Tag Archives: Parks

Neighborhood Parks Bond discussion

After three months of community outreach with numerous stakeholders, we incorporated your feedback and developed the 2012 San Francisco Recreation and Park bond program. We will be discussing the proposed neighborhood parks for 2012 bond inclusion and our list of city wide programs.  Community feedback and participation played a crucial part in the success of the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond and we are building on that successful framework.

Approved by 71.6 percent of San Francisco voters, the 2008 bond has helped to address the more than $1 billion in capital needs faced by the city’s park system by implementing $185 million in park improvements project at sites all across the city.

Co-Hosted by Supervisor Christina Olague (District Five), Supervisor Scott Wiener (District Eight) and the San Francisco Parks Alliance

When: Wednesday, April 18th – 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Where:  Harvey Milk Rec Center - 50 Scott St.

Rose Page Mini Park

A bench along the park's walkway.

If you weren’t paying attention, you could altogether miss the Rose Page Mini Park. This quiet, green space is situated between Rose and Page Street on one side, and Laguna and Buchanan Street on the other.

The park opened in 1972, but subsequently fell into a state of disrepair. Neighborhood residents, organized through the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Group, restored the facilities and the park reopened in April 1999. A more detailed history of the Rose Page Mini Park is available at the San Francisco Neighborhood Parks Council.

The mini park features a community garden, flower beds, and a welcoming bench to enjoy the resplendent nature tucked away in this green retreat.

Main entrance to the park from Page Street.

 

Flower beds and community garden.

 

Alternative entrance to the park from Rose Street.

Community Opportunity Fund Workshops

As part of the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond, the Community Opportunity Fund is giving neighborhoods, community groups, and park enthusiasts an opportunity to make a real difference at their favorite local city parks. Please attend one of the following workshops to begin your application process for a Community Opportunity Fund project. Attendance at one workshop is mandatory for all applicants.To download the application, click here and go to the Application Materials tab, round 3.

Thursday, March 22nd 6:00-8:00 PM, County Fair Building, 1199 9th Ave (inside Golden Gate Park), San Francisco, CA 94122

Tuesday, March 27th 6:00-8:00 PM, Joe DiMaggio Recreation Center, 651 Lombard St., San Francisco, CA 94129, Multi-Purpose Room

Thursday, March 29th 6:00-8:00 PM, Joe Lee Recreation Center, 1395 Mendell St., San Francisco, CA 94124, Multi-Purpose Room 2

Tuesday, April 3rd 6:00-8:00 PM, Mission Recreation Center, 2450 Harrison St., San Francisco, CA 94110, Auditorium

Tuesday, April 10th 6:00-8:00 PM, San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102, Room 278

ALSO – mark your calendars -

DOLORES PARK PLAYGROUND GRAND RE-OPENING, March 31!

diller

You are cordially invited to join Mayor Ed Lee, Supervisor Scott Wiener, San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg, Mrs. Helen Diller, San Francisco Parks Alliance and Friends of Dolores Park Playground for the grand opening ceremony of Helen Diller Playground at Mission Dolores Park. The event will include a ribbon cutting ceremony, music, and entertainment for children and families.Download the flier here. 

Saturday, March 31, 2012, 2:00-4:00 p.m.

BACKGROUND

With the help and generous donation of more than $1.5 million from the Mercer Fund in honor of San Francisco Bay Area philanthropist Helen Diller, together with funding from the 2008 Parks Bond and the City’s General Fund, major renovation of the Dolores Park Playground has been completed. The site now has several unique and exciting features, including: a central play mound that will have an ADA-accessible suspension bridge, built-in slide and climbing nets; custom-made ship wrecked boats; and a 36′ super slide built into the natural hillside behind the playground. And in honor and appreciation of Mrs. Diller’s lifetime philanthropic work and community contributions, the playground is named the Helen Diller Playground.

Today, Helen Diller Playground is located in Mission Dolores Park, a 13.37-acre site in the Mission District and bounded by Dolores, Church, 18th and 19th Streets. During the community planning process for the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond, strong community involvement through Friends of Dolores Park Playground and San Francisco Parks Alliance expressed support for a world-class playground for the children and families living in the Mission neighborhood.

The Mercer Fund is a donor-advised fund of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties; a California nonprofit public benefit corporation.

Discussion of upcoming parks bond

San Francisco Parks Alliance will host a planning meeting focused on the upcoming parks bond:

 

Monday, March 12, 2012 

6pm to 8pm

Sports Basement, Grotto Room 

1590 Bryant Street 

San Francisco, 94103

 

Community input played a crucial role in the success of the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond. Help us build on that success. This meeting will engage park lovers and users in city-wide planning for the November parks bond measure.

 

bond buttonRecreation and Parks Department staff will provide an update on the success of the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond and highlight current park capital needs. We invite you to add your voice to this vital dialogue about what you want to see in your parks and what new needs may have emerged since 2008.

 

Please RSVP or send questions to policy@sfparksalliance.org by

March 9th.

Refreshments will be served, and attendees will receive 20% off purchases that evening at Sports Basement! 

Park(ing) Day 2011 Sept. 16

Park(ing) Day on Hayes Street from last year.

In cities around the globe artists, activists and citizens will temporarily transform metered parking spaces into public parks and other social spaces, as part of an annual event called PARK(ing) Day.

Originally invented in 2005 by Rebar, a San Francisco-based art and design studio, PARK(ing) Day challenges people to rethink the way streets are used and reinforces the need for broad-based changes to urban infrastructure. “In urban centers around the world, inexpensive curbside parking results in increased traffic, wasted fuel and more pollution,” says Rebar’s Matthew Passmore. “The planning strategies that generated these conditions are not sustainable, nor do they promote a healthy, vibrant human habitat. PARK(ing) Day is about re-imagining the possibilities of the urban landscape.”

Be creative, think of a theme for your park and participate on September 16th. Parking Day info

Parking Day Map

Let us know if you are participating in Hayes Valley so we can all swing by and enjoy the outdoors with you.

Email us at voice@hayesvalleysf.org & jessie@hayesvalleysf.org

Alamo Square Flea Market Aug. 20th

photograph: “flea market friends” by Anne Bowerman

The 28th Annual Alamo Square Flea Market, Saturday August 20th, features great local vendors, and returning this year will be Indie Mart! We are setting aside a dedicated kid area off the shopping path. New this year: Off The Grid will be on hand to provide food and refreshments!

Selling spaces on sale NOW!

$60 – Scott Street
$30 – Fulton Street
$25 – Hayes Street

Parking (Optional) – $5

For more information go to:

Alamo Square Flea Market

If you’re not a vender, mark this event on your calendar and come join us!

Grand reopening of the Hayes Valley Playground


Come celebrate the renovation of Hayes Valley Playground!

When: Saturday, June 11, 10:45 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Where: Hayes Valley Playground, Hayes St. and Buchannan St., San Francisco
What: Music, drink, and fun for all!
RSVP by June 3 to joy.pilare@tpl.org or (415) 800-5269

The Hayes Valley Playground renovation is a partnership of The Trust for Public Land and the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department, with generous support from the City and County of San Francisco and

Banana Republic | Levi Strauss Foundation | McKesson
Pacific Gas and Electric Company | Wells Fargo

(Above are images of the community helping with the mosaic tile installation that Laurel True designed at the Hayes Valley Playground .To view Laurel’s work go to: www.truemosaics.com

Youth in the neighborhood – Jan. 2011 General Meeting Recap

The HVNA January 27th, 2011 general meeting was busy with five presentations. The first three presentations focused on upcoming opportunities for our youth in the neighborhood with benefits for the community at large.

Rob Connolly, the President of Boys & Girls Clubs in San Francisco (BGCSF), presented the possibility of having a new Boys and Girls Club built in Hayes Valley in the existing parking lot at on the north east side of the intersection at Gough and Fulton. This site and development has BGCSF excited about the possibility of creating a 25,000 square foot facility that would have a regulation-size high school gymnasium and a full-sized swimming pool. This would benefit all the Boys and Girls Clubs in San Francisco. The concept of this new facility is in its infancy, but could be a good addition to the neighborhood. Several neighbors expressed their opinion to encourage housing to be built on this site in conjunction with the possible Boys and Girls Club. The HVNA will keep an eye on this project as it moves forward.

To learn more about the BGCSF as well as to give comments about the project you saw tonight go to this link or call the BGCSF general office line to get connected with someone about your concerns/questions at 415-445-KIDS (5437).

The Hayes Valley Playground at the south east corner of Buchanan and Hayes is entering its final months of construction. A project update was given by Jennifer Isacoff from the Trust for Public Lands, Lev Kushner, Assistant Director for Strategic Partnerships with San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and Jacob Gilchrist, Project Manager, Capital Division from the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. Emily LoSavio, Executive Director of Opportunity Impact outlined a partnership between the Hayes Valley Playground and the eight, nine and ten year olds of Opportunity Impact’s youth. About thirty students will get to be stewards and partners to the Playground from 2-6PM during the week. Opportunity Impact provides a program for students from the forth grade through the eighth grade where they can develop personal skills, academic skills and career skills in a safe and inspirational setting. LoSavio noted that these students are in the program for 1000 hours a year and are encouraged to participate in the program for all five years to really help the individuals grow.

Many members of the HVNA have been instrumental in getting community support and city support to make this renovation of the playground happen. We look forward to its opening ceremony this spring – hopefully in April or May.

John Muir Elementary School’s Principal Chris Rosenberg came to give a status update of the school. He said the school is continuing to focus on reading. Rosenberg said the school is using the “Balanced Literacy Method”. He is also working hard to get parents involved. He has assembled a group of parents that make up the School Site Council. Rosenberg was asked about the green schoolyard project. He said he has waited on that to get other more pressing issues worked out, but the greening of the schoolyard will now begin to take place in the spring.

Rosenberg encourages potential parents and students to visit the school and see what they think of the feel of the teachers, students and space in the classrooms. If you would like to get involved with the parents’ group or get more information on the school call 241-6335. Contact LaTisha Irving.

Michael Schwartz and Rachel Hiatt from the San Francisco County Transportation Authority came to present the current status of the Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit Proposal. Draft environmental studies and engineering should be completed by this summer. Then the SFCTA would like to return to the HVNA to present their findings on the various options of bus and traffic configurations presented at tonight’s meeting. For more information visit Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit Proposal. The project’s are to improve the speed and efficiency of the 47 and 49 SF Muni buses as well as the Golden Gate Transit buses and to increase ridership and use of mass-transit while making automobile traffic run just as smoothly as it runs today.

Jason Henderson, Chair of the Hayes Valley Transportation and Planning Committee, emphasized the importance of improving mass-transit and increasing ridership through improved efficiency and easy of use. Improving transit is a critical part of the Market/Octavia Neighborhood Plan. If you would like to give comments on this project you can email Henderson at planning@hayesvalleysf.org.

District Five Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi dropped into the meeting to outline some of the issues he is addressing in the neighborhood and throughout the city. He discussed two-way Hayes, John Muir Elementary, a circulation study he would like to see on Fell and Oak from HV all the way to the western districts, U.C. Campus and the America’s Cup. Mirkarimi said he is concerned about neighborhood safety and invites all to attend a Public Safety Meeting on February 7th at 7PM at the Korean American Community Center, 745 Buchanan Street. You can contact his office at 415-554-7630.

A note to our blog readers: Any blue text is a link to a website where you’ll find more information on whatever the blue text reads. Just click on that blue text within the document and learn more. Enjoy.

SF Parks need your help

by Phil Ginsburg, General Manager, SF Recreation and Park Department

What would happen to our quality of life if San Francisco’s 225 neighborhood parks suddenly closed? Where would we play without our 179 playgrounds, 82 recreation centers and clubhouses, 72 basketball courts, 60 soccer and baseball fields or 9 swimming pools?

Public parks and recreation facilities play an essential role in our lives, whether we’re children, teens, adults or seniors. They offer a welcome respite from the rigors of our daily schedules, providing us with the opportunity to relax, exercise, explore and rejuvenate our spirits in ways that are personal and meaningful to us.

But our parks are in trouble. Here in San Francisco, years of budget cuts, including a whopping $12.4 million deficit for this fiscal year alone, have left the Recreation and Park Department at a critical juncture. Despite being 200 gardeners and 60 custodians short, our park maintenance scores have never been higher. We survived our most recent budget challenges by implementing creative revenue generating initiatives and scouring our operation for staff efficiencies, including a new gardener apprentice program.

We’ve also implemented a complete reorganization of our recreation model that’s more efficient, saves money and improves the quantity and quality of programming at our recreation facilities by asking the public to play an active role in deciding what types of programs are needed at each individual site.

We can no longer adequately staff our smaller clubhouses or operate our recreation centers and pools seven days a week. Recognizing that further reductions to our budget would have drastic impacts we’re pursuing grants and philanthropic support to help keep the doors open. We’re looking for community partners to provide relevant programming at these sites to keep them active, safe and fun.

We need your help. Visit our website – www.sfrecpark.org – and join our email list. Ask your elected leaders to support a more financially sustainable urban parks system.

Hayes Valley Playground & Clubhouse Renovation Project Update

By Gail Baugh

Thanks to everyone’s hard work during the design phase in 2008-2009, Hayes Valley Playground is under construction!

Over the next few months you will see the clubhouse progress from rough framing to a finished building. The site work will start soon as contractors build the two play areas, fitness zone, plaza, lawn and landscaping designed by the community in the planning workshops. Construction will be completed after the new year.

Please look to the next newsletter for a schedule update!

There are two upcoming opportunities for involvement in December: a gardening/planting project and a mosaic tile project. Please call Jen Isacoff at the Trust for Public Land (415) 800-5304 for questions or more information. For gardening and planting project involvement please join our neighborhood group now. Email Gail Baugh,g.baugh@sbcglobal.net