Home / Progress & Visible Wins

Show your work.

Public accountability is the model. This page is a dated, sourced log of what the Conservancy has actually accomplished — updated as we go.

The promise

Wins are public, dated, and sourced.

The Mission Bay Park Conservancy is built on transparency. Every milestone below is verifiable, time-stamped, and linked to the documents or actions that prove it. When something doesn't go as planned, we'll log that here too — with the same date, the same detail, and the same honesty.

The page starts on launch day. It will grow as the work does.

Milestones & wins

What we've shipped so far.

It started with four concrete actions on May 5, 2026 — the date we became a real organization with real obligations and a real public footprint. The log grows from there.

May 272026

Win: AB 2525 Ordered to Inactive File — Deposit Mandate Off the Table

AB 2525 (Ward), as amended April 16, would have tied Mission Bay Park's Surplus Land Act exemption to a new mandate requiring disposition proceeds to be deposited into a housing-specific set-aside account — dollars that would otherwise flow toward the park's restoration and maintenance obligations. On May 27, 2026, the bill was ordered to the inactive file at the request of Assembly Member Chris Ward. The proposed deposit framework is now off the table. This is a win for Mission Bay Park: the park keeps its funding framework intact while the policy conversation continues.

The Conservancy published a detailed, nonpartisan analysis of the bill's mechanics — the deposit calculation, the cumulative obligation, and the implications for long-term restoration funding — ahead of the decision.

Read our AB 2525 brief ›   Bill status — CalMatters Digital Democracy ›
May 132026

Small Win: Shoreline Parks Restroom Services Reinstated in May Revise

In Mayor Gloria’s FY2027 May Revise (released May 13), the City restored 1.82 FTE positions and $12,000 in non-personnel expenditures to reinstate restroom maintenance services at Shoreline Parks — reversing the proposed cuts to five shoreline facilities that had been included in the April Draft Budget.

This is a positive development protecting key shoreline restrooms. However, the proposed seasonal closures of 13 Mission Bay Park restrooms and the elimination of seven portable restrooms at Fiesta Island remain in the May Revise. The Conservancy continues to advocate for full protection of all threatened facilities ahead of the final FY2027 budget adoption.

May Revise PDF ›   Coverage at Inside San Diego ›
May 52026

Founding Board Recruitment Opened

Public call for founding Board of Directors published. We are recruiting for finance, legal, environmental science, community organizing, and lived-Mission-Bay expertise.

Apply for the founding board ›
May 52026

Three-Year Budget Trajectory Report Published

Independent analysis of Mission Bay's FY25 → FY27 fiscal trajectory. Documents the proposed reduction of 14.5 front-line FTE and service impacts on 25 restrooms across the bay system. Published with full data sources and risk register.

Read the report ›
May 52026

AB 2525 Research Brief Published

Detailed analysis of California AB 2525 and its potential effect on the Mission Bay Special Lease Account, the 2023 amendments to the Sales Lease Account framework, and the implications for long-term restoration funding.

Read the brief ›
May 52026

Launch Press Release Issued

Public launch announcement distributed to local and regional media. Press kit, founder bio, fact sheet, and high-resolution assets posted to the press page.

Read the launch release ›

In the news

What the press is saying.

Independent coverage of the Conservancy — from launch through the fight to keep Mission Bay's restrooms open. Every story links to the original outlet.

Jun 22026

Newsradio 600 KOGO: Founder Bradley Schnell Live On Air

Founder Bradley Schnell joins Newsradio 600 KOGO live at 7:40 a.m. to discuss the Conservancy and the effort to keep Mission Bay Park's restrooms open. Listen to the full segment (5:40).

Aired June 2, 2026 on Newsradio 600 KOGO ›
Newsradio 600 KOGO logo
May 302026

ABC 10News: Mission Bay Park Restroom Closures Move to San Diego City Council for Final Decision

KGTV reports on the proposal to close 13 of Mission Bay Park's 28 public restrooms, with founder Bradley Schnell explaining why the Conservancy is pushing back — and stands ready to step in to keep facilities open.

Read at 10news.com ›
Mission Bay Park restrooms — image via ABC 10News
May 212026

OB Rag: Owner of New Mission Bay Beach Club Wants a Non-Profit Conservancy to Oversee Largest Aquatic Park on West Coast

The OB Rag carries Dave Schwab's Beach & Bay Press profile of the Conservancy effort — the restrooms at stake, the Forever Balboa Park model, and the case for a unified voice for the park.

Read at obrag.org ›
Mission Bay Park — image via OB Rag
May 192026

Times of San Diego: Beach Club Owner Behind Push to Create Mission Bay Park Conservancy

Dave Schwab of Beach & Bay Press details how the Conservancy would offset the City's proposed FY2027 budget cuts and prevent the closure of public restrooms across Mission Bay, Shoreline Parks, and Fiesta Island.

Read at timesofsandiego.com ›
Mission Bay Park pathways — image via Times of San Diego
May 182026

CBS 8: Nearly Half of Mission Bay Park Public Restrooms Could Close Under Budget Proposal

CBS 8 covers the proposed closure of 13 of 28 Mission Bay Park restrooms, with the Conservancy on record that it is willing to work with the City to help keep the restrooms open.

Read at cbs8.com ›
CBS 8 news segment on Mission Bay Park restrooms — image via CBS 8
May 82026

OB Rag: Non-Profit Seeks to Become Conservancy for Mission Bay Park in Wake of Devastating City Budget

The OB Rag carries the launch story — the Conservancy's plan to maintain city-owned structures around the bay, including the visitor center and 25 restrooms at risk under the proposed budget.

Read at obrag.org ›
Mission Bay Park Master Plan graphic — image via OB Rag
May 62026

Times of San Diego: New Nonprofit Begins Effort to Help Complete Mission Bay Master Plan

First press coverage of the Conservancy's launch — the citizen-led initiative to help the City deliver on the Mission Bay Park Master Plan, one day after launch.

Read at timesofsandiego.com ›
Mission Bay aerial view — image via Times of San Diego

What's next

The next 90 days.

Critical dates — the FY2027 budget decision

Tuesday · June 9, 2026

City Council final budget hearing

The Council takes up final modifications to the Mayor's FY2027 budget — the decision point for the 13 Mission Bay Park restrooms proposed for closure. Attend or submit public comment.

Key budget dates ›

Monday · June 15, 2026

Final budget must be confirmed

The City Charter requires the Council to approve the final FY2027 budget by June 15. What's confirmed here sets restroom service, maintenance staffing, and park services for the year ahead.

How the budget process works ›

First Tuesday · Monthly · 6 p.m.

Mission Bay Park Committee

The City's advisory committee on Mission Bay Park development, use, and policy — where park items get a public hearing. Agendas, minutes, and the Improvement Fund Oversight Committee post here.

Agendas & meetings ›

90-day targets

Concrete, time-boxed milestones we expect to log here between now and the end of July 2026. We'll mark each one shipped, slipped, or scrapped — with the same transparency as the launch milestones above.

Target: First 30 days

First adopted Mission Bay restroom announced

Working with Parks & Recreation to identify and adopt the first restroom under the Special Use Permit framework.

Target: First 60 days

Initial founding Board cohort confirmed

A first slate of founding directors named publicly, with biographies and committee assignments.

Target: First 60 days

Volunteer Task Force kickoff

First sign-up cohort trained and deployed on a pilot project — restroom support, habitat care, or visitor services.

Get progress updates by email.

One short note when we ship a milestone. No spam, no fundraising appeals dressed up as updates — just the work, dated and sourced.

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