City Heights Partnership for Children, and a general and education reform consultant to the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Parzen will discuss the BCCA’s report, “Preparing for Balboa Park’s Next Century.” The Burnham Center also is involved in the World Design Capital 2024: San Diego and Tijuana, and Tad will discuss that effort as well.


Our lecture will be held in the auditorium at the NewSchool of Architecture and Design in Downtown San Diego at 1249 F Street.

Please arrive 10-15 minutes early for coffee, snacks, and catching up with old friends. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.  A $5 donation is requested.