They have several ping pong tables and a great playing schedule, and free play is available! All you have to do is check their calendar online or at the gym, bring a friend, and sign up with your name. I believe the free-play tables on the right side when you walk in are available in 45-minute sessions. The tables on the left are reserved for members. If you're interested, you can sign up with a membership coordinator. It's very affordable--about $120 for the entire year--and you'll get to play with people of all skill levels. The facility is very clean, with well-maintained restrooms and vending machines stocked with snacks and drinks. The staff is always kind, welcoming, and respectful. Overall, it's a great place to play, whether you're just starting out or looking for more competitive games. read more

Balboa Park Activity Center - Recreation Centers Near Me - San Diego, California

Love this place, as it is one of the few places in south San Diego where you can play some badminton, table tennis, indoor volleyball and indoor pickleball as well. And the best part at least for badminton is that it is free. Well now you have to pay for parking as of January 5th, 2026, but once inside badminton is free, you just have to sign up. The table tennis, and volleyball, are part of clubs where I believe you have to be a member (San Diego table tennis club). This is just a great place for people to meet outside, as they have a lovely park with a fountain and nice walkways. It's a hidden gem for a recreation center. Get there early as the place fills up. If you are going for badminton you have to have your whole party there before you can sign up. The only not so great part was the introduction of paid parking for balboa park in general. But you know what we had it free since 1915 or something, so not horrible. Besides the proceeds from the parking fees will go to making balboa park even better, I hope. read more

Love this place! Would 100% recommend to play badminton here. The service is great wait time is only 30-45 min. But today I went my older sister, her bf, my friend and I.. tell me why I had to wait a full 1hour.. each time I wanted to play I would play for only 30 min.. WHY ARE THESE OTHER PEOPLE PLAYING FOR A HOUR AND IM PLAYING FOR 30 MIN AND WAITING FOR A HOUR. Other than that i love this place (leave immediately if you see the person checking you in is a old lady) read more

Great place to play badminton for free, though can be crowded during the summer, partly due to school being out and kids taking badminton classes there. Also, the place can be very hot and humid so bring lots of water. A wet headband and towel also helps. read more

They reopened to the public Aug. 13th, after being closed since January. I showed up to a sauna. No air conditioning and there was one fan they used on the floor that was worthless. All of us playing pickleball were complaining about the humidity in the gym and the staff said there was nothing they could do. There is no air circulating through the building. So, if you go to this gym, be ready to sweat like crazy. Let's say this place has maintenance issues. read more

First time ariving at this establishment, everyone in the gym was forced out due two staff members having a quarrel. Most people in the gym had long drives to arive and have fun but were cut short since they unreasonably closed right after opening. The staff should have more respect for the people who came a long way and save their petty arguments at home instead of the workplace. boo read more

This place is great! Its hard to give a bad review for something that is basically free. They have free badminton including free racket rentals and birds. Their hours are generous and there is free parking. Great place to go and exercise. Be wary of the crowds though! read more

A pretty awesome spot in Balboa Park to get your ping pong, volleyball, or badminton on! The activity center is located across from the Veteran's Memorial (park there), the main museums, and the zoo. There's a monthly schedule published each month with various times for different activities. The times are pretty similar each month though. The only downside is the activities aren't free; you have to pay a small fee each time or join the club. (Example - ping pong is $5 each visit or $50 a year!) Overall this place is great, clean, and fun. Aside from the price (the only con really), I'll be back! read more

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This is a tremendous resource for locals (kids to seniors) who love badminton, table tennis, volleyball, or pickleball. It's free, as is the parking. It's home base for the San Diego Badminton Club and the San Diego Table Tennis Association, and several tournaments are held here throughout the year. I play badminton here a couple times a week and love the friendly atmosphere. read more

Balboa park activity center is the place to go for your badminton and ping pong fix. On Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons brings about the veteran players who provide ample competition. a years membership is under 100 dollars where as other gyms in orange county and LA are that price for 2 to 3 months. If you are cheap, you could opt out of the membership and play for free on the non member side, but you'll only get a court if you have 4 players to reserve. this place would get a 5 if only it didn't get so crowded. Not only that but people sign up on multiple courts and it takes away the chance for others but the staff hasn't dealt with the issue. read more

Oh how it feels so good to be a kid again... As adults, we always neglect and are often side tracked from the simple things in life. So its always nice to go back to that time when being free spirited was all we cared about. And ultimately, this will keep us grounded as grown ups....hahaha Remember when trying to just swing from one end of the monkey bars to the other side was so much funn?! Go visit! read more

What a beautiful park with great museums and a Japanese Friendship garden!! We rented a surrey and had a blast! We will return since we didn't have enough time to see it all. Ate at El Prado, great food ! read more

Balboa Park Activity Center - Rented it for an hour for $25. We had a blast!!! - Recreation Centers Near Me - San Diego, California

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This place can be a valuable asset if you come with the right attitude. I used to play badminton competitively in high school back in 2003 in San Jose, CA. After taking a number of years off, I ended up moving to San Diego and picking the game back up again a few years ago. It has been mentioned that this place can get really crowded, and this is especially true during the summer; however, getting a membership can help you out. For $80, you can play on the San Diego Badminton Club member side for a year. As a beginner, I can understand how daunting it may be to play on this side, but all of the members are good spirited in my experience. Many advanced players don't mind helping out novice players, and if they don't want to, they will respectfully decline. Most advanced players will not totally destroy you in a game; they will typically play in a fashion that will highlight the techniques you are lacking in which will in turn make you a better player. Also, playing on the member side gives you the opportunity to observe skilled badminton players. Even being allowed to spectate is a good way to develop your badminton proficiency. The facility itself is maintained really well and their schedule gives ample time to come play even with a busy work schedule. Their schedule can be found here: http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/pdf/programguide/bpacschedule.pdf I haven't played on the table tennis side or the volleyball sections when they have them, so I can't comment on that aspect. If you want to develop your badminton skills though, this center is a great resource. read more

This is pretty much the only place in San Diego for not-very-serious-players to play badminton- and its free for people who just walk up, which is nice! The downsides- the schedule can be unpredictable, we have walked up twice now and it has been closed. Their website doesn't really work, and there is no updated schedule online. You pretty much have to call before going, or pick up the month's paper schedule when your'e there (how 20th century!) Also, its always very crowded for non-members. Going in the evening, or on weekends, means you will be waiting for at least 45 min-1 hour for a court. I would be ok with paying a little (even $1?) if it meant more opening times and getting courts faster. Lastly, i wish there was a sign up sheet for singles/beginners. If you don't already have people to play with, you pretty much can't play. read more

This is a true hidden gem in San Diego. The outside is absolutely gorgeous and well kept and the inside is so nice. Very high ceilings with no weird lighting. Very well-kept courts. Pickleball situation on Tuesdays and Thursdays is very well organized. I highly recommend checking this place out, they have many different sports available and it is very well-maintained and clean. read more

They do a great job here with maintenance, and friendly staff. A nice free facility that offers indoor badminton, table tennis/ping pong, indoor volleyball, and host various events throughout the year. I stop here on the way home, to play some badminton with my daughters during the week. Usually no wait, and nice facility. Look up on their website under "scedule updates" on the right side of screen to make sure they are open that day for badminton (sometimes they hold special events): http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/centers/bpac.shtml They also have private instruction by pro's with badminton and table tennis. Badminton hours: Monday 3:00pm to 5:00pm Tuesday 11:00am to 10:00pm Wednesday 3:00pm to 5:00pm Thursday 11:00am to 10:00pm Friday 4:00pm to 8:00pm Saturday 10:00am to 2:00pm Sunday Closed read more

Fantastic space. Went to the Art event last weekend. It was a great space although seeing all the Art spaces took less than an hour. I wasn't impressed with the show and next year will go opening night because i heard that was awesome. Easy parking access with big lot nearby and a nice big patio. This is the only time I have been here so I'll have to get back to you on the rest. read more

Went to open gym volleyball Wednesday night. Most of the people there are there to play volleyball, others on the other hand are there to bully and show off. (We get it, you're good) The two people working there don't do anything to help. The lady with the sign up sheet just stares at you with a blank look on her face as you approach the sign up desk, one time she had popcorn all over the paper (gross) There's always the same people who pepper in the space between two courts intermediate and Kings court, and they are not careful at all, they step in the court while a game is going on, and if their ball comes into either court they just run in without yelling "ball on" but not the advance court oh no they wouldn't dare to practice over there. It is very careless to have volleyballs rolling on the court during games, any idiot knows that. If the ball comes from either court with their game going on you hear a loud "ball on" and it's much easier to avoid an accident. But again, the people who work there do and say nothing. There's also a couple regulars with major attitude for no reason, I try to ignore their childish behavior but sometimes it really takes the fun out of being there. read more

Came here for the SD Art 2013 Festival and it's such a great venue for it! It was spacious and didn't get too crowded. Plus, the restrooms were very clean. Check out their outdoor area. It's a pretty place. Am considering this area for my wedding. read more

There is so much to do at Balboa Park. The activity center is a cool palace to check out before you venture through the whole park. Take your time and check out all the different things this place has to offer. read more

I use to play badminton here and later found out they have ping pong tournaments here every week. i joined their weekly ping pong tournaments for a year, it was fun. they also have open gym volleyball, the players are decent too. this gym is nice and clean, they have a very friendly staff. read more

Boy does this place bring back memories. I used to frequent this gym during high school (so often that i called it my second home) and though now i rarely have the time to play here anymore, it will always hold a special place in my heart. During spring and summer, there is an influx of Asian peeps there to play badminton and the wait for a court can get pretty long, upwards of an hour. Along with open badminton play, there is open volleyball play and events during holidays like Easter (egg hunt). Outside of the gym, there is a nice courtyard with a fountain, where I've seen many wedding couples or prom groups taking pictures. It's a relaxing place to sit under the shade and enjoy lunch or take a stroll. I love the balboa park activity center and I hope that the city's budget cuts won't affect the programs and activities that the center has to offer to locals. read more

This place is provides courts for volleyball, badminton, ping pong, and tournaments. It gets crowded sometimes but its free, clean, and near the heart of San Diego. its a great place to get together with friends for a good work out, way better than the gym in my opinion. I'm very busy but try to come here once in a while. I have nothing but gratefulness for the balboa park activity center! read more

The volleyball open court on Mondays and Wednesdays are amazing I'm a high schooler who plays volleyball and it was a great way to step up my game playing with college players and adults I go every chance I get it's also super fun and a nice workout and something to break up my week read more