Balboa Park Trust New Name, Enduring Legacy There is much more to the care and maintenance of North America's largest urban park than taking out the trash and pulling up weeds. While the City of San Diego provides many basic services in Balboa Park, there are a number of projects, such as creating an integrated trails system and restoring historic plaques, that the city's dwindling budget is unable to accommodate. That's where the Balboa Park Trust steps in to ensure ongoing support for much-needed enhancements that improve the visitor experience. Since 1989, a family of endowment funds managed by The San Diego Foundation has made more than $1 million available for the preservation, maintenance, and beautification of Balboa Park. In spring 2008, the Foundation's Board of Governors decided a new name, the Balboa Park Trust, was in order to reflect the enduring nature of these vital funds. Thanks to a number of generous donors, the endowment has increased from an original founding gift of $78,000 to over $3 million, yielding an ongoing source of annual revenue earmarked for Park support. With city budgets and staff shrinking, every dollar is needed to maintain the Park's infrastructure, make necessary repairs, and support major community events such as Balboa Park December Nights. While there never seems to be enough money to accomplish every worthwhile project, it is reassuring to know that one fund will persist to help sustain Balboa Park's future.