SF Rec and Park Blog

Spring Into Fun with Rec and Park!

2012-02-06T16:34:00.000-08:00

Spring registration begins Saturday, March 3!

Springtime is often associated with a sense of renewal and rebirth, and at Rec and Park, we offer an amazing array of activities for you and your family that will get you recharged and rejuvenated for the upcoming summer season.

From zumba classes for mom and men’s dodgeball for dad, to Junior Picasso art classes for the kids and mahjong for grandma and grandpa, our programs will pique your interest and have you coming back for more. We truly have something for everyone.

Our programs continue to be a reflection of our commitment to families in San Francisco. Class offerings are affordable and convenient, and you won’t find a group of employees more passionate about recreation than our creative and dedicated staff at Rec and Park.

I invite you all to discover what’s in store for you this spring. Browse our catalog beginning February 13 and register online or in person at 13 sites throughout the city beginning March 3.

Also, on Saturday, April 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., join us for Spring Eggstravaganza 2012 at Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate Park, featuring egg hunts, carnival rides, games, live entertainment and our annual Rib Cook-Off between Rec and Park, the San Francisco Fire Department and the San Francisco Police Department.

Get out and play!

Season of Sharing

2011-12-09T16:48:00.000-08:00

City parks and playgrounds will soon receive a bounding bounty of basketballs—650 in all—courtesy of the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery, which recently wrapped up an art exhibit featuring the balls in the form of a large pyramid.
Artist David Huffman designed the art piece as part of an exhibit entitled, “SHIFT,” which was intended to spark dialogue about race in America.
The balls were initially donated to the Arts Commission Gallery by local sporting good purveyor Sports Basement.

The balls are earmarked for the Recreation and Park Department’s youth and girls basketball programs and will also be distributed for free play at recreation centers and clubhouses throughout the city. Basketball remains one of the most popular and widely played sports in the city.

In this season of sharing, we are truly thankful for this gift from the Arts Commission and Sports Basement. These balls will help support our recreation programs and ensure that every kid in this city has a chance to get out and play.

* * *

On December 8, we celebrated our 82nd annual Holiday Tree Lighting, a tradition that started back in 1929 when "Uncle" John McLaren, our first park superintendent, began lighting a mile-long stretch of trees on Fell Street that ended at McLaren Lodge, his home at the time.

Hundreds of kids and their parents braved the cold to enjoy what has got to be one of Rec and Park's best events. Carnival rides, arts and crafts, a cookie factory, live entertainment and even sled rides on "real" snow--- it was simply amazing to see all of the happy, smiling faces roaming about.

Mayor Ed Lee joined us to help light the tree, a 131-year-old Monterey cypress that stands over 100-feet tall and sports 29 strands of lights and over 700 bulbs. Also in attendance were Police Chief Greg Suhr; Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White; Supervisors Sean Elsbernd, Mark Farrell and Scott Wiener; Treasurer Jose Cisneros; and members of the Recreation and Park Commission.

It was a particularly special visit for Chief Hayes-White, who was accompanied by members of Station 26. Our paint crew, led by Joe Padilla, painted this year's train in honor of the men and women who protect us each and every day.

Hats off to our staff, who once again proved to be the best and hardest working bunch of city workers ever. From our recreation staff to electricians, tree toppers, heavy equipment crews, park rangers and parks staff-- everyone had a hand in making the event a success.

What a way to officially kick off the holiday season!

(Photo from Singtaousa.com)

Beach Chalet Soccer Fields Need Some Help

2011-11-15T12:55:00.000-08:00

Four years ago, the soccer fields at Crocker Amazon Park were dilapidated and used only as a last option by recreational athletes and families alike. Today, thanks to a multimillion-dollar renovation project and the generosity of the City Fields Foundation, Crocker is teeming with activity. Every day after school, 500 boys and girls swarm the soccer complex for league games and practices. In the evening, another 500 people play on the lighted fields well into the night.

The Beach Chalet Soccer Fields complex is another primary ground sports athletic facility in San Francisco. During the fall, more than 1,550 kids and 600 adults play at Beach Chalet each week, but built more than 75 years ago, with the last renovation coming in 1998, the fields are unsafe and in poor condition due to heavy use, abundant gopher holes, and year-round wet conditions. One of the four fields is always out of commission for rest and regrowth, leaving, at most, three open fields at any given time.

Despite constant use by kids, Beach Chalet lacks some basic family-friendly amenities: clean restrooms, changing stations, play/picnic areas, and spectator seating.

A proposed renovation of Beach Chalet with lights and synthetic turf would eliminate all dangerous gopher holes and more than triple the amount of play on the fields. Currently, the fields host 4,738 hours of annual play. The proposed renovation will add 9,582 hours of new play each year, especially significant when the demand for athletic fields in the city is at an all-time high.

The renovation will also make the facility much more family-friendly and inviting for athletes, spectators and park visitors alike.

Install synthetic turf, field lights and spectator seating - Field improvements include high-quality synthetic turf on four fields, all of which will be lined for soccer and two of which will be lined for lacrosse as well. Fields will have state-of-the-art drainage, and they will feature seating for players and spectators and be framed by new lighted perimeter walkways and new vinyl-covered fencing.

Create a viewing plaza - The redesigned spectator plaza proposes a picnic/bbq area along the western edge of the warm-up area, with new picnic tables and barbeques as well as new drinking fountains, bike racks, trash/recycling cans, seat walls and landscaping.

Renovate restrooms - Renovations feature a new interior for the restrooms, with 11 stalls in the women’s room, 5 stalls/4 urinals in the men’s room, and diaper changing stations in both rooms. The restroom building will also have a concession booth for group/league use and a Rec/Park storage and mechanical room.

Improve the parking lot - Parking lot updates include a loop design for better traffic flow, new lighting for safety and convenience, and a sidewalk through to JFK Drive. There will be a marked pick-up/drop-off area, as well as 60 bike parking spots, 20 new parking spaces and 4 new disabled parking spaces. Rec/Park maintenance staff will have a new work shed.

Create safe, lit walkways - New lighting on the fields will feature (10) 60' field lights. There will be pathway lighting to the northern spectator seating, to the parking lot and to the walkways to both JFK Drive and the Great Highway. The plaza and picnic/bbq areas will also be illuminated.

In the next two weeks, beginning Wednesday, November 16, you’ll have an opportunity to weigh in on the renovation project.

Beach Chalet Fields Historic Preservation Hearing
November 16, 2011 at 12:30 PM
San Francisco City Hall, Planning Commission Chambers, Room 400

Beach Chalet Fields Draft Environmental Review Hearing
December 1, 2011 at 1:30 PM
San Francisco City Hall, Planning Commission Chambers, Room 400

I hope to see you there.

The Circus Comes to Moscone Park

2011-10-27T15:37:00.000-07:00

People often say life at Rec and Park is like a circus, and on October 25, they couldn’t have been more correct, when cast members of the new Cirque du Soleil show here in San Francisco showed up at Moscone Rec Center to help celebrate new improvements at the park.

In September, Cirque du Soleil (through EcoMedia) gifted nearly $32,000 to the department for a new remote lighting system at Moscone, Lang and Jackson ball fields. The new system allows our staff to control, monitor, and manage field lights from any computer or smartphone, entering in detailed lighting schedules field by field, down to the minute. Emergency schedule changes can also be made easily in the case of rain‐outs.

The system reduces energy usage by operating lights only when they are needed. As an automated system, it does not require our staff to travel from field to field to turn lights on and off, as was the case with previous systems.

The new remote system will reduce energy usage by 26% or for a total of 475.5 hours per year. That’s equivalent to about $25,000 a year, a pretty big sum in an era when every penny counts.

These improvements are actually not a first in our department. Thanks to our partnership with the City Fields Foundation, similar remote systems have been installed at Kimbell Playground, Silver Terrace, Fraklin Square, South Sunset, Crocker and Garfield Square, and are performing wonderfully.

These advances are making the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department one of the most technologically advanced and greenest park systems in the country.

I want to thank Cirque du Soleil, EcoMedia, Supervisor Mark Farrell, Hydra Mendoza from the Mayor's Office, SF Environment and the wonderful students from Marina Middle School who came out on Tuesday to help us celebrate.

ParkWide Bike Rentals Rolls Out in City Parks

2011-10-19T09:36:00.000-07:00

“Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry, when I take you out in the surrey, when I take you out in the surrey with the fringe on top.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss1CXo8QMi8

Not many people can say they’ve ridden a surrey through Golden Gate Park with the mayor of San Francisco, but I now can. You can go ahead and cross that off my bucket list.

Park visitors yearning to ride through our city parks in equal style now have a new option in ParkWide Bike Rentals, which officially rolled out in our parks on October 11.

ParkWide is a new park amenity that allows visitors the opportunity to rent a bike (or surrey) at one city park and ride to others where they can easily and conveniently drop it off. By the end of the year, ParkWide will have rental stations at Justin Herman Plaza, Union Square, Marina Green and two locations in Golden Gate Park—behind the Bandshell and along Tea Garden Drive in the Music Concourse area.

This new partnership is a win all the way around. ParkWide not only makes it easier for residents and visitors to get out, bike and see our world-class park system, but our agreement with ParkWide Bike Rentals will bring in more than $1 million to support department operations over the next five years.

I want to thank all of the folks who’ve supported this effort and worked to make it possible, including Mayor Ed Lee; the Board of Supervisors, including District 1 Supervisor Eric Mar; the Recreation and Park Commission; the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, led by director Leah Shahum; and ParkWide Bike Rentals, including owners Jeanne and Luis Orellana, Darryll White and Jeff Sears

In particular, I’d like to acknowledge Rec and Park’s Partnerships and Resource Development team, which has been doing a tremendous job over the past two years of not only identifying opportunities that creatively support the Department in times of need but doing it thoughtfully and strategically so that we are providing the type of enhanced park experience people are looking for.

Of course, all of this falls in line with the city’s goal of making our communities and places like Golden Gate Park and the Academy of Sciences more bike-friendly and easier to visit for parents, families and residents.

One of the biggest proponents of our city’s biking initiatives has been Mayor Lee, who has a couple of exciting new bike-related projects on the horizon—a dedicated bike lane along JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park, and a citywide bike share program that will roll out next spring.

Get out and bike!

Honoring Some of Rec and Park's Best

2011-09-15T14:05:00.000-07:00

I want to spend some time today thanking three individuals from the Rec and Park family who have really made a difference in our parks over the years, who exemplify the type of employee every city park department across the country would love to have. We’ve been lucky to have all three gardeners serve our city parks for a combined 83 years-- Joe Faulkner, Terry McDevitt and Carter Church.

Joe Faulkner retires after 38 years with the city, a career that began in 1973 - only one year before his father Charlie retired from the City in 1974. Together, Joe and his father represent over 76 years of continuous family history working for the City.

As a kid, Joe worked at Harding Park, picking up golf balls at the driving range for golf pro Joey Rey. Joe is an accomplished golfer in his own right, playing in 40 San Francisco City Golf Tournaments. He is a two-time Harding Park Men's Club champion, and Joe and his son Daniel are two-time Family Golf Tournament champions, held annually at the Golden Gate Park Golf Course.

In 1980 Joe received a Bachelor of Arts degree in recreation from San Francisco State University. He was a gardener at Lincoln Park for 11 years and has taken care of the Golden Gate Park Golf Course for the past 17 years, keeping it maintained at a high level and even enduring a much-publicized vandalism incident at the course in 2010.

Joe has also worked at Harding Park for the American Express Tournament in 2005 and for the Charles Schwab Cup in 2010, two flagship events that have helped make San Francisco a world-renowned golfing destination.

Joe is married to his beautiful wife Carol and together they have three children, Michael, Daniel and Kelly. Joe is looking forward to retirement, playing golf, staying involved in the golf community and traveling with his wife.

Terry McDevitt is also retiring and has worked for the department for more than 40 years, or as his friend and supervisor Robert Sheets says, since the dawn of time.

Terry first worked as a temp worker along Ocean Beach, cleaning bathrooms, but soon got permanent status as a gardener working in Golden Gate Park’s East End, where he was credited with several improvements to the area.

Terry has also worked at Stern Grove and has spent the last 17 years working at West Sunset Playground, where he has excelled as a groundskeeper, caring for the popular and heavily used soccer fields and ball diamonds. While he started with two other gardeners at West Sunset, staff attrition soon left him there on his own, however, the quality of the park never suffered. To this date, Terry’s diamonds are some of the most requested and least complained about fields in the system.

At one point in his career, Terry took voice lessons to become a DJ. Although he wasn't cut out for the job, he soon became articulate in the verbal arts. The nickname "Silver Tongue" still follows him to this day as he’s often found at public meetings participating in discussions on park issues. Terry also continues to be active in Local 261, where he is a shop steward.

As an employee, Terry is a supervisor’s dream, often taking care of issues before his supervisor even talks to him about them. According to Robert, a typical conversation between him and Terry goes like this:

Robert: “Hey, Terry. Just got a call. We have a line break at West...."

Terry: "Already dug it out and called the plumbers..."

Robert: “Okay...see you at lunch."

Carter Church has worked for the department for a little over five years. He first worked in the Mission under Adrian Field and then transferred to Section Two in Golden Gate Park, where he was responsible for the Shakespeare Garden and one-third of the Japanese Tea Garden.

While working for the department he personally pursued additional academic status on his own time, elevating his own skills and of those around him by forwarding on whatever he had just learned.

His supervisor, James McCormick recently said, "Every gardener is a painter of the landscape. Some people like chaos and color, others prefer sharp lines, symmetrical angles and clutter, while more desire order and method. Carter’s character and eye were of warmth, patience, and strategy; his personal style brought sensitivity and intelligence to his beats and to his crew. He made everyone want to come to work, because he was never just a coworker but a friend as well. We all miss and love you in Section Two."

Last month, Food & Wine Magazine, a national publication, named the Shakespeare Garden as one of the nation’s top picnic spots, an honor that is a direct result of Carter’s hard work and passion.

Although Joe, Terry and Carter won’t be part of the everyday dealings at Rec and Park anymore, they’ll always be part of our Rec and Park family and always have a special place in my heart.

Above photo from L to R: Recreation and Park Commission President Mark Buell, Omar Dudum, Adrian Field, Steve Castile, Joe Faulkner, James McCormick, Carter Church, Terry McDevitt, Robert Sheets, GM Phil Ginsburg and Ana Alvarez

Remembering 9/11 Through Service

2011-09-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

As we near the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 and one of the most tragic events in history, I can’t help but relive the day in my head and remember where I was and what I was doing that day.

My family and I were living temporarily in a rental on Downey Street in Cole Valley while some work was being done on our home. Our oldest daughter Grace was just 17 months old. My wife Emily and I got a call just after 7 a.m. from a family member who told us there had been a horrible plane crash in New York City (where much of Emily's family resides and where we still have many friends) and that we should turn on the TV. Horrifically and surreally, we watched a second plane crash into the Twin Towers and both towers collapse on live TV. Emily's first cousin Jane lost her husband (Christian Maltby) who worked at Cantor Fitzgerald. He was a young father of three.

As the events unfolded that day and it became apparent just how horrific, tragic and scary the world had become, we really didn't know what to do. I was working as a deputy city attorney in the City Attorney's office but I knew I wasn't leaving my wife and young daughter alone that day. Em's classes at UCSF med school were cancelled and there was no day care for Grace that day. As we tried to cope with our own shock and grief and the likely loss of a family member, we also knew we wanted to keep things as innocent, safe and happy for our daughter.

How did we spend our day? At a park and playground, fittingly enough.

This Sunday, September 11, in remembrance of 9/11 and in celebration of the strength, courage and resilience of our nation, I invite you to come out to our parks and serve at one of three Recreation and Park Department tribute projects in partnership with HandsOn Bay Area, at Jefferson Square, Margaret Hayward Playground and Patricia's Green.

Volunteers will gather together at 9 a.m. at the Veterans War Memorial Building courtyard at Civic Center to honor the memories of the victims of 9/11 and then go forth to give tribute to the fallen by serving at various community projects around town. The Day of Service will begin at 9 a.m. with registration and a light breakfast, and at 9:30 a.m., a 20-minute commemoration program will begin. At 10 a.m., volunteers will disperse to their projects.

There is no charge to register but you must register to participate in the volunteer projects. Registered participants will receive a commemorative t-shirt.

Click here to register today.

The Best Outside Lands Yet

2011-08-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month, Golden Gate Park was the site of the fourth annual Outside Lands Music Festival. Headlined by popular acts such as Phish, Arcade Fire and Muse, the festival was a complete sellout, attended by more than 180,000 people over the three-day span.

The event was a huge success, receiving nothing but rave reviews from the media, from the Huffington Post to Rolling Stone Magazine, calling it the best Outside Lands to date.

Perhaps the highlight of the concert was Mayor Ed Lee’s appearance on the main stage in front of thousands of people, proclaiming it Outside Lands Weekend in San Francisco. This was the first appearance by a San Francisco mayor at Outside Lands, symbolizing just how much the festival has become part of the fabric of the city.

With 50 local restaurants, food trucks and confectioners present, the festival has become a celebration of the San Francisco food culture. Additionally, three dozen local vintners were featured in the Winelands tent.

Over 45,000 city residents attended the event, of which, almost 14,000 came from the four districts that border the park, showing the festival’s appeal to not just out-of-towners but to locals as well.

The economic effect on the city was huge. The festival created 4,500 jobs with hotels and restaurants reporting an uptick in business over the weekend. Our department received $1,450,000 from this year’s concert ($4.3 million over the past four years), money that is helping to support our parks and programs during difficult financial times.

The event was a collaboration with Another Planet Entertainment, the Mayor’s Office, police and SFMTA. To minimize impact to the surrounding neighborhoods, a hotline was set up to log comments and complaints over the weekend. To illustrate what a terrific job everyone did, the number of complaints each day decreased as crews responded in real time to sound complaints. By Sunday, only 47 complaints were logged, compared to 143 the day before.

I want to thank Another Planet, which has gone above and beyond and has proven to be a terrific partner to work with; our staff, which works tirelessly behind the scenes to make this event happen each year; and IATSE and Local 16 for their efforts.

First Tee, Gleneagles Have the Honor

2011-08-22T16:21:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month, Tom Hsieh and his staff at Gleneagles Golf Course hosted a summer ending barbeque and golf demonstration for First Tee families and other community partners.

The First Tee is an international organization dedicated to introducing the sport of golf to kids who normally would not be exposed to the sport. Supported by golf’s major organizations, including the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the United States Golf Association, The First Tee provides educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf.

More than 60 First Tee students and their families came out to learn more about Gleneagles Golf Course and how the facility is dedicated to increasing the number of community members who play golf.

The highlight of the evening was a driving demonstration by six members of The First Tee's future foursome group, who each promptly striped their tee shot down the middle of the fairway.

I had a chance to meet and spend some time with these kids, and while my own golf game is “always improving,” these young kids showed some serious talent and promise to not only be great golfers one day but our next generation of doctors, lawyers, teachers and recreation and park department general managers.

Kudos, First Tee, and kudos, Gleneagles Golf Course on a great event.

Partnerships are Protecting SF Parks, Programs

2011-08-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

The following is an op-ed that ran in the SF Chronicle last week, and I think it's important to set the record straight about how our partnerships are protecting our parks and programs.

Partnerships are Protecting SF Parks

by Phil Ginsburg
SF Chronicle, August 10, 2011

A few loud voices have been promoting a myth that the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department is restricting access to parks and facilities through the use of public-private partnerships.

They even introduced a poorly vetted ballot measure that precluded new leases, entry fees and even permits for birthday parties and weddings. Strangely, the measure included no new public funding for parks. Thankfully, it wilted under public scrutiny and the co-sponsors of the measure had the maturity and good sense to yank it from the ballot.

The ballot measure was misguided, but angst over park funding issues is not. Rec and Park has faced staggering cuts in recent years. Staffing shortages and deferred maintenance needs abound. We applaud the passionate debate that our funding challenges have prompted, but it's time for a closer look at the myths upon which our critics rely.

Unlike the state of California or other large cities with dismal budget outlooks, we are neither closing parks nor abdicating our responsibility to maintain them. We have creatively relied upon new apprentices, publicly funded job programs and volunteers to augment a shrinking staff that works harder and more effectively than ever.

Some of our attractions and programs do cost money and, yes, we added a few exotic food vendors that many park users enjoy. The revenue we earn plants trees, teaches kids to swim and cleans toilets.

This city is blessed with open space that is social and solitary, active and passive. Our parks may be enjoyed however you choose - on a noisy playground or on a quiet trail. More than 95 percent of the city's park system can be accessed without ever taking out a wallet - including free iconic events like Hardly Strictly Bluegrass and World Cup Soccer.

Through partnerships with community service providers, Rec and Park has successfully managed to keep tiny clubhouses safe and busy with activities without any funding to staff them. In these places, organizations like the Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA have contributed 25,000 hours of free or low-cost programs that serve tots, seniors and at-risk youth. Without funding, the alternative to these partnerships is no activities.

Most clubhouses continue to serve neighbors for parties, meetings and gathering spaces. Last year, we issued permits to 3,000 community events in our facilities.

Privatization? Really?

Public-private partnerships are helping parks and recreation centers thrive despite inadequate public funding. Last year, recreation programs increased by 20 percent and we funded more youth scholarships than ever before. This summer, we are enriching 16,000 kids in 60 different camps, including new experiences for autistic children and at-risk teens.

Park maintenance scores are at an all-time high. Improved ball fields, playgrounds, gardens and trails are the fruit of the philanthropic relationships we have cultivated.

In an era when recreation and parks are critical to keeping our neighborhoods healthy and safe, and in discouraging families from fleeing our city for the suburbs, we confront a challenging choice: Do we sit back and watch our treasured park system continue to erode or find new strategies to preserve it? We proudly choose the latter.

Our parks deserve more public investment. But until that happens, perhaps this ideological battle against public-private partnerships is one this city and our park system cannot afford to indulge.

Bocce Reborn at Crocker Amazon Park

2011-08-05T15:03:00.000-07:00

Mayor Ed Lee joined us on August 2 in cutting the ribbon on the newly improved bocce ball courts at Crocker Amazon Park. The event was part of a National Night Out event at the park, hosted by the San Francisco Police Department and the Outer Mission Merchants and Residents Association to highlight

The new bocce court complex looks amazing. The improvements to the sheltered court area include exterior perimeter wind screens, roof repairs, new gutters, waterproofing of back retaining wall, new service counter, sink and storage cabinet, exterior and interior painting and upgraded electrical system. Site improvements include new perimeter fencing, relocation of the portable toilet, installation of new water line, a new accessible second means of egress to Moscow Street, removal of barriers for accessibility and new water conservation irrigation system and drought tolerant planting at adjacent landscape area.

Initial project funding was provided through a $100,000 add-back from the Board of Supervisors to the Public Utilities Commission; funds were then transferred to SF Recreation and Parks to implement capital improvements to the Crocker Amazon Bocce Ball Courts and water conservation efforts on the site. Additional funding for the final scope of work for improvements was provided by Open Space funds.

It’s important to note that in celebration of National Night Out, which highlights crime prevention efforts in communities across the country, the way we make our parks safer is by activating them and creating clean, fun and inviting spaces for the public to enjoy.

I invite all of you out to check out the new bocce ball courts at Crocker Amazon.

According the United States Bocce Federation, bocce is the third most participated sport in the world behind soccer and golf. There are 25 million bocce players throughout the United States alone.

The game is easy to learn and there are currently four Rec and Park locations to play at throughout the city: Crocker Amazon, Rossi Playground, Joe Dimaggio Playground and Justin Herman Plaza.

Get out and play!

Leisure Services on the Cutting Edge of Recreation

2011-07-26T11:56:00.000-07:00

I’m not sure what your idea of leisure is, but at Rec and Park, leisure means scaling 30-foot walls, learning to canoe through rough waters and taking part in any of the cutting-edge, heart-pounding recreation activities our department currently offers, including skateboarding, BMX bike riding, saltwater fishing, surfing and kayaking.

In just under a year, our Leisure Services division is quickly establishing itself as one of the go-to destinations for quality, non-traditional recreational programming including outdoor recreation, action sports, waterfront recreation, aquatics, adult fitness and alternative rec programs.

Want to spend an afternoon with the family on a geocache adventure, using the latest technology to guide you through an exciting nature treasure hunt? How about a women’s mountain bike boot camp or rock climbing lessons for the kids?

At Rec and Park, we pride ourselves on providing the type of quality classes and activities you’ve grown up with, but we’re equally excited about the new offerings our staff is providing that will pique your interest and get your heart pumping.

I invite all of you to check out our new Leisure Services division today. Log onto sfrecpark.org or click below to watch a short video.

A Rejuvenated Carrousel Plaza in GGP Reopens

2011-07-15T12:25:00.000-07:00

July is National Park and Recreation Month, and what better place to celebrate what our parks and programs mean to us than Carrousel Plaza, in the heart of Golden Gate Park next to the Koret Children’s Quarter, where thousands of kids come each and every week to play, and adjacent to the Sharon Art Studio, where the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department offers some of the best art and recreational programming in the entire city.

This month, we are highlighting the importance of our parks and programs, which we cannot do without also acknowledging the tremendous support we are getting in an era when we can no longer do it alone.

A couple of weeks ago, we received a sizeable gift from Coca-Cola to help create new trails in Golden Gate Park and provide new, exciting recreation programs and equipment to kids all across the city.

On July 8, we celebrated a project that could not have been possible without the support of our friends at the California Department of Parks, who provided nearly a million dollars for this project alone and close to $50M in grants for projects throughout the park.

Golden Gate Park as a whole has been undergoing a renaissance, with close to a billion dollars being invested over the past ten years. New museums, a renovated Music Concourse, improved Polo Fields and new paving are just a few of the projects that have rejuvenated our iconic park.

In 2007, we cut the ribbon on the initial phase of this project, the renovation of the historic Children’s Playground.

This project included the replacement of the large asphalt plaza with integrally colored concrete, stone walls and stairs, a secure and screened trash/recycling storage area, landscape irrigation and planting, and site furnishings. The highlight of this project is, without a doubt, the collection of tiles created by the staff and members of the Sharon Art Studio.

A third phase of the project will include the renovation of the old barn area, where we plan to one day have a family-friendly recreational space perfect for birthday parties and other rentals.

Coca-Cola and a Smile

2011-07-08T09:20:00.000-07:00

National Park and Recreation Month got off to a pretty good start on July 5, when Coca-Cola joined us at Rochambeau Playground to present a gift of $250,000 to our partners at the San Francisco Parks Trust. Lt. Governor and former-Mayor Gavin Newsom was on hand, as were members of the Board of Supervisors and pro skater Karl Watson, who has been extremely supportive of our recreation programs in the past year.

The gift is part of Coke’s effort to promote healthy communities and to continue its 40-year tradition of supporting local parks across the country.

The gift will go towards the creation of a new trail in Golden Gate Park as well as the purchase of new mobile recreation equipment that can travel to all parts of the city to bring exciting, relevant programs to kids in every neighborhood. The mobile equipment will provide opportunities for kids to participate in alternative recreation activities that interest them, including skateboarding, kayaking, climbing and mountain biking.

Over the past year, our Department has begun offering these new, innovative programs to the public because we realize that traditional ball sports are only part of the equation. Our extreme recreation programs are proving to be very popular. This summer, some of our more popular camps include skateboarding, eco adventures, shark fishing and more.

I’d like to thank Coca-Cola for this truly generous gift. In an era of limited resources, we simply can’t do it alone anymore. Our department’s ongoing effort to partner with companies and organizations that recognize the importance of investing in our parks is an important key to our ability to keep our parks clean and our recreation centers open.

I’d also like to thank Karen Kidwell and the San Francisco Parks Trust for their continued efforts in support of our parks. The Parks Trust celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year in supporting our parks and recreation programs. Programs like the Parks Trust’s GearUp Fund help provide much needed equipment for our recreation centers and programs.

Marina Renovation is First in 50 Years

2011-06-29T13:48:00.001-07:00

The first renovation of the San Francisco Marina in almost 50 years kicked off earlier this month, as city officials and members of the boating community joined together for a ceremonial plank pulling to mark the beginning of construction on the Marina’s West Harbor.

District 2 Supervisor Mark Farrell and former District 2 Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier were on hand to thank supporters and to help celebrate the milestone.

As an added bonus to the new harbor improvements, salvageable wood from the docks is being donated to the Crescent City (Calif.) Harbor, which was ravaged by tsunamis caused by a 9.0 earthquake in Sendai, Japan in March.

The $25 million project is expected to be completed in 2012, with Phase 2, which includes improvements to the East Harbor, to begin shortly after. The entire project is expected to be completed in time for one of sailing’s biggest events, the America’s Cup.

Of course, we share the boating community’s anticipation for the 2013 America’s Cup in San Francisco. As initial plans take shape for sailing’s most prestigious event, the Marina West Harbor Renovation Project couldn’t have come at a better time.

The San Francisco Marina facilities have existed in their present configuration since 1963. The floating docks and gangways are made of timber and have degraded over time. The on-dock utilities have degraded as well as become obsolete.

Renovations in the West Harbor include:

Two new breakwater segments
Removal of one breakwater structure (mole) near the foot of Scott Street
Reconstruction of portions of the degraded riprap slopes around the interior shorelines
Replacement and reconfiguration of the floating docks and slips
Renovation of existing pump-out facility
Construction of a guest dock and hand boat launch
Maintenance dredging
Code upgrades to the harbor office, restrooms and boater showers
Landscaping, site and public access improvements

Dock improvements will also include upgrades in electrical service, water system and fire protection stations, installation of new lights dock lights, and replacement of gates, ramps and gangways.

The San Francisco Marina is composed of two harbors, known as East Harbor (also known Gashouse Cove) and West Harbor. The East Harbor consists of 342 boat slips, the City Yachts sales and fuel concession, and parkland, which includes a restroom and two parking lots. The West Harbor consists of the West Harbor marina, the Saint Francis and Golden Gate Yacht Clubs, the Harbor Office Building, and parkland that includes restrooms, a concession stand, and four parking lots. The West Harbor currently includes approximately 326 slips.

The Marina Green, a part of the marina and a major city park, is situated between the East and West Harbors.

Mercedes in a Class All Its Own

2011-06-20T17:15:00.001-07:00

On June 10, Rec and Park accepted a generous gift of $15,625 from Mercedes-Benz USA, enough to fund 125 summer camp scholarships of $125 each in celebration of the 125th anniversary of the automobile.

While Mercedes turns 125 this year, the carmaker’s Gullwing Group International turns 50. Gullwing was founded 50 years ago in San Francisco on June 16, 1961, to preserve and restore the Mercedes Benz 300SL Coupe and Roadster. That same year, they took a photo of the cars at Fort Point, and 50 years later, we were on hand with the folks at Mercedes to help recreate that picture.

On behalf of our department and the thousands of kids who rely on our scholarships each year, I want to thank Mercedes for this great gift.

This gift is very important to us for two reasons. It supports our scholarship program, which is one of our top priorities, and it’s an example of exactly the type of public-private partnerships the department is working to build to help keep our parks clean and our programs accessible.

Scholarships enable RPD to fulfill its mission of providing enriching recreational activities to ALL San Franciscans even those who might not be able to afford our low-cost, high-quality options.

Demand for our scholarships is skyrocketing. Already this year we’ve awarded $450,000 in camp scholarships, compared to $180,000 for all of last year. This is happening because we’ve dramatically expanded and improved our recreational offerings and are reaching out to more people than ever before.

Celebrating Parks, the Western Addition and Partnerships

2011-06-13T12:49:00.000-07:00

The reopening of Hayes Valley Playground on Saturday, June 8, was a huge celebration—a celebration of our city’s 220 parks and playgrounds, a celebration of a new, highly anticipated playground in the Western Addition neighborhood, and a celebration of the power of partnerships.

Since the 1960s, Hayes Valley Playground has provided an oasis for neighborhood children to get out and play. In one of the densest neighborhoods in the city, where the number of parks and open spaces is extremely limited, our parks are often the only places where people can go to play, exercise or just get some fresh air.

The old Hayes Valley Playground was in poor condition and was no longer meeting the needs of the neighborhood. If ever there was a need for a clean, safe and fun park, it was this.

But we couldn’t do it alone.

In an era of limited resources and ever-shrinking budgets, the Recreation and Park Department is relying more and more on our ability to be creative, build partnerships and leverage philanthropic dollars to help us provide the type of world-class parks and playgrounds our residents deserve.

The Trust for Public Land has been a tremendous partner in helping to revitalize park spaces in some of the city’s densest urban neighborhoods and I want to thank them for being such great champions of our parks. In addition to Hayes Valley, TPL is also working to redevelop parks in densely populated, underserved neighborhoods--- Balboa Park in the Excelsior and Boedekker Park in the Tenderloin. Both projects will get underway this year.

Again, this new playground and clubhouse is the byproduct of a number of folks and their desire to make a difference here. Special thanks to the following people:

TPL

Will Rogers - President of The Trust for Public Land

Sam Hodder - Director of California (TPL)

Jennifer Isacoff - Director of Bay Area Parks for People Program (TPL)

Tim Wirth - Former TPL Director of the Bay Area program

Jessica Partch, Philanthropy Advisor

Kim Kowalski, Event Project Manager

Meghan Pecaut, Alejandra Chiesa, Trudy Garber

TPL leadership volunteers & donors

Lead Donors

Levi Strauss Foundation

Wells Fargo Foundation

Banana Republic

McKesson

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Donors

W&E Haas Fund

David B Gold Foundation

Horace W Goldsmith Foundation

Union Bank

MetLife Foundation

City

San Francisco Arts Commission

Recreation and Park Commission

District 5 Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi

Mayor Ed Lee

Former Mayor/Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom

Community

Fatimah Abdul Khaliq and all of the neighborhood residents who participated in the design process

Opportunity Impact

Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association

Rec and Park Staff

Jake Gilchrist, Project Manager

Dawn Kamalanathan, Capital & Planning Director

Steve Cismowski, PSA Manager

Eladio Mateo, Custodial Supervisor

Lev Kushner, Partnerships & Resource Development Team

Take a Hike... Using Newly Uncovered Mount Sutro Trail

2011-06-06T16:32:00.000-07:00

The middle of San Francisco is the last place most people would expect to find a lush, mountainous 19-acre forest teeming with eucalyptus trees, blackberry bushes, owls and woodpeckers, but that’s exactly where folks will find the Interior Greenbelt, adjacent to the 61-acre Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve on Mount Sutro.

The Interior Greenbelt, owned and managed by the Recreation and Park Department’s Natural Areas Program, just reopened this past weekend, thanks to an ongoing partnership with the Sutro Stewards, a volunteer group dedicated to improving and revitalizing Mount Sutro through a variety of trail and plant restoration projects.

The Sutro Stewards, along with Recreation and Park staff, have also worked hard to restore a half-mile stretch of old hiking trail that begins at Stanyan Street and 17th Street in Cole Valley and leads to the Interior Greenbelt and Mount Sutro.

The Interior Greenbelt trail is a pathway into another world. Right smack dab in the middle of urban San Francisco is this breathtaking, lush and natural park land that I would venture to guess most San Franciscans have never even visited... but should.

On June 6, we officially reopened the trail in honor of the 19th annual National Trails Day, which promotes our nation's hiking trails, their surrounding natural areas and the hiking experience.

I want to take a moment to thank all of our park volunteers who’ve helped to uncover one of the city’s most incredible park resources.

Our department continues to rely heavily on the generosity and goodwill of our volunteers, to the tune of 130,000 hours each year. Our ongoing partnership with Sutro Stewards is one of the shining examples of what can be accomplished when we all are compelled to work together toward a common goal.

While Mount Sutro may currently be one of the best kept secrets in San Francisco, I’m happy to say that I’m going to be telling all my friends about this great new trail that starts at Stanyan and 17th and leads them on an adventure to one of the most beautiful park spaces in the city.

To find out more about the Interior Greenbelt or how you can volunteer with Rec and Park, click here.

School's Out, Summer's Here!

2011-05-31T01:22:00.000-07:00

Last week, CBS-5 called Rec and Park’s day camps some of the Bay Area’s best.

With school letting out and thousands of kids raring to go for summer, Rec and Park is primed and ready for another great season.

This summer, we will be offering 67 types of camps, including traditional day camps like Silver Tree and Pine Lake, sports camps and art camps, and exciting new offerings like fishing camp, eco adventure camp and skateboard camp.

There will be room for more than 27,000 camp registrants, which is an additional increase of 15% over last summer.

We are also offering 47 extended care sessions to accommodate the busy schedules of working parents. You can now drop off your child as early as 8:30 a.m. and pick them up by 5:30 p.m.

This summer we anticipate offering more than $300k in scholarships to San Francisco families, because the ability to pay should never be a barrier for kids to enjoy their parks.

Expanded Offerings to Other Age Groups

While the bulk of our camps have historically been geared for kids ages 6-12, this summer, we’ll begin offering camps to kids as young as 3 and programs for teens ages 13-17.

For tots, we are expanding our existing Tiny Tots programs into summer. Camps will incorporate art, sports and movement activities that will help give your tot the building blocks for development.

For teens, we are offering camps that include field trips, improv and theater, community service and social, cultural and educational experiences.

Also, for the 52^nd year, Rec and Park is running its Workreation Program, which gives teens their first paid work experience, offering youth the opportunity to work alongside and learn from our recreation professionals. This summer we are hiring 130 youth from all over the city.

Partnerships

We aren’t doing this alone. We are currently partnering with other city agencies to provide enhanced recreational opportunities for kids this summer.

RPD is receiving funding from the San Francisco Public Library to provide literacy enhancements to our summer camps and programs, "Bringing Literacy to Life." RPD camp and program participants will be able to see, hear, smell, and touch the things that they read about in books and literature.

RPD and Shape-up SF are once again collaborating on a "Soda Free Summer Initiative." All summer camp counselors and instructors will be trained on how to educate children on the importance of exercise and nutrition by using provided written and visual props.

This year, RPD will be conducting one Jr. Giants practice per week and one game per weekend for nine weeks at various fields and rec centers throughout the city. A major component of this year's program will be the educational component, through which, players and coaches are required to attend and participate in an educational class before each game on various topics, including but not limited to, health and wellness, study tips, nutrition, leadership, etc.

RPD will once again partner with the San Francisco Housing Authority to offer housing residents camp and scholarship opportunities at a reduced or no-cost rate. Last summer, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and SF Housing Authority partnered to offer over $200,000 in full camp scholarships for youth living in housing developments in San Francisco.

It’s not too late to register for camp. To browse our entire catalog of camps, visit us at sfrecpark.org or call (415) 831-6800 today.

Golden Girls and Guys

2011-05-27T01:11:00.000-07:00

Population experts predict there will be 50 million Americans age 65 and older by 2020.

The senior population is booming and there is rightfully more attention being paid to a population that is living longer, healthier and richer lives than ever before.

May is Older Americans Month and this year’s theme is “Connecting with the Community.” Our 31^st Annual Senior Prom event on Thursday was a perfect example of how the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department connects with our city’s senior population.

Throughout the year, we provide a wide range of programming for seniors at the Golden Gate Park Senior Center and at many of our recreation centers and facilities throughout the city. Here is a small sampling of some of the exciting programs we’re offering this summer:

Senior Art Expression at Glen Park, Tuesdays from 1-3 p.m.
Senior Ethni-Jazz Lessons at Harvey Milk, Tuesdays from 6-7:30 p.m.
Senior Water Fitness, Wednesdays at North Beach and Balboa pools
Senior Tai Chi at Minnie & Lovie, Mondays and Saturdays from 10 am. to noon

I invite all of you to browse our complete catalog of classes and events for seniors at sfrecpark.org.

Today’s seniors are proving that it’s never too late to Get Out and Play!

Fly Fishing Competition Lures the Experienced and Curious Alike

2011-04-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

SPEY-O-RAMA

If you need additional evidence to demonstrate that Golden Gate Park is the most unique and urban park in America, I have one word for you (sort of). SPEY-O-RAMA. This past weekend, the Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club hosted the Jimmy Green SPEY-O-RAMA in Golden Gate Park, a three-day international competition featuring some of the world’s best fly fishermen and –women. I had the honor of stopping by the event on Friday to meet some of the participants and to participate in the free clinics being offered to beginners. Into the casting pools I waded to learn and practice a few different casts. 10-2. 10-2. A quirky and truly awesome sight, right here in the middle of our beloved Golden Gate Park

Community Clean Team Event at VMD

On Saturday morning, I joined our friends at DPW for the kickoff of another Community Clean Team event. This week, we met at Victoria Manalo Draves Park, a park that was built in 2006 on top of the old Bessie Carmichael School in District 6 and named in honor of a very special San Franciscan. Volunteers took on a number of projects including one at VMD, one at the newly renovated Gene Friend Rec Center, and one at South Park a few blocks away.

The importance of these Community Clean Team events can not be overstated. They bring our city agencies, our volunteers and our communities together to clean our streets, clean our parks and build a sense of pride in our city. The event included volunteers from a number of different community organizations including United Playaz, Recology and the Office of City Attorney Dennis Hererra. Also at the kick-off was Supervisor Jane Kim and Mayoral candidate Joanna Rees.

Who is Victoria Manalo Draves, anyway? In fact she was a gold-medal winning Olympic diver and the first woman to win platform and springboard titles in the same Olympics in 1948. And like many of our nation’s star athletes, she got her start at a public park facility--- the city’s old Fleishacker Pool. Her story serves as an inspiration to all of our kids -- in District 6 and in the entire city--- that greatness can start from humble beginnings. Just over a year ago (April 12, 2010), Mrs. Draves passed away, but her legacy as a pioneer athlete and as a native San Franciscan will live on. And because of that, this weekend’s Community Clean Team event at Victoria Manalo Draves Park meant just a little bit more.

Great Compost Giveaway

Also taking place this weekend was the Great Compost Giveaway, a joint effort by Recology, Rec and Park, the Department of the Environment and DPW to offer up to five gallons of free compost to individuals wielding their own buckets. This was not just any old compost either, but a premium, custom blend that has proven to be a great planting mix for home gardens.

Compost was given away at four sites throughout the city, including Golden Gate Park, Alemany Farm and McLaren Park.

Spring Eggstravaganza

Our Spring Eggstravaganza event is coming this Saturday, April 23, and I encourage all of you parents, grandparents, uncles and aunties out there to bring the little ones to Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate Park. Our staff has been working hard during the past few weeks to ensure a great time for all of you, including egg hunts, carnival rides, jumpy houses, live entertainment and a special rib cook-off competition between members of our beloved police and fire departments.

The cost is $5 per person, which includes access to all of the day’s attractions and activities. Food will be available for purchase and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is helping to provide bike valet services throughout the day.

Proceeds from the event go directly toward supporting our parks and programs citywide.

Randall Museum Receives $5.47M Grant

Some great news came our way last week. The California Department of Parks and Recreation has awarded a Nature Education Facilities grant in the amount of $5,477,194 to the Randall Museum to increase its nature education programming.

The Randall Museum, located in the Corona Heights neighborhood, offers an array of interactive programs emphasizing science, the natural environment, and San Francisco history for toddlers, children, teens and adults. The museum is operated by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and receives additional support from Randall Museum Friends, a private, non-profit organization.

The Prop. 84 monies will allow the Recreation and Park Department, in partnership
with the Randall Museum Friends, to make major site improvements including:

Redesign of the live animal exhibit to portray native animal species in their natural habitats.
Addition of dedicated study stations to the animal exhibit for deeper exploration of topics such as migration, invasive species and pollination
Construction of a new exhibit lobby on the lower floor that will allow the museum to display their extensive Geological and Zoological collections for the first time
Construction of a hands-on science laboratory open to museum visitors

Spring Events Bloom in Our Parks Over the Weekend

2011-04-12T17:24:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air, the Giants are on the field, the Cherry Blossoms are in bloom and stuff is happenin' in our parks. In case you are still hibernating, here's a sample:

Get Out and Get Dirty: Volunteering in Our Parks

Volunteers are out in force all over town weeding, mulching, planting and beautifying. Last Saturday Rec and Park and DPW welcomed over 1200 volunteers. In addition to planting and beautifying projects at the Bison Paddock and North Lake in Golden Gate Park, volunteers also spruced up parts of Ocean Beach and our street medians. Also this weekend we had volunteers gettin' dirty at the Legion of Honor, Duboce Park, the Panhandle, Alemany Farm, Walter Haas Park and Strawberry Hill and the Oak Woodlands in Golden Gate Park.

Every year, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department relies on more than 129,000 hours of volunteer work in our parks and recreation centers. In an era of severely constrained resources, we not only appreciate the goodwill and generosity of our volunteers to help keep our parks clean, but we desperately need it.

I want to thank Starbucks for organizing this event and for its generous donation to our department. These kinds of projects that provide both sweat equity and financial support are exactly the type of public-private partnerships that will help keep our parks beautiful and rec centers open in difficult financial times.

Go ahead, volunteer. Check out sfrecpark.org and click on the volunteer button for more details.

Get Out and Score! Stanford Spring Game at Kezar

On Saturday afternoon, and for the second year in a row, Stanford Football played their annual Spring Cardinal and White exhibition game at historic Kezar Stadium in Golden Gate Park.

Stanford Football has been a tremendous partner over the last two years and I want to thank and acknowledge everyone from Stanford and Rec and Park who had a part in organizing this event and bringing a little “Luck” to our historic stadium. A particular shout-out to Rec and Park Commissioner Meagan Levitan, a Stanford alum, who helped bring the Cardinal to Kezar and was as excited as anyone out there.

(That would be star quarterback Andrew Luck, for the uninitiated.)

There is a rich tradition of football at Kezar--- from the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders who made the field their home in the 1960s and ‘70s, to current and former high school legends and, yes, even Stanford, which played a game here back in 1940.

Stanford Football is the epitome of what college athletics is all about, an example to our young student athletes out there that you can work hard and be successful both on and off the field.

The whole Stanford Athletics family seemed to be out enjoying the event on Saturday, from the cheer squads to athletes from the Stanford basketball and volleyball teams, and even members from the infamous Stanford Band.

City youth had the opportunity to participate in activities throughout the day, including a Pass, Punt and Kick competition before the game and Hall of Fame Women's Basketball Coach Tara Vandeveer did the coin toss before the game standing on top of the Rec and Park's logo at midfield.

It was a great day, and although I’m a Cal man at heart, it didn’t hurt one bit to root for the Cardinal and White for a day.

Check out Stanford's video here.

Get Out and Skate, Stroll and Bike: Sunday Streets

On Sunday, Golden Gate Park offered a great setting for the latest Sunday Streets event, an ongoing citywide, multi-agency effort to encourage people to get out and get active. A number of groups and organizations were on hand to offer free activities to participants, including a bike-powered smoothie machine, dance lessons and yoga.

What a day! With my family we biked Golden Gate Park from end to end (almost). We stopped in the Music Concourse for lunch where we patronized Sam's Chowder House -- one of our exciting new mobile food vendors. And, I had the great pleasure of welcoming the Golden Gate Park Band and its Music Director and Conductor, Michael Wirgler, as it kicked off its 129th season at the Music Bandshell. Do you know, the Golden Gate Park Band has played over 5,000 times at the Bandshell in its storied history? Check out their free concerts at the Spreckles Temple of Music (i.e. the bandshell) every Sunday at 1:00pm through October 9th. Check out goldengateparkband.org for more details.

With great respect for the Band's recital, the highlight for me, without question, was joining the roller skaters along JFK Drive for not one, not two, but THREE successful world-record attempts. Organized by David Miles, aka the Godfather of Skate, my daughter Grace and I took part in the longest in-line skate record. It is unconfirmed, but another record may have been set simultaneously: I believe I may be the first Recreation and Park Department General Manager in San Francisco history who has ever worn roller skates in the official course and scope of his or her duties. It wasn't pretty, but John McLaren, one of our park system's founding fathers, never got his groove on like this...

Get Out and Play

Spring is here, summer is around the corner and there is so much play to be had. This weekend, volunteer opportunities at Boeddeker Park, Portsmouth Square, Victoria Manalo Draves (a Community Clean Team event) and Alemany Farm are ready to be filled. Our Spring Eggstravaganza at Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate Park is set for April 23, featuring carnival rides, games, jumpy houses and entertainment. And, dont forget about the Outside Lands Festival later this summer, featuring Arcade Fire, Phish, Muse and other top acts strumming in the park.

***

SF Botanical Garden Update

On Tuesday, April 12, the Board of Supervisors voted to extend the non-resident fee at the Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park for an additional two years. While it gives us no joy to charge anyone anything to enjoy our parks or attractions, this decision will help keep our rec centers open to the children and families in San Francisco and help support a department staff that is 200 gardeners, 80 craft workers, 60 custodians, 60 rec directors and 30 park patrol officers short.

Without question, this has been one of the most debated issues in our parks in recent memory, and I absolutely understand and appreciate the passion people have shown for their parks on all sides.

But again, we are living in an era of ever-shrinking resources that forces us to make some very tough decisions. Charging non-resident visitors from Lafayette and Atherton a modest fee to support the great resource and living museum that is the Botanical Garden just makes sense.

Whichever side you're on, I hope you'll continue to visit our parks and enjoy this spring season.

Reading and Parks are Fundamental

2011-03-28T02:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the generosity of voters in 2000 and 2008, San Francisco has seen many of its recreation centers, parks and playgrounds across the city renovated in the past decade. As we continue to move through the city to make our facilities better, so too, has the San Francisco Public Library, which is continuing the process of renovating or constructing 24 branch libraries in the city, thanks to a $105.9 million library bond measure approved by voters-- also in 2000.

Like parks and recreation facilities, libraries provide important public services to the public that benefit the quality of life for all. They are essential to our overall health and well being and are invaluable resources for the people who use and rely on them. There is an unmistakable connection between our libraries and parks. No wonder why many of the city’s libraries are found adjacent to our parks and playgrounds.

On Saturday, city librarian Luis Herrera hosted the reopening of the Presidio Branch Library on Sacramento and Bush streets after a $4.1 million renovation that transformed the branch’s 10,000-plus square feet into a state-of-the-art library that meets today’s information and technology needs.

As part of the project, Recreation and Park Department gardeners and members of our new class of gardener apprentices performed the landscape renovation work around the exterior of the building. The results are simply amazing.

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Luis and our fellow city agency on a job well done, and also to thank our gardeners and gardener apprentices for their efforts on this project.

In San Francisco, our libraries and parks will always have a special connection, in practice and in spirit. Check out the new Presidio Branch Library today!

JVS, Downtown High School Team Up with Rec and Park

2011-03-25T14:56:00.000-07:00

Jewish Vocational Services

One of the big reasons I love my job is that recreation and parks provide opportunities to not only connect with nature but to make a very real difference in people’s lives.

For the past six weeks, JVS (Jewish Vocational Services) has partnered with Rec and Park on a six-week internship program for 20 Downtown High School students, teaching them about park stewardship and introducing them to the various careers within our Recreation and Park Department. Over the span of the program, our interns worked in a number of parks and natural areas throughout the city, performing habitat restoration and park beautification work, and learning about habitat conservation.

The program was a huge success, and I thank our Volunteer and Natural Areas staff for helping to facilitate a great session, the first of what I hope is several to come.

There will be a graduation event in late-April and I hope you’ll join me in congratulating and thanking these young folks for the great work they’ve done for our parks.

Make a Difference at your Neighborhood Park

San Franciscans, are you ready to make a difference at your favorite neighborhood park? The Community Opportunity Fund, part of the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond, encourages neighborhoods, community groups and park lovers to submit ideas (less than $250k) to Rec and Park on capital improvement projects at their park of choice.

Your proposal must be a capital project, meaning your park idea must be permanently affixed to the park property and be an investment in the park’s future. Examples of capital projects could be ideas to improve playgrounds, paths, benches, drinking fountains and sports courts. A few ideas that cannot be funded by the COF are events, classes, programs and maintenance work.

The second round of the program has just launched this week. All applicants are required to attend at least one applicant workshop to be eligible.

Wednesday, March 30, 6-7:30pm – Ocean View Recreation Center

Wednesday, April 6, 6-7:30pm – Location TBD (Likely Joe Lee Recreation Center)

Saturday, April 9, 12-1:30pm Harvey Milk Rec Center / Duboce Park

Wednesday, April 13, 6-7:30pm – County Fair Bldg

Applications are due Friday, June 24, at 4pm, and project award notification will occur in late September.

For more information, visit here, or call project manager Jake Gilchrist at (415) 581-2561.

Summer Day Camps

For all of the parents and grandparents out there, summer is just around the corner, and if you’re looking for some great programs to keep your child active and engaged this summer, look no further than the 67 different camps we have available at Rec and Park. Our camps range from traditional day camps like Pine Lake and Silver Tree, to new, exciting camps that serve a variety of interests, including surf camp, shark fishing camp, Camp Improv for teens and Camp Azure for children on the autism scale.

Summer camp registration has just begun. Log onto sfrecpark.org to browse our catalog of camps and find more information on how and where to register.

Soccer, Sharp and Summer Registration

2011-03-01T11:17:00.000-08:00

Soccer and the City

Soccer is easily one of the most popular youth sports in the country, let alone the city. In San Francisco, our soccer fields are booked solid in the after school hours and the weekends are equally as popular. I should know. My daughters are avid soccer players whose teams use our city’s fields every week.

While a 2004 assessment of our city athletic fields found that we needed an additional 35 soccer fields to meet the growing demand for available play fields, we have made great strides in the past six years.

Through our partnership with the City Fields Foundation, we have renovated fields at Garfield Square, Silver Terrace Playground, Crocker Amazon Park, Kimbell Playground and South Sunset Playground, and installed lights at Franklin Square. There are also proposed field renovations at Mission Playground, Minnie & Lovie Ward Recreation Center and the Beach Chalet in Golden Gate Park. In all, these efforts have resulted in an additional 66,000 hours of available play time on our fields.

I’m also happy to report that the Polo Fields, one of our most popular sites for ground sports, is also undergoing a renovation, thanks to a $1 million grant from the state. The project includes the installation of a new irrigation system, new sod, improved drainage and gopher elimination.

When it’s complete, soccer players will have yet another world-class soccer venue to call home.

Update: After some severe weather in November, January and February, the original completion target of mid-March has been delayed. Our staff is currently working to accommodate all youth soccer teams and is working to find alternate venues for adult leagues. If you have a question about your existing field reservation, please call our Permits and Reservations Office at (415) 831-5500.

A Vision for Sharp Park Comes Into Focus

Last week, a working group of land managers, including Dave Holland (San Mateo County Department of Parks); Steve Rhodes (city manager of City of Pacifica); Dawn Kamalanathan (San Francisco Recreation and Park Department Director of Planning and Capital); senior staff from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area; and Amy Meyer, co-chair for People for a Golden Gate National Recreation Area and a former Recreation and Park Commissioner, released its findings on Sharp Park in Pacifica.

The group found that the short-term restoration of the Laguna Salada wetlands at Sharp Park will be the first step in the recovery of the endangered San Francisco garter snake and the threatened California red-legged frog. Restoration efforts would triple the current amount of habitat available to those species by moving built up sedimentation in the wetland area and by forming a connecting channel to nearby Mori Point by moving the 12th hole of Sharp Park’s golf course.

A long-term plan to naturally manage the coastal areas of Sharp Park was found to be the most sustainable and cost-effective approach to creating additional habitat and breeding opportunities for the protected species. A technical study, followed by development of a range of alternatives to be set forth in an environmental document, will explore viable ways of transitioning from the current seawall to a more natural beach and lagoon barrier system.

The working group noted that with consideration of the needs for sustainable species habitat and the more natural function of a barrier beach and lagoon system, the 18-hole golf course could be redesigned to coexist with viable populations of sensitive species in the long term. Any long-term solution would need to address periodic flooding of the residential area.

I want to thank the members of the working group, who all worked intently over the past six months to develop a vision for this beloved park space.

Spring and Summer Registration

Let's get ready to register! Spring registration begins this Saturday, March 5, at 10 a.m. Rec and Park has a wide range of classes available for you and your family, including Adult Boot Camp, youth baseball, Spring Break camps, Caribbean Drumming and more! Sign up online or in person at these 11 locations throughout the city:

McLaren Lodge @ 501 Stanyan Street, (415) 831-6800
Eureka Valley Rec Center @ 100 Collingwood St., (415) 831-6810
Hamilton Rec Center @ 1900 Geary Blvd., (415) 292-2111
Mission Rec Center @ 2450 Harrison St., (415) 695-5014
Moscone Rec Center @ 1800 Chestnut St., (415) 292-2045
Palega Rec Center @ 500 Felton St., (415) 468-2875
Randall Museum @ 199 Museum Way, (415) 544-9600
Richmond Rec Center @ 251 18th Avenue, (415) 666-7020
SOMA/Gene Friend Rec Center @ 270 6th St., (415) 554-9532
Sunset Rec Center @ 2201 Lawton St., (415) 753-7098
Upper Noe Rec Center @ 295 Day St., (415) 970-8061

Also, Summer Day Camp registration begins March 19. Check our website for the new Summer Camp guide coming out in a week. To find out more about how to register, call (415) 831-6800.

Parks 94124

On Saturday, February 26, I visited Joe Lee Rec Center for the kickoff of the new Parks 94124 community group, an effort led by Geoffrea Morris to build community around the parks and recreation centers in the Bayview/Hunters Point area.

The formation of this group has been a long anticpated and I’m proud that we can continue our work to improve our park spaces in the 94124 zip code by working with Geoffrea and her group.

Parks 94124 has upcoming park cleanup days scheduled, including Hilltop Park on March 5, Gilman Park on March 12, Bayview Park on April 9 and Youngblood Coleman on April 16. Those interested in helping clean our parks or joining Parks 94124 can contact Geoffrea at (415) 573-7854 or parks94124@gmail.com.

A Letter Regarding Our Budget

2011-02-21T07:26:00.000-08:00

Dear Fellow Park Users,

February is budget season for city departments, and as the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department moves through its budget planning for the upcoming Fiscal Year (2011-12), I want to take a few moments to let you know where we are and what you can expect from us in the next year or so.

Because we've been dealing with some pretty nasty weather this week, I think it's only fitting to let you know that there are sunnier days ahead at Rec and Park.

This time last year, our staff was grappling with an unprecedented $12.4 million deficit that not only tested us professionally but taxed many of us on a personal level. The deficit was part of an estimated $37 million we were asked to cut over a six-year period dating back to 2005.

However, with hard work from staff, new revenue initiatives and some difficult decision making, we were not only able to weather the storm but actually position ourselves for a rebound.

While we still remain nearly 200 gardeners and 80 custodians short of where we should be and have more than $1.7 billion in deferred maintenance projects, we are starting to reap the benefits from our efforts last year.

We have improved our recreation delivery model, reduced waste-management costs, cut overtime, and worked to reduce our worker's compensation costs by 26% in the current fiscal year.

Our main budget strategy, though, was to avoid as many cuts as possible by generating additional revenue through more special events, more partnerships and more amenities in our parks. For every dollar we raised, it was one less dollar we had to cut.

Events like the Outside Lands concert generated $1 million for the department, enough to pay for two electricians, two carpenters, two plumbers and two roofers. Our expansion of summer day camps resulted in an additional $750,000, enough for nine camp counselors. A non-resident fee at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, although somewhat controversial, guaranteed $250,000 in extra revenue for the department this year (enough to pay for three gardeners) and is projected to bring in $500,000 a year in coming years.

Our strategy is working, and although we've been asked to cut another $4.5 million for this next fiscal year, we're cautiously optimistic that we can meet this challenge by staying with the strategies we implemented last year.

At our four community budget meetings last month, you let us know what services were important to you to protect. Based on that feedback, I'm happy to report that there will be no increase to existing fees for programs or permits. There will be no further reductions to facility operating hours, and, we are actually increasing our scholarship fund by 15% because the ability to pay should never be a barrier for people to enjoy their parks.

We'll also continue to provide the additional amenities in parks that you want, including more food vendors, more special events and improved concessions. Whether you're looking for a hot cup of coffee to enjoy in our parks, or want to rent a bike to travel to other parks in the city, we are constantly trying to enhance your park experience.

In addition to this good news, I want to thank all of you for your continued support of our parks. We know that you're passionate about your parks and ultimately expect them to be clean, safe and fun. As we recover from the toughest financial storm our department has ever faced, we're confident we can continue to provide you and your family with the world-class parks and programs you deserve.

Warmly,

Phil Ginsburg, General Manager

San Francisco Recreation and Park Department

Encouraging Girls in Sports

2011-01-31T16:26:00.001-08:00

Taster’s Choice Girls in Sports Day

On Saturday, more than 200 girls, including my daughters, Sarah and Grace, attended our Taster’s Choice Girls in Sports event at Kezar Stadium and Pavilion. The event, in celebration of the 25th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day, gave young athletes a chance to sample a variety of sports, including golf, volleyball, basketball and track and field, and receive some basic coaching from local coaches and players.

I was extremely proud of our staff on Saturday, particularly program coordinator Melvina Hill, who organized the event and represented our Department well.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day honors the achievements of girls and women in sports and highlights the advancements that have occurred since the enactment of Title IX of the Education Amendments in 1972.

Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs, including sports programs. Since its enactment, female participation in organized sports has increased dramatically. The number of female college athletes has jumped from 31,852, in 1972, to more than 150,000 today. High school girl participation jumped from fewer than 300,000 in 1972 to more than 2.78 million today.

NPC Survey

Results of the Neighborhood Park Council’s 2010 Park User Survey have been released, and I want to take this opportunity to thank our park partner and the more than 1,400 participants who took the time to tell NPC and the Rec and Park Department what you think of our parks and programs.

In the last seven years, our department has been asked to cut $43 million from its operating budget. Given this context, this survey offers us some helpful feedback about how we are navigating the current budget crisis in our parks.

Some highlights:

• 90% of survey respondents support our effort to reduce service cuts through revenue earned from increased park amenities and neighborhood events.
• 93.7% of survey respondents voted in favor of finding community partners to keep our clubhouses open rather than closing them down.
• 86% of survey respondents support foundation and corporate sponsors to help keep parks and recreation facilities well maintained and open with programming.

The survey also helps us understand what park users want and need from our department.

• Only 19.5% said community meetings were a preferred method of receiving information. Half of all survey respondents indicated that the best ways to communicate with park users is through the department’s new and improved website and e-newsletter and by posting relevant announcements at the park site.
• 57% of survey respondents said general park maintenance was their top funding priority.
• 45% of survey respondents would like to see more programs offered and longer operating hours in our rec centers.

The survey points to organizational strengths:

• 80% of survey respondents said Rec and Park takes action in response to their concerns
• 80% of survey respondents said our response to problems associated with revenue generating activities is fair, good or excellent.
• 73% of survey respondents felt our recreation program fees are affordable

And, it points to opportunities for organizational improvement:

• 67% of survey respondents are not aware of our new recreation delivery model.
• 55% of survey respondents think we need to continue to improve our community outreach regarding revenue generation ideas.
• 41% of survey respondents found their park restrooms to be dirty or unappealing to use.

I encourage all of you to take a look at the survey findings and continue to let us know what you think about your city parks.

Stow Lake Boathouse Vote

On Tuesday, February 2, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will decide on a lease with new concessionaire Ortega Family Enterprises to operate the historic Stow Lake Boathouse in Golden Gate Park.

Last year, the Recreation and Park Commission approved the new vendor and the new lease, which guarantees almost a quarter of a million dollars worth of capital improvements to the aging boathouse and ensures that the visitor experience is upgraded at the popular park attraction.

Ortega, which has extensive experience turning around underperforming concessions, and which also has experience working with historic structures, has committed to providing visitors with a new indoor café area, a wide range of healthy, sustainable and affordable food options (including the traditional pink popcorn), and a brand new fleet of boats.

Ortega is the perfect fit for Stow Lake, and I can’t wait for our park users to see how committed they are to retaining the charm and feel of Stow Lake that generations of visitors have come to know and love.

Mid-Year Scorecard

I am proud to present our FY 2010-2011 mid-year scorecard, illustrating our cost-saving measures and increased performance. We have offset some budget cuts by raising revenue, reduced worker’s compensation costs, and reduced overtime. Meanwhile, our park scores are increasing and our new recreation model is reaching more people with more programs than ever before. We could not do this without the support of the community and especially our volunteers, who have given millions of dollars worth of their time and work to the department.

Though our department continues to face serious challenges, we have worked hard to continue our mission of maintaining beautiful parks and providing enriching recreational activities. We look forward to working with you to maintain our city’s parks and recreational facilities, and to keep them clean, safe and fun.

POS at Eureka Valley Rec Center

You asked for it, and it’s here. Point of Sales transactions are happening now at a few of our Rec and Park sites, making it easier for members of the public to drop in to some of our programs and pay on-site.

Eureka Valley Rec Center, Harvey Milk Center for Recreational Arts, the Randall Museum, the Japanese Tea Garden and Richmond Rec Center are sites currently offering POS transactions, and we will continue to assess our sites and implement this service wherever it’s feasible.

Remembering MLK Through Service

2011-01-17T20:41:00.001-08:00

MLK National Day of Service

Monday was a special day for our nation and for us here in San Francisco. While many of us took the opportunity to reflect on this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and even enjoy a little free swimming at MLK Pool, we also had a chance to roll up our sleeves and give something back to our communities. Since 1994, MLK Day has been also recognized as the national MLK Day of Service, when individuals come together to volunteer in honor of Mr. King’s legacy.

On Monday, we partnered with the African American Art and Culture Complex--a community organization dedicated to empowering youth and promoting the arts and local artists-- and several other city agencies, including SFMTA, DPW and the police department, to provide volunteer opportunities to the public.

At Rec and Park, we hosted three volunteer park projects: weeding and mulching at Buena Vista Park, pulling and hauling brush at Tenderloin Recreation Center, and planting new trees at Lake Merced. I was truly impressed with the effort to get a wide range of people into our parks to help out.

Every year, volunteers spend more than 129,000 hours cleaning up and beautifying our park spaces. In an era of severely diminished resources, we need all the helping hands we can get to help keep our parks clean and safe.

Today was an excellent reminder that when we all pitch in, great things can happen.

GGP Volunteer Fair

Speaking of volunteers, next Wednesday, on January 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., we’ll co-host the annual Golden Gate Park Volunteer Fair, an opportunity for the public to learn about all of the exciting ways in which they can volunteer in the park, including park stewardship projects, being a park guide or learning to be a “jungle docent” at the Conservatory of Flowers. The event is free to the public and kicks off in the Conservatory’s Orchid Room. Co-hosts include the SF Botanical Garden, the California Academy of Sciences, the de Young Museum, the Conservatory of Flowers and the San Francisco Parks Trust.

See you there!

The Magnificent Palace of Fine Arts

On Friday, the Palace of Fine Arts officially reopened to the public after a seven-year journey to restore this last remaining jewel from the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition.

In spring 2003, then-District 2 Supervisor Gavin Newsom wrote a column in a neighborhood newspaper urging public support for restoring this incredible symbol of San Francisco’s strength, beauty and resolve. He lauded the effort begun by Mayor Brown and GM Elizabeth Goldstein in 2000 but questioned whether a public-private partnership could work, one in which both government and the community did their part to bring the Palace back to its glory days and keep it there. While optimistic, then-Supervisor Newsom was clear about the challenges. He cited a $3M state grant that had been awarded and then revoked in a budget battle up in Sacramento.

Well, there have been some ups and downs for this project over the past seven years, but Supervisor Newsom’s optimism in 2003 was well founded. The recipe for success in undertaking such an enormous project calls for a lot of patience, an unwavering passion for our park spaces and several dashes of chutzpah in the form of one Donna Huggins, one Hans Baldauf and one Jan Berkfeldt from the Maybeck Foundation.

Here are a few other ingredients that have gone into making this project possible:

7 years
1 great project team from Rec and Park and DPW
4 Project Phases
$21 million
1,200 donors
$2m in actual and in kind support from Rec and Park for the final phase of this project
$500k grant from the California Cultural and Historic Endowment which get us over the hump.
And a long list of individuals from the City family, including former Mayor Gavin Newsom, former District 2 Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier and the Recreation and Park Commission, who have all supported our Project Team members from Rec and Park and DPW from Day One
And, a few happy swans – Blanche, Blue-Boy and Bella (This is a fairy tale ending for all.)

This wonderful and historic restoration project could not have happened if it wasn’t for the public’s partnership efforts and its willingness to trust our commitment and resolve, and I want to personally thank each and every one of the 1,200 donors for their contributions.

Friday’s event was not only a celebration of this beloved jewel, but a victory party for what is a shining example of public/private partnerships.

As the general manager of the Recreation and Park Department, I know first hand the importance of public/private partnerships and the integral role they are currently playing in the survival of our city park system.

In an era of severely constrained resources, government can no longer do it alone. We must continue to find support through philanthropy and the development of these types of public/private partnerships in order for public recreation and our city parks to survive.

The Palace of Fine Arts turns 100 in 2015, and I hope we will all continue to work together to make sure our beloved Palace is endowed and protected with the resources and stewardship it deserves and the ongoing and long term maintenance it will need. If the result of this project is any indication, I am confident we can accomplish this together.

Having a Picnic at Dolores Park is... well, a Picnic in the Park

2011-01-11T13:11:00.001-08:00

Dolores Park remains one of our most popular and vibrant city parks, drawing thousands of visitors each and every weekend who are looking to enjoy the outdoors, exercise or have a picnic with loved ones.

Despite some recent confusion over the Recreation and Park Department's picnic permitting process, having a picnic in the park is still as easy and affordable as ever.

If your party has less than 25 people and you're not looking to reserve a specific picnic area or table in the park, obtaining a permit isn't necessary. You and your group can lay out a blanket and enjoy the day.

If you do want to reserve a spot for your event, or, if you have more than 25 people, we ask that you fill out an easy online application to help ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible.

For all permitted picnics, you would pay a standard fee based on the number of people in your party. For groups under 50 people, the fee is a very reasonable $27.

In addition, for all permitted picnics, we ask that a security deposit of $100 be placed with us to help ensure that the park remains clean, safe and fun for everyone. This is a fully refundable deposit that is returned to you, provided your event is successful and incident-free. Your check is not deposited during this process.

Our staff at Rec and Park is committed to providing the public with great customer service and making it easy for you to use our city parks. If you're interested in having a picnic at one of our 220 parks around the city, give us a call at (415) 831-5500.

(Above photo courtesy of Marcella Guzman via Wikipedia.)

Repost: Chronicle Open Forum on Park Safety

2010-12-13T13:48:00.000-08:00

With the public discussion on park safety park gathering steam, I thought it would be a perfect time for us to repost an Open Forum piece that ran in the San Francisco Chronicle this summer.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/27/ED5R1F3H4E.DTL

Keep San Francisco parks safe by using them
(August 27, 2010)

This past week, Golden Gate Park was at its best: full of hikers, picnickers and museumgoers enjoying time in the sun.

As I walked through the park after work one day, the importance of our open space could not have been clearer. Parks offer a welcome respite where we can socialize, connect with nature and rejuvenate our minds, bodies and spirits.

Fortunately, our city has an abundance of parks and other unique spaces for us to enjoy. These parks, however, are not immune from the challenges of urban living, as the recent incidents of tree and rose garden vandalism, dog attacks and stabbings remind us.

While these few high-profile incidents have caught our attention, we should also be concerned by the lower-profile incidents of illegal behavior that occur in our parks.

Last year, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department spent 3,494 hours and $301,000 abating graffiti in our parks. We repaired vandalized copper irrigation wires to the tune of more than $100,000, and we hauled an alarming 3.31 tons a week of illegally dumped trash and garbage from Golden Gate Park alone.

To address these issues, we are working with the San Francisco Police Department and Chief George Gascón, who has made responsible park use a top priority. We are in constant communication with police, and together we have stepped up public safety measures. In all of our parks, we continue to deter illegal activity with presence and, if necessary, warnings, citations and arrests.

The most important strategy for making our parks safer, however, is to use them.

Three years ago, the soccer fields at Crocker Amazon Park were dilapidated and used only as a last option by recreational athletes and families alike. The fields were often empty and provided a setting that was ripe for criminal activity.

Today, thanks to a multimillion-dollar renovation project and the generosity of the City Fields Foundation, Crocker is teeming with activity. Every day after school, 500 boys and girls swarm the soccer complex for league games and practices. In the evening, another 500 people play on the lighted fields well into the night. While Crocker is certainly not immune to the illegal activities that can be found in parks across the city, it has become a much healthier and safer destination for all.

We are cultivating this type of park activation all over the city. Earlier this summer, we hosted free World Cup viewings with youth soccer clinics at Civic Center Plaza - a site where some have felt unsafe and where few visit for recreation. During the monthlong tournament, tens of thousands of soccer fans of all ages congregated in the plaza to enjoy an exciting, family-friendly atmosphere.

Around the Embarcadero, we brought in a zip line and a unique theatrical production of "Peter Pan" to help activate challenged downtown spaces. This fall and winter, we are also working on an ice skating rink and a bocce ball court so that we can continue to make our parks safer by giving people reason to use them.

At McLaren Park, the second-largest park in the city, we've seen a steady increase in park usage over the past several years, thanks to active community support; lively, family-friendly events at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater; and regular volunteer work parties throughout the week. This summer, we've also launched, on a limited basis, a volunteer mounted park patrol program in the park.

Our department manages 225 parks with a total of more than 3,400 acres - nearly one-tenth of the city's real estate. Most San Franciscans are a quick walk away from their closest park, and we are working to make that park as safe and enjoyable as possible.

Aside from being the general manager of the Recreation and Park Department, I am an avid park user, like thousands of my fellow San Francisco residents. I am a runner who jogs through Golden Gate Park at dawn and a father of two young girls who regularly use our sports fields and playgrounds. The safety of our parks is an issue that cuts very close to home.

We all must work to make our parks safer. Love your parks. Encourage responsible park behavior. Keep an eye out for your fellow park users and immediately report suspicious activity. But most important, get out and play.

Phil Ginsburg is general manager of the SF Recreation and Park Department. Send him your ideas for activating park spaces near you by -emailing the Recreation and Park Department at gm.rpd@sfgov.org.

Celebrating the Holidays with Rec and Park!

2010-12-10T15:28:00.000-08:00

81st Annual Tree Lighting

The holiday season has officially begun! On Thursday, December 9, Rec and Park hosted its 81st annual holiday tree lighting, and this year's event was, without a doubt, one of our best.

A few hundred of our closest friends joined us for an evening of entertainment, family fun and pure holiday spirit. Local musician Ashkon performed his SF Giants hit, "Don't Stop Believin'" and a number of furry creatures joined the party, including Lou Seal, Santa Claude, the albino alligator from the Academy of Sciences, and of course, Santa Claus.

Eighty-one years ago, “Uncle” John Mclaren, our first park superintendent, started a tradition of lighting a mile-long stretch along

Fell Street

and ending here with this Monterey Cypress in front of McLaren Lodge.

Our staff did an amazing job organizing this year's event. Congratulations to them and a happy holiday season to all of you.

Bach and Forth

Pianist Stephen Prutsman performed a spectacular concert on November 27 benefiting Rec and Park’s Azure Program for Children on the Autism Spectrum. Stephen, whose son is autistic, dedicated his talents toward this wonderful cause through a show at Herbst Theatre, featuring music from J.S. Bach fused with contemporary and world styles.

More than $10K was raised for the program, which will help send kids to camp next summer.

Boeddeker/Grants

On the heels of the recent good news of a $4M state grant for the renovation of Boeddeker Playground, we’ve received even more good news. A $200K grant was recently awarded by the Youth Stewardship Council.

The Boeddeker Park project is the result of a partnership with the Trust for Public Land. We’ve worked closely with community members, youth, and local groups to develop a city-approved, community-driven design plan to make Boeddeker Park a vibrant, welcoming resource for a dramatically underserved neighborhood that includes an estimated 6,000 youth residing within a half-mile of the park

The new park will have a basketball court, play areas for children and tots, fitness equipment, a lawn for sports and gathering, a perimeter path, and a brand new clubhouse—all items proposed by the community.

Thank you to the Youth Stewardship Council and its Youth Investment Program, which provides $30 million in funding over ten years to programs that provide outdoor opportunities for underserved youth or enhance parks and recreation areas.

Budget Instructions

As you may know, the Mayor's Office issued budget instructions to city departments this week. They are projecting the city's General Fund deficit for the '11-'12 budget at $379 million. The budget instructions ask departments to make a 10% reduction to General Fund support and to submit an additional 10% contingency reduction plan. As always, the department will have to cover any non-salary cost increases in addition to the General Fund reduction target. As soon as we have crunched the numbers and developed an estimate for next year's budget target, we will update the Commission.

NEN Awards
Last month, at the Neighborhood Empowerment Network (NEN) Awards, I had the honor of presenting the 2010 award for Outstanding Park Volunteer Group to the Panhandle Park Stewards.

The Panhandle Park Stewards, led by neighborhood resident Dale Danley, partners with Asian Pacific Recovery Services and other Panhandle residents on a longstanding cleanup day every second Saturday of the month. The group works with direction from Recreation and Park Department staff, including gardener Guillermo Vasquez and volunteer coordinators, to pull weeds, clean up mud, plant and tend to trees.

The Panhandle is a unique park space in the heart of the city that forms a three-quarters-of-a-mile long panhandle with the east end of Golden Gate Park. In the 1870s, engineer William Hammond Hall used the panhandle area as his experimental grounds to develop a wind-resistant solution for vegetation in the park, often referred to as the Outside Lands because of its wind-swept sand dunes.

Today, the Panhandle is bound by two major thoroughfares--- Oak Street to the south and Fell Street to the north. It is heavily used by families, neighbors, walkers, runners, commuters and visitors alike.

Trash and debris have historically been problems at the Panhandle, but the work by the Panhandle Park Stewards to clean up, beautify and invest their time and energy into the park have truly made a difference in helping the Recreation and Park Department provide a clean, safe and fun park experience for everyone.

The Recreation and Park Department oversees 225 parks and a total of 3,400 acres of green space in San Francisco. Many of our parks have a Friends group or community group associated with them that organizes volunteers and leads several beautification projects, cleanup days and fund raising events throughout the year.

In an era of severely limited resources, it’s all about partnerships and community. We simply can’t do it alone. Our Department relies heavily on the efforts of volunteers. Last year, volunteers donated more than 129,000 hours in support of our department’s parks and programs.

Thanks, Panhandle Park Stewards!

Winter Registration Begins December 18

Register for Winter 2011 classes beginning December 18 at 10 a.m. You can register online or in person at 11 sites around the city.

Winter classes begin January 2, 2011.

We offer scholarships to eligible San Francisco residents through our Recreation Scholarship Fund to cover the cost of recreation programs. To find out if you are eligible, call (415) 831-6800 during business hours or email us at sfreconline@sfgov.org.

Click here to browse the entire catalog or to get more information on registration.

Kicking Off the Holiday Season

2010-11-22T05:47:00.000-08:00

Battle Turkey

One of the perks of being the general manager of Rec and Park is getting to be a guest judge each year at our annual Turkey Cook-Off event, which was held this past Friday at Minnie & Lovie Ward Rec Center in the Ocean View/Ingleside neighborhood.

This is perennially a huge event, and this year was no exception. Facility coordinator Jackie Battle, who’s been organizing and hosting this event for the past 11 years, pulled out all the stops this year and put on an event that I think illustrates exactly what our Department is all about--- community.

More than 250 people, including District 11 Supervisor John Avalos, braved the cold and rain to come out and enjoy holiday fare cooked by staff and teens from ten different recreation centers from all over the city, including Mission, Chinese and Joseph Lee rec centers.

The event has become a point of pride for many of our rec centers, which compete against each other for top awards in three categories: Best Turkey, Side Dish and Dessert. From where I stand, many of our staff could have had careers as chefs, as the food was generally very delicious and whetted my appetite for the coming Thanksgiving week.

Friday’s event was one of those events that truly make me proud to work for Rec and Park. The community had a great time, our staff represented our department and themselves well and everyone went home happy (and full).

Garden Railway Exhibit

The Conservatory of Flowers’ annual Garden Railway exhibit kicked off last week, celebrating Golden Gate Park’s 140^th anniversary.

The exhibit is one of our most popular amongst both the young and young-at-heart. Model trains run through a unique tour of the park’s landmarks, including the Dutch Windmill and Music Concourse. This special one-time-only anniversary edition of the Garden Railway lovingly recreates the gardens, lakes and architectural wonders that have made the Park one of the most visited and cherished urban oases in the country since the 1870s.

All of the landmarks are made of recycled materials, and part of the charm of the exhibit is discovering what each piece was made of.

The exhibit runs through March 13. I invite all you to take your families and loved ones and check it out.

“Bach and Forth” This Saturday

Pianist Stephen Prutsman will perform a benefit concert this Saturday, November 27, at Herbst Theatre, benefiting Rec and Park’s Azure Program for Children on the Autism Spectrum.

Prutsman has put together an eclectic and brilliant mix of classical, contemporary and world music. A renowned artist, he’ll perform this same concert a week later at the Lincoln Center in New York City.

In the first half of the program, the journey uses J.S. Bach's Preludes and Fugues as unique vantage points presenting relationships between Bach and the music of other European composers from Rameau to Schoenberg. The second half ventures even further out traveling back and forth between Bach and the music of our world past and present: Jazz, Indian ragas, folk songs of central Asia, American gospel, Latin American vallenatos, African Hymns... all music sharing much in common with the greatest Western music composer of all time.

Proceeds from the concert will benefit he Department’s Azure Program, which provides activities for children on the autism spectrum. Next summer, Camp Azure will make it's home in picturesque Glen Canyon, as a satellite of our popular Silver Tree day camp. For four weeks starting in mid-July, Camp Azure will be a "camp within a camp" at Silver Tree.

I’m looking forward to the event on Saturday and hope you’ll make time for this singular experience.

To purchase tickets, visit http://www.cityboxoffice.com/.

Wheelchair Basketball

Last Monday, November 15, I joined a group of SF State University students and members of the Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP) for a little basketball at Minnie & Lovie Ward Rec Center. BORP provides and promotes recreational opportunities for children and adults with physical disabilities, so basketball on Monday involved all of us using wheelchairs. Chuck Gill, a member of BORP and the Golden State Road Warriors, treated us to a display of his talents. Chuck is the equivalent
to the NBA's Kobe Bryant when it comes to wheelchair basketball. He single-handedly beat us in a 10-on-1 game at the end of the night.

We're looking at partnering with the Road Warriors to do a tournament in the city in the near future, and possibly using wheelchair basketball as a team building activity for staff.

The college students from State were all students in the university's Recreation, Parks and Tourism class, taught by Rec and Park's very own Lucas Tobin. The event was a perfect illustration of the breadth of recreational options available to people of all abilities.

The Neighborhood Clubhouse Conundrum

2010-11-20T12:23:00.000-08:00

Over the past several months, Recreation and Park staff has participated in numerous community meetings to discuss how best to activate and program our neighborhood clubhouses, given our department's critical staffing shortages. Sitting on our 4,113 acres of open space exist 25 full service recreation centers, 9 swimming pools and 42 smaller community spaces that we call clubhouses. While our recreation centers and pools continue to offer high quality, robust programming and recreational opportunities, these smaller spaces located all over town are emblematic of the challenges we face amidst dramatic budget cuts.

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. But our parks are in trouble. Across the country, budget deficits are decimating urban park and recreation systems. 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. We must either find new sources of funding or new community partners to help us provide programming or we must cut services.

For years, our staff has worked hard to do all it can with limited resources. 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 by scouring our operation for staff efficiencies, including a new gardener apprentice program and a 26 percent reduction in worker’s compensation claims. We’ve also implemented a complete reorganization of our recreation model that saves money, improves the quantity and quality of programming at our recreation centers and asks the public to play an active role in deciding what types of programs are needed at each individual site. But, with more budget cuts on the horizon, I'm afraid we have few moves left to make that will allow us to maintain services without new funding.

The public is already beginning to feel some reductions in service. For one, we no longer have the resources to adequately staff our neighborhood clubhouses. We’re looking for community partners to provide relevant programming at these sites to keep them active, safe and fun. These partners will all offer programming which falls to RPD's four core programming areas: Arts and Culture, Sports and Athletics, Community Services and Extreme/Outdoor Recreation. Existing community partners already provide positive, healthy programming in several clubhouses around the City including, senior programming, after-school youth programming and pre-school for the youngest of our constituents. Examples of current clubhouse partners include: Rec Connect, Boys and Girls Club, Self-help for the Elderly, and a number of community nursery schools.

Because we understand how important clubhouse spaces are in individual neighborhoods we are working hard with each clubhouse community to identify positive solutions. Options include:

1. RPD Identified Community Partner. RPD is seeking out partners for clubhouses who will occupy the spaces the majority of the time to ensure that critical services are being delivered to the community on an ongoing basis and to maintain a user-friendly, safe atmosphere. When potential partners are identified, staff will host community meetings to introduce the potential partner to stakeholder groups. If the programming is deemed a good fit, partners will be given pilot leases. Pilot leases will be no longer than two years in duration and will allow for collaborative assessment of the programming. Community partners that allow for community use of the clubhouse for meetings, rentals and parties are strongly preferred.

2. Neighborhood Identified Community Partner. Neighborhood and community groups can present a proposal to RPD for the programming the clubhouse. The community will identity a lease-holder and determine programming in collaboration with the leaseholder. Under this method, community groups can form an organization to assume primary responsibility for the programming. Pilot leases will be no longer than two years in duration and will allow for collaborative assessment of the programming.

3. Alternative Funding to Support RPD Staffing of Clubhouse. The community and RPD can jointly seek grants or alternative funding sources to support RPD staffing and programming in a clubhouse. It costs approximately $40,000 to minimally staff a clubhouse 20 hours per week and $80,000 for minimum staffing 40 hours per week. Under this model, clubhouse operations will continue only for the duration of the funding.

In the absence of a community partner or alternative funding, clubhouses will remain closed for programming but available for community uses and rentals in accordance with existing policies.

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department's mission is to provide enriching recreational activities, maintain beautiful parks and preserve the environment for the well-being of our diverse community. With unlimited resources we would program all of our neighborhood clubhouses (indeed, all of our facilities) twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Unfortunately, that is not the climate in which we operate and we must make smart choices that best leverage our current staffing and resource constraints. We ask for your understanding, patience and support in advocating for new sustainable funding sources that allow us to maximize community enjoyment and well-being on our properties. To learn more about how you can get involved, please visit www.sfrecpark.org. Get Out and Play!

It's All About Partnerships and Community

2010-11-19T05:22:00.000-08:00

California Street Steps

On Friday afternoon, I joined District 1 Supervisor Eric Mar and a hundred of my closest friends from the Friends of Lincoln Park, the San Francisco Parks Trust and the Katherine Delmar Burke School to celebrate the completion of the first phase of an improvement project on the east side of Lincoln Park.

The California Street Steps, located just outside Burke School at 32^nd Avenue, had fallen into disrepair since their original construction over a century ago. The renovation project, largely funded by a $51K Community Challenge Grant applied for by the Friends of Lincoln Park, as well as a $10K donation from the Burke School, includes the installation of breathtaking tile work by artist Aileen Barr.

The Friends of Lincoln Park and the Burke School community have adopted the California Street Steps as their pet project, often organizing cleanup days on and around the stairs.

Phase 2 of the project will install art tiles on the step risers. The project will complement the recent renovation of the adjacent Lincoln Park Playground, which reopened in April of this year.

The Friends of Lincoln Park, led by Anna Yatroussis and Meg Autry, has been a terrific partner in spearheading this effort, and I want to thank and acknowledge their members for their tireless work. We couldn’t do it without them.

To find out more about this project or to donate, click here.

Fall Fun Day at the GGP Tennis Complex

On Saturday, I joined USTA NorCal and the San Francisco Tennis Coalition for a Fall Fun Day at the Golden Gate Park Tennis Complex, celebrating the facility’s newly resurfaced courts.

These two organizations help support our tennis facilities here in Golden Gate Park and I want to express how grateful we at Rec and Park are for their long-standing commitment to advocate for better recreational opportunities for the public.

I also want to thank and acknowledge Rec and Park employees Lou Manapau and Phil Sleeper for their creativity and expertise in running our tennis programs.

In an era of severely limited resources, it’s all about partnerships and community.

Tennis has had a place in Golden Gate Park for 116 years, and in that time, we’ve had some very famous people call these courts home, including Alice Marble, Helen Wills, Art Larson, "Peanut" Louie, Rosie Casals and Billie Jean King.

These resurfaced courts and our commitment to maintaining and constantly improving this tennis complex will ensure that these courts will be around for another 116 years and future generations of tennis stars will have a place to call home and hone their skills.

Community Meeting on Possible McLaren Park Bike Skills Area

This past Tuesday evening, Rec and Park held a community meeting to discuss ideas for a new bike skills area in McLaren Park.

The area being considered is an unused, partially paved area outside the Glen Eagles Golf Course, along Sunnydale Ave. Rec and Park staff and the San Francisco Urban Riders, a local non-profit, would like to discuss ideas for this project and receive feedback from the community.

The meeting will be held at Crocker Amazon Park Clubhouse, at Moscow and Italy streets, Tuesday night, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

To read more, click here.

Panhandle Park Stewards Wins NEN Award for Outstanding Park Volunteer Group

This week, I had the privilege of presenting the Outstanding Park Volunteer Group Award at the 2010 NEN Awards. The Neighborhood Empowerment Network (NEN) works to connect neighbors community organizations, city agencies and academic institutions to empower people in the community to take leadership roles in helping to make their neighborhood and the City cleaner, greener and better places to live.

I presented this year's award to the Panhandle Park Stewards and its chair, Dale Danley. This group has a longstanding commitment of cleaning and greening the Panhandle. The Panhandle is a 3/4 mile stretch at the east end of Golden Gate Park. With 66 different species of trees, the Panhandle was William Hammond Hall's laboratory during the creation of Golden Gate Park in 1870. In the Panhandle, Hall was able to test which types of trees best protected vegetation within the park from wind and sand dunes.

Last year, volunteers dedicated more than 129,000 hours to improving our parks and programs. This is especially noteworthy given the city’s current budget challenges. You can help volunteer in any number of park beautification work parties throughout the week, including events at Mountain Lake Park, Boeddeker Park, Glen Canyon, Buena Vista Park and Crocker Amazon.

To find out how you can help, click here.

Park Scores and Prop 84

2010-11-12T03:49:00.001-08:00

Park Scores Improve

The Controller's Office has just released its 09-10 Parks Maintenance Standards Report. Our scores improved from last year despite ongoing critical staffing shortages.

The citywide average score went from 87.3 to 89.7, the fifth year in a row our scores have increased. More than half of parks scored 90 percent or above, and most importantly, the gap between average scores for our highest scoring neighborhoods and our lowest scoring neighborhoods is closing.

Read the entire report here.

Prop. 84 Grants

Earlier this week, the state announced that SF Recreation and Parks was awarded a total of $6.7M in Prop. 84 grants toward two park projects--- the development of a new park at 17^th and Folsom in the South of Market area and the renovation of Boeddeker Park in the Tenderloin.

These grant awards are especially significant given this era of limited resources and will provide badly needed park space in two of the most densely populated areas of town, where there is less than .39 acres of open space per 1,000 residents.

The 17th Street and Folsom Park Development Project proposes to develop 0.78 acres (34,000 square feet) of property into a dynamic park space for a growing SOMA community. The project is considered an Eastern Neighborhoods priority project and was the result of several community meetings coordinated by the City and the People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights (PODER) in 2009 and 2010. The Statewide Park Development Program grant funds will cover $2.7 million in park development costs.

A grant of $4 million was awarded for the Tenderloin’s Boeddeker Park Renovation Project. The Trust for Public Land (TPL), which is partnering with Recreation and Parks on the project, has also donated $1 million in funds and services for community outreach, project design and will be donating construction management services. The project will eliminate interior fencing, open views through the park, enhance the lighting, increase the sense of safety and improve efficiency of park operations.

California Street Steps

Last Friday I joined the Friends of Lincoln Park and District 1 Supervisor Eric Mar to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the California Street Steps Improvement Project.

Friends of Lincoln Park has led the charge in trying to upgrade this area, and the first phase includes the reconstruction of the original form of the top bench wall and placement of beautiful handmade tiles on its surface.

The stairs are located at 32^nd Avenue and California Street.

To read more about the project, click here.

The Case for Food Carts in City Parks

In case you haven’t seen it, here’s our recent op-ed on food carts in city parks, and the SF Chronicle’s editorial on the same subject.

Scaregrove Provides Thrills, and so do the Giants

2010-10-25T01:03:00.000-07:00

Scaregrove 2010

On Friday, thousands of Halloween revelers braved a little bit of wet weather for our second annual Scaregrove event, a family-friendly event featuring carnival rides, giant inflatable jump houses, live entertainment, haunted houses and hay rides. This is fast becoming one of our most popular events and one that will easily become a San Francisco tradition.

I want to take the opportunity to thank our partners, the San Francisco Parks Trust, for helping to host our event this year, and District 4 Supervisor Carmen Chu, who was on hand to support our event as well as to organize a Halloween costume drive, which collected costumes for kids in the Sunset District area.

But my biggest thanks goes to my staff, who once again pulled off this enormous event on their own. They all put their hearts into planning this event and the result was a park full of happy customers.

Check out some news coverage on the event.

Moscone Rec Center Art Dedication

On Saturday, I joined Luis Cancel of the San Francisco Arts Commission, District 2 Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier and local artist Kent Roberts at Moscone Recreation Center to help dedicate Roberts’ civic art piece, Passage, a monument to the ships that carried early settlers from around the world into San Francisco Bay

I want to thank Luis Cancel and the San Francisco Arts Commission for all they do to support public art and enhance our parks spaces for the community at large.

Parks and civic art are the perfect pairing and have a rich history together here in San Francisco, including the Commission’s oldest work of art, the bronze Buddha in the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, which dates back to around 1790 and which was placed in the park in 1943.

Today, public art is an integral part of our park and recreation facility renovations, including Moscone, which was renovated just two years ago.

I’d like to also thank artist Kent Roberts for this fine piece of artwork that will grace our park for generations to come.

311 Complaints Being Resolved at Mission-Dolores and Duboce Park Area

Park Service Area staff have been on a campaign to resolve outstanding 311 complaints in our parks. PSA Six, which includes parks in the Castro, Noe Valley and the Mission have dropped from a high of 160 in the month of August to approximately 25. We resolved 50 311 requests over the last two weeks. KUDOS to the pSA 6 team for prioritizing community feedback through our 311 system.

Go Giants

The Cardiac Kids have done it again! The San Francisco Giants, who took their fans through yet another gut-wrenching (read: thrilling) game on Saturday, won the National League baseball pennant and are headed to the World Series, facing off against the Texas Rangers beginning Wednesday here in the city. A handful of our park sites, including Coit Tower, the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate ParkCivic Center, will remain decked out in appropriate colors for the next week or so in support of our beloved home team!

Fear the beard! Go Giants!

A Shake Out, A Signing and the San Francisco Giants

2010-10-22T09:07:00.000-07:00

California Shake Out Drill

DROP! COVER! And HOLD ON! On Thursday, Rec and Park staff participated in the Great California Shake Out drill, a statewide effort to highlight the importance of earthquake preparedness and safety. In the event of disasters, Rec and Park employees and facilities play critical roles in ensuring the public’s safety. Thanks to the Department of Emergency Services as well as the Fire Department for heading up this effort locally.

Gene Friend Rec Center Emergency Shelter

Speaking of which, Gene Friend Recreation Center in the South of Market area is currently the site of an emergency shelter, housing 15 people who were displaced by a three-alarm fire at Hyde and Bush streets earlier this week. We anticipate that the shelter will be in place until Saturday afternoon and are happy to assist in any way we can.

Apprentice Program Signing

On Wednesday, Rec and Park joined Laborers’ Local 261, DPW and the Mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce Development to officially sign an agreement for the state’s first Certified Horticultural Worker Apprentice Program, which will help develop the next generation of gardening professionals. Next month, we’ll welcome the first 10 apprentices to Rec and Park.

I want to thank Local 261 from top to bottom for their leadership and support throughout this process. We’re proud to partner with them on such an important program.

Scaregrove

We’ve been promoting our second annual Scaregrove to you for almost two months now, and the day has finally arrived. I invite all of you to join us at Stern Grove for an amazing family-friendly event that features carnival rides, giant inflatables, haunted houses, hay rides and live entertainment. Tickets are $8 for an all-access pass. You can purchase tickets at the gate.

Giants Fever

Finally, Go Giants! The city has Giants Fever and what better way to support the home team by showing our colors. The Giants are fond of saying "There's Magic Inside." As these pictures illustrate, there's also magic outside--- Coit Tower, Coservatory of Flowers, Conservatory Floral Clock and Giants flags at Civic Center...

Another Busy Weekend in San Francisco Parks, October 16-17

2010-10-18T16:42:00.001-07:00

Phew. It was another busy weekend in San Francisco parks.

Dogtoberfest—On Saturday, my dog Barney and I joined the Friends of Upper Douglass Dog Park for its annual Dogtoberfest event, which included a doggie beauty contest, dog treats and human treats, and a ribbon cutting ceremony in honor of the park’s new dog gate, for which the Friends helped raise nearly $10,000. Barney was oblivious to the new gate -- but there were lots of happy dog owners very pleased with this pragmatic new amenity. Congrats to Friends of Upper Douglass Dog Park for your, well, doggedness, in seeing this project through to completion.

Jimmy's Car Show -- After Dogtoberfest, I headed over to Jimmy's car show picnic in Golden Gate Park's Speedway Meadow. As you may recall, a robust debate took place last year about whether the meadow is an appropriate venue for the event. Ultimately, event organizers and the Department collaborated to allow the event to continue at the same location. Initial reports confirm my own observations about this year's picnic -- it was well managed, respectful of the park...and really cool.

CommunityGrows at Koshland Park--- Perhaps my favorite event of the weekend was a fundraiser for CommunityGrows, which operates the community garden at Koshland Park. CommunityGrows is an environmental education program serving high-needs youth, especially those living in public housing in San Francisco. Youth acquire the necessary skills to live a healthy life through garden education, nutritious cooking and eating, and green jobs training. Koshland Park includes one of the 40 community gardens under the city’s purview, and in many ways, gardening is the perfect metaphor to describe the colorful history of Koshland Park.

In 1973, a terrible fire burned down an apartment building that once stood here. From the ashes, and through the leadership of the community and the generosity of the Koshland family, a neighborhood park was created. In the 1980s and -90s, the park unfortunately fell into disrepair as the community struggled with some very serious social challenges. The park and surrounding neighborhood were at the center of what was considered one of the most dangerous and crime-ridden areas in the city. But in the early part of this decade, the community stepped up yet again and reclaimed this park for its residents and families. By nurturing and caring for it, and through the generosity of the Koshlands that resulted in a major renovation, the community has seen this park blossom into a positive, active hub in the neighborhood that offers neighborhood kids a clean, safe and fun place to learn and spend their time.

I want to thank Barbara Wenger and CommunityGrows, which has provided a shining example of positive, active use of our park spaces. I’d also like to thank the Koshland family, who back in 1976 and again in the early 2000s, planted the seeds for public-private partnerships in support of our park system.

San Francisco Fall Lacrosse Classic--- My last stop on Saturday was at historic Kezar Stadium. John Hopkins University squared off against the University of Notre Dame in the Bay Area Youth Sports' Foundation's second annual lacrosse event. Notre Dame won a thrilling match, 10-7. Approximately 10,000 fans showed up for the event, which was preceded by youth clinics run by the college players and coaches. All proceeds from the match benefited BAYS Foundation, which provides opportunities and increased access for under-served youth to participate in organized sports in the Bay Area.

Volunteer Events--- Each weekend, volunteers are out in force helping to beautify and enhance our park spaces. This weekend was no different. In all we had eight volunteer work events in our parks, including Alemany Farm community garden, Mt. Olympus, Boeddeker Park, Laurel Playground, Glen Canyon and Golden Gate Park. Each year, our Department relies on more than 129,000 volunteer hours in our parks and programs. Our hats are off to all of those who continue to help make our parks better for everyone.

Hootenanny on the Hill--- As if reading about Saturday doesn't leave you exhausted, on Sunday the Randall Museum Friends hosted its annual Hootenanny on the Hill fundraiser. Guests were treated to crafts, games and entertainment, including square dancing and local honky-tonk cow punk favorite Gen 11.

And next weekend....it's Scaregrove!!!!!--- Don't forget. This Friday, October 22, from 4-9 p.m., bring the family out to Stern Grove for our second annual Scaregrove event, featuring carnival rides, giant inflatables, hay rides, a haunted house, live entertainment and food for sale. There’s fun for the entire family, so I hope to see all of you and all of yours out there on Friday evening. You can purchase tickets at the gate ($7, all-inclusive) or call us at (415) 831-6800 for advance purchases. For more info, visit us at sfrecpark.org.

And lastly.......GO GIANTS!!!!

Around the Corner

2010-10-14T23:44:00.000-07:00

I invite all of my two-legged and four-legged friends to join me on Saturday for what promises to be a great time at Upper Douglass Dog Park. The Friends of Upper Douglass Dog Park will host its annual Dogtoberfest event, featuring a doggie costume contest, silent auction, raffle and treats (for dogs and humans), from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. At noon, we’ll help celebrate the park’s new double dog gate, for which the Friends of Upper Douglass Dog Park raised and donated $10,000. Upper Douglass Dog Park is located at 27^th and Douglass streets.

Also on Saturday, our Department will join in the rededication of a plaque at the Legion of Honor, honoring the Kanrin Maru, the first Japanese ship to land on American soil. This year marks the 150^th anniversary of the ship’s maiden voyage to San Francisco, which started a special relationship between Osaka and San Francisco. On Saturday, at 10:30 a.m., our staff will be on hand to rededicate the plaque, which had been missing.

Next Friday, October 22, from 4 to 9 p.m., we’ll be hosting Scaregrove at Stern Grove, our annual Halloween family event featuring carnival rides, giant inflatables, hay rides, live entertainment and food for sale. Cost is $8 per person for an all-access pass. For more information, visit us online at sfrecpark.org or call us at (415) 831-6800.

HSB a Home Run!

2010-10-04T17:03:00.000-07:00

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

What a weekend for San Francisco baseball fans and music lovers alike! Our hometown Giants win the pennant and Warren Hellman and the gang hit it out of the park with yet another wonderful weekend of music at the 10th Annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival.

Hellman has gifted this concert to the city for the past 10 years-- a three-day festival featuring some of the world's most popular bluegrass acts (and beyond!). This year, we were treated to the sounds of Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys, the Ebony Hillbillies, T-Bone Burnett, Robert Earl Keen, MC Hammer, Patti Smith and Randy Newman.

Also, as an added bonus, Mayor Gavin Newsom greeted Mr. Hellman on stage on Saturday to accept yet another generous gift from Mr. Hellman--- $73,000 to upgrade Speedway, Lindley and Marx Meadows in Golden Gate Park.

This gift is especially noteworthy given the current condition of the existing irrigation system, which is antiquated and ineffective due to repeated vandalism. The gift will ultimately save precious water resources, improve staff efficiency and help make the meadows more accessible to the public.

Thank you, Mr. Hellman, for your continued generosity and for another great HSB concert.

And thank you, Giants, for pulling it out on the last day of the season!

Fall Program Registration Going On Now!

Session 2 of our fall programs began this past Saturday, and programs are already filling up quickly. In just two days, we've registered more than 1,700 people in our classes for the second session. To date, we've tallied more than 3,100 registrations for fall (Session 1 and 2).

Basketball, tennis, arts and crafts, tiny tots and more! Join the fun at your neighborhood recreation center! Check out our program schedule here: http://sf-recpark.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=418

If you want more information about registration, please call (415) 831-6800 during business hours or you can send us an e-mail at sfRecOnline@sfgov.org.

Our department also offers scholarships to eligible San Francisco residents though our Recreation Scholarship Fund, because the ability to pay should never be the determining factor when it comes to enjoying our parks and programs. To find out if you are eligible, please call 831-6800 during business hours or email us at sfreconline@sfgov.org .

Back to Rec Night

An estimated 3,500 people flocked to their local recreation center and swimming pool on September 29, when the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department hosted its first ever Back to Rec Night open house event at 33 recreation centers and swimming pools across the city.

Participants were encouraged to meet staff, sample recreation programs and receive information on how they could become more involved at their recreation facility.

I was able to stop by at a half-dozen sites throughout the evening, including Minnie & Lovie Ward Recreation Center and Mission Recreation Center, which alone had more than 250 visitors playing sports, enjoying arts and crafts and eating barbecue.

Other sites offered demonstrations of the diverse programs available at Rec and Park, including boxing, dance, photography and ceramics.

Our department provides a robust selection of programs for the entire family, from movement classes for tots all the way to dance classes for seniors. Back to Rec Night was an excellent opportunity to showcase some of the exciting things going on at Rec and Park. I’m really proud of our staff for pulling this off. This will definitely become an annual event.

Registration for the next round of fall programs is happening now. The public can register for family accounts and sign up online at www.sfreconline.org.

The Department is also launching new Community Recreation Councils at all recreation centers and swimming pools as part of its recent organizational restructuring. Seven members from the public, including a youth representative, will meet monthly and offer direct feedback to the department on the types of programs that are needed and wanted at their particular facility. The process for these councils is just underway and will likely be in place by spring of 2011.

Scaregrove on October 22

As we officially move into fall, our Halloween events are sure to be a hot topic. I invite all of you to participate in our second annual “Scaregrove” event at Sigmund Stern Grove on October 22. We’ll have some ghoulish fun waiting for the entire family, including carnival rides, games, live entertainment, hay rides, a haunted house, food for sale and large inflatable jump houses. The cost is $8 per person, which will go toward the maintenance and operation of your city parks. For more information, click here or visit us at our new website: sfrecpark.org.

People Behaving Badly

This summer was an especially brutal season for our plants and trees in Golden Gate Park. In total, more than 75 trees and rose bushes were vandalized in our parks, including 15 elms in the Music Concourse alone.

On October 1, we discovered some heart-wrenching vandalism at the Golden Gate Park Golf Course, a nine-hole track that is beloved by golfers of all ages and abilities.

The greens and fairways on holes 6, 7 and 8 were heavily damaged by a vehicle, with the seventh green, in particular, destroyed beyond all recognition. This wasn’t a case of a wayward driver taking an unexpected detour through our golf course. Someone deliberately made a point of tearing up and destroying our golf course by using it as their own off-road course.

This senseless vandalism in our parks infuriates all of us, especially considering how hard our staff works to keep our parks clean and beautiful. Joe Faulkner, our gardener out at the golf course, has single-handedly maintained the course at a very high level for years.

Police from Richmond Station were on scene to examine the site and are following a number of leads that will hopefully lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible.

Early estimates of the damage are at least $75,000, and when these vandals are caught, we’ll make sure every penny of that is repaid to the city.

In the meantime, I ask all of our park users to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police, who can be reached at (415) 666-8000 or SFPD's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444. The public can also send a text message to TIP411.

Events This Weekend

2010-10-01T12:39:00.000-07:00

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass starts today! This year marks the tenth year of this free concert in Golden Gate Park, featuring some of the top bluegrass artists in the world, including Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys, the Ebony Hillbillies, T-Bone Burnett and Robert Earl Keen. Of course, this is hardly strictly bluegrass, so you can also enjoy the sounds of MC Hammer, Patti Smith and Randy Newman.

A huge thank you is owed to Warren Hellman, who has given the city this gift each year for the past 10 years. Those who wish to thank Mr. Hellman can visti the center information booth on JFK Drive between the Arrow and Rooster Stages, where there will be an HSB scrapbook to write your comments.

Fall Program Registration Begins Saturday

Session 2 of our fall programs begins October 10, and you can begin registering for classes tomorrow, October 2.

Basketball, tennis, arts & crafts, tiny tots and more! Join the fun at your neighborhood recreation center! Check out our program schedule here: http://sf-recpark.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=418

If you want more information about registration, please call (415) 831.6800 during business hours or you can send us an e-mail at sfRecOnline@sfgov.org.

Our department also offers scholarships to eligible San Francisco residents though our Recreation Scholarship Fund, because the ability to pay should never be the determining factor when it comes to enjoying our parks and programs. To find out if you are eligible, please call 831-6800 during business hours or email us at sfreconline@sfgov.org .

It's a Zoo Out There!

2010-09-28T11:04:00.000-07:00

Sunset Community Festival

On Saturday, friends and neighbors in District 4 celebrated the 10^th Annual Sunset Community Festival, a day of live entertainment, demonstrations by local martial arts groups and food from local businesses.

It was a great way to meet our neighbors in the Sunset and build a sense of community amongst the diverse Sunset District crowd.

The event was hosted at Sunset Recreation Center, which, by the way, is due for an extensive makeover through the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond. We are dedicating nearly $14 million to renovate the facility, which currently provides visitors with a large recreation center with a gymnasium, community rooms and outdoor amenities that include two tennis courts, a basketball court, a baseball field, children’s play areas and a small community garden.

After years of use, the park needs repairs to its basic facilities, amenities and landscape. Thanks to the unified efforts of the community, we will be addressing these needs and ensuring that this local treasure will continue to promote good health and community togetherness for decades to come.

Presidio Heights Playground Celebration

On Saturday, the Friends of Presidio Heights Playground hosted a barbecue event celebrating the recently completed renovations to the park. The Friends of Presidio Heights Playground raised $875,000 towards the renovation of the playground.

PHP was dilapidated and had not been updated since 1969; was not ADA compliant; and was rat infested. A blocked sewer pipe had flooded the park’s play sand area.

Beginning in 2005, six women formed a volunteer group to pursue renovation of the park. Starting in 2006, the community group solicited input on a schematic design and began seeking community support for the renovation, which would need to be 100% privately funded.

Fliers, neighborhood newsletters, mothers groups, and email lists inspired action and consensus, and plans were unanimously approved at a community meeting in 2007.

The new park includes a rock climbing structure, picnic and toddler area, new seating, play equipment and swings, and updated ADA-compliant restrooms and entry ramp.

This is a perfect example of a public-private partnership. PHP was 254th on the list of parks to be renovated. Without the efforts of the community and these six women, this would not have been possible.

Lana Adair
Melissa Barber
Meg Bertero
Lucy Hume Koukopoulos
Leigh Maurus
Amy Hall McNamara

Family Day at the Zoo

On Sunday, we hosted an employee/family appreciation day at the zoo for our hard working Rec and Park staff. This year has presented some pretty huge challenges to our department but thanks to this great bunch of employees who work with me, we’ve been able to weather the storm and actually position ourselves for some great things ahead.

As a department, we continue to do more with less. Our park scores have never been higher. We’ve lowered our worker’s comp costs, reorganized recreation and are getting people to use our parks more than ever.

In just over a year working with and getting to know everyone in the Rec and Park family, I can honestly say that I wouldn’t want any other group of employees with me.

The day also provided opportunity to acknowledge some familiar faces who recently retired from our department. Plants from the GGP Nursery were selected to honor our retirees and to thank them for their years of service. They will always be part of the Rec and Park family.

A huge thank you is owed to Peggy Dohrman, who did a terrific job organizing the event.

The zoo, by the way, is looking better than ever. Stop by and check out its new Rainforest Maze exhibit. The kids will love it.

Back to Rec Night

On Wednesday night, friends and families will be able to stop by any one of 33 recreation sites across the city for Back to Rec Night. Modeled after our school district’s Back to School Night, this is a chance for kids, adults and seniors to sample our recreation programs, meet the staff at their local recreation center, and learn how they can get involved. It’s going to be a fun night and I invite all of you to come on by.

Here’s more info.

Party for the Parks, Tennis Courts and Kimbell Athletic Field

2010-09-26T10:02:00.001-07:00

A huge thank you is owed to all of the partygoers who joined us last week at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park for Party for the Parks, a fundraiser hosted in conjunction with the San Francisco Parks Trust. After saki and cocktails in the Garden the event moved into a tent behind the bandshell where we ate, drink and danced with the help of DJ Spider -- all in the name of loving our parks.

More than 720 people attended in all, including members of 20 of San Francisco’s First Families. A total of approximately $400K was raised from the evening, making the event a huge success for our parks. Commission President Mark Buell, gavel in hand, presided over the live auction, which brought in a total of $25K.

I want to thank the Parks Trust for their continued efforts in supporting our park system. With our department facing unprecedented cuts in the last few years, our parks need a network of supporters and advocates more than ever.

***

This past weekend, I joined the San Francisco Dahlia Society for its annual picnic. The weather was wonderful and I had such a great time. I'm even considering becoming a member of the society. By the way, did you know the dahlia is San Francisco's official flower?

***

On Saturday, September 18, the non-profit Youth Tennis Advantage hosted a special ribbon cutting event celebrating the recent resurfacing of the tennis courts at McLaren Park.

The court resurfacing project was made possible by a $50K gift from the Tiret Family Memorial Fund and the Olympic Club Foundation, as well as $25K from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and the S.F. Tennis Coalition.

The courts at McLaren were repainted in U.S. Open blue, and Phase 2 projects may include the addition of a grandstand to help bring future tournaments to the venue.

A special thank you goes to Loretta Conway and Youth Tennis Advantage. YTA offers free tennis lessons to youth and an after school program that provides tutoring, life skills development and tennis lessons to its participants.

***

On Sunday, September, 19, we officially reopened Kimbell Athletic Field.

A year ago, the PAL Seahawks football players who practiced here had to dodge more than just tacklers. They had to sidestep potholes and puddles as well.

Now, Kimbell not only has the best sports fields in the neighborhood, it has some of the best fields in the entire city.

The new fields here are lined for a number of sports—baseball, softball, football, soccer and lacrosse.

The turf will help reduce injuries due to potholes, save water and will increase the number of play hours here at Kimbell by 3,580 hours a year, which is almost 100 hours a week.

All of this is due to tremendous work of the City Fields Foundation and some San Franciscans who really care about our parks and whether or not young people like you have clean, safe and fun places to play.

Since 2006, the City Fields Foundation has helped renovate five athletic fields all across the city. When they’re done, they will have donated $25 million to the city and renovated seven fields in San Francisco, including the ones at the Beach Chalet in Golden Gate Park and Mission Playground.

So far, these fields have allowed for 66,000 more hours of play a year to San Francisco athletes, especially important when you consider that a recent assessment of our fields showed that we needed an additional 60 fields to meet current demand.

I want to take the opportunity to thank the City Fields Foundation for all of their work. Our city depends on the generosity of people like you to make our parks better for everyone.

And, yes, that's the Mayor taking a few swings in the batting cage.

***

The Renaissance of Golden Gate Park's Music Concourse

2010-09-26T10:02:00.000-07:00

Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse turned 110 last week, and what better way to celebrate that milestone than with a fete of the Concourse’s recently renovated fountains?

On Friday morning, September 10, more than 120 people gathered to see the four fountains flow again for the first time in more than six years.

The four historic fountains were renovated thanks to more than $1 million from the state’s Prop. 40 funds. The project was also supplemented by the City’s Open Space reserve funds.

The fountains--- two Charles Page fountains (the first fountains to be installed in the Concourse in 1914), the Phoebe Hearst Fountain and the large Rideout Fountain at the concourse center--- underwent an extensive restoration, both above ground and below. Decades of wear had gradually worn down their foundations, and time had outdated their infrastructure.

Due to the historic value and aesthetic complexity of the restorations, local artist Manuel Palos was appointed to meticulously restore the historic features of the fountains.

The design team was also able to incorporate an innovative approach to improve the water efficiency of the fountains. Since the public can potentially come into contact with the fountain water, San Francisco’s Department of Public Health requires that the fountains use potable water. However, chemical treatment and recirculation of the water would impact the historic sculptures and copings, and water treatment would require significant infrastructure within the historic concourse bowl. To both preserve historic fountain elements and minimize aesthetic impacts to the concourse bowl the design team developed an innovative solution that does not require treatment or draining water to the sewer after use in the fountains. In the new water system, potable water will be delivered to the fountains, and then will be pumped into the irrigation mains for a second use as irrigation water in Golden Gate Park, thus reusing available water and reducing strain on limited and precious water supplies.

The Concourse has a unique place in San Francisco history. In 1894, San Francisco hosted the California Midwinter Exposition in Golden Gate Park . Over 180 structures representing 18 foreign countries and every county in California were erected for the event including our very own Japanese Tea Garden, which is, as you know, still intact today.

Six years later, in 1900, the city celebrated the official opening of the park’s Music Concourse area, which quickly became the hub of activity in the park.

Today, the Concourse has enjoyed a renaissance, with more than $12 million invested through Prop. 40 funds. Recent projects include the restoration of the Bandshell and an overall restoration of the Concourse that saw the elimination of three acres of asphalt into a more welcoming, family-friendly park space.

I want to thank all who played a role in supporting the Music Concourse area and helping to shepherd the projects through:

Recreation and Park Commission

Mark Buell

Gloria Bonilla

David Lee

Tom Harrison

Concourse Authority

Nancy Connor

Murat Eskicioglu

Mel Lee

Anderson Pugash

Chris Duderstadt

John Buchanan, de Young

Greg Farrington, Academy of Sciences

District 1 Supervisor Eric Mar

State of California (Prop 40 voter approved funds)

Open Space ReservesHistoric Preservation CommissionDepartment of Public Health Design Team:Joseph Chow Associates ( Chuang-Ming Liu , Architect)Department of Public Works (John Dennis, Landscape Architect)Contractor:Aquatic Environments (Greg Castillo, Lance Dohman, George Fullerton)Historic Preservation Subconsultant- Manuel Palos Studio (Maunuel Palos)Construction Management:Department of Public Works (Hua Mei)Project Management:Recreation and Park Department (Rick Thall)

If you haven’t been around in a while, I invite you and your family out to the beautiful new Music Concourse area to visit the museums, stroll through the Tea Garden and enjoy the sunshine. When I turn 110, I hope to look as good.

GGP's Music Concourse Fountains Are a Turn On

2010-09-01T06:26:00.001-07:00

A few months ago, we started a renovation project on the four historic fountains at the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park with the ultimate goal of turning on the fountains for the first time in six years.

The job is complete, thanks to $1.1 million from the state’s Prop 40 fund and about $400,000 from our Open Space reserves.

The project comes on the heels of a larger renovation of the entire Music Concourse area that eliminated three acres of paving, created a more pedestrian-friendly space and historically restored the concourse. The Spreckels Temple of Music was re-roofed and its decorative stone features were rejuvenated. New site furnishings, including light fixtures, bike racks, drinking fountains, historic touches, interpretive signs and trash receptacles were also added.

In all, the Music Concourse received more than $12 million from the state, Open Space reserves and $75,000 from Partners in Preservation Grant.

With the renovations of the de Young Museum and the Academy of Sciences also complete, the Music Concourse is now what everyone envisioned: a beautiful, welcoming plaza area that is teeming with activity throughout the week.

On September 10, at 9:30 a.m., we’ll be hosting a celebration event marking the completion of the fountains as well as the entire Concourse area. There’ll be a few brief remarks, entertainment and a small fountain ceremony. I invite all of you to come out and see the splendor of the new Concourse. You’ll like what you see.

Stow Lake Boathouse To Get Some TLC and New Boats!

2010-08-22T03:52:00.001-07:00

On Thursday, August 19, the Recreation and Park Commission approved the selection of a new operator of the Stow Lake Boathouse in Golden Gate Park.

Ortega Family Enterprises has more than 20 years of experience working in public parkland and 22 years of accident-free boat and kayak rental management experience. They will be investing nearly a $400,000 to preserve the boat house and to buy a new fleet of boats for the lake.

The Ortega family emphasizes environmental sustainability and best practices in all phases of its business. It has a proven track record of turning around underperforming park concessions and maximizing their potential, including concessions at four National Park Service locations: Bandelier National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, White Sands National Monument and Muir Woods National Monument in the Bay Area.

In 2009, the Ortega family won the Marin Conservation Council’s Green Business Award for its renovation and rejuvenated operation of the historic Muir Woods concession. They incorporated sustainable construction materials, implemented a trash disposal system that recycles and composts 90 percent of waste, and achieved significant electric and water savings. The Recreation and Park Department is looking to emulate this model at Stow Lake.

Ortega Family Enterprises has proposed the following improvements to the Stow Lake Boathouse operations:

Capital improvements to stabilize and improve the boathouse building while preserving the facility’s historic architecture and charm. All restoration efforts will follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Preservation and will be completed to LEED-certified standards.
A small, informal café that will feature traditional Stow Lake favorites like pink popcorn, pretzels and animal crackers while also providing a new menu of local, organic, healthy and sustainable food and beverage options. Menu items will remain affordable, ranging from $1 to $11.75, with most items available from $4.95 to $8.95.
Investment in a new fleet of pedal, row and other boats while maintaining affordable boat rentals for the public
A projected revenue increase of between 30 and 40 percent

Ortega Family Enterprises was selected by a panel of five individuals representing a wide range of expertise and experience, including a neighborhood representative, a historic preservationist, a proprietor of a small business, a Recreation and Park Commissioner and a former manager of boating operations at Lake Merritt Boat House.

With the Commission's approval, staff will now enter into negotiations with Ortega over specific lease details which must be approved by the Commission and Board of Supervisors. I want to thank the current operator at Stow (Stow Lake Corporation) for their years of service at the Boathouse. (They continue to partner with us at another concession down at the Marina.)

I am thrilled that people who have known and loved the Stow Lake Boathouse for generations will soon see an upgrade to the building and amenities while maintaining the charm and feel of the area that they've grown to love. People will still be able to enjoy an affordable, family-friendly experience at Stow Lake.

Fog or No Fog: Its Been a Great Summer at Rec and Park

2010-08-21T13:26:00.001-07:00

August 2010

Why are my kids in school already? Why did the sun not officially report for duty until yesterday? Summer flew by particularly fast this year, but at Rec and Park there was still much to enjoy and celebrate.

The Best Summer Camps in the City

Last Friday marked the end of our camp season, and I’m happy to report that this was one of our strongest summers in history. We had 15,000 camp registrations this summer, more than double what we had last year. This summer, children were able to choose from 50 different camps, including traditional camps like Silver Tree and Pine Lake and a host of different sports camps, art and science camps, learn to swim camps, tennis camps and outdoor adventure camps, including my personal favorite, Bite Me, a boating camp that allowed campers to see sharks on the bay.

One of the highlights of the summer was a music video created by our campers at the Harvey Milk Center. Campers learned choreography to the song “Thriller,” designed their own props and filmed the video on their own.

The video can be seen here.

SFRP Harvey Milk Summer Camp Thriller from Harvey Milk Summer Camp on Vimeo.

This year, thanks to our efforts to expand day camps and offer expanded hours to working parents, we were there for you as school district summer programming was cut back. Our expanded offerings will help us with you year round offerings too, as we generated nearly $1.1m in revenue from our programing. Thanks to our staff for working hard this summer and creating lasting memories for our kids and families.

Outside Lands

The 2010 Outside Lands Festival occurred last week, and by all accounts, this was the smoothest year in terms of setup and breakdown we’ve had in the short history of this event. Another Planet estimates 80,000 people attended over the two-day event (including a few fence jumpers), which offered some big-name acts (Kings of Leon and Al Green were my favorites), food wine and a great energy from the crowd.

This concert generated over $1M in revenue for the Recreation and Park Department. Sound complaints were down from 200 the year before to less than 50 this year. Our meadows are bouncing back quickly and the park is completely reopened to the public.

I want to thank Another Planet, RPD staff, Martha Cohen from the Mayor’s Office, the Department of Parking and Traffic and the SFPD for helping to make this a successful event.

Sunday Streets Comes to Golden Gate Park

I didn't actually see any penguins today, but "Penguins to Penguins," the city's latest Sunday Streets event from the Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park to the San Francisco Zoo, had plenty of other fun attractions to enjoy.

Sunday Streets is modeled after a program in Bogata, Colombia, and encourages folks to eat healthy and lead active lifestyles. Our San Francisco version is a partnership of multiple city agencies and community-based organizations, and I'm proud to say that Recreation and Parks has been an active participant in every single Sunday Streets event to date.

"Penguins to Penguins" included children's games, hula hooping, a yoga garden, skating demonstrations and a Bixi Bikeshare demonstration.

Sunday Streets is a great way to get the family some exercise and enjoy the day together in a safe (car-free) atmosphere with lots of excitement and energy from the crowd.

Click here for more information.

Green Steam Machine

Last week, we unveiled our brand new Green Steam Machine, an eco-friendly alternative for weed control that eliminates the use of pesticides in and around children’s play areas. Purchased with help from the San Francisco Parks Trust, the Green Steam Machine is the first of its kind here in the United States and I can’t be more thrilled with the potential of this new machine.

We are going to put one in every Park Services Area (PSA) around the city so that our gardeners and supervisors have regular access to this new machine.
Incidentally, the new machine was demonstrated to gardeners and supervisors at the future site of a new bee, bird and butterfly garden at McLaren Lodge. Our crews will be planting a variety of plants and flowers that attract a variety of species, including monarch butterflies, hummingbirds and mockingbirds.

For more info, click here.

Park Maintenance Scores Continue at All Time High

For the third quarter in a row, our park maintenance scores have averaged 91%, which is a testament to the terrific job our staff continues to do despite the limited resources our department faces. For details visit http://sf-recpark.org/index.aspx?page=289.

Enterprise for High School Students

This summer, like every summer since 1978, our department worked with youths from Enterprise for High School Students in three of our parks--- Buena Vista, Golden Gate and St. Mary’s, clearing ivy from overgrown hillsides, clearing pathways and replanting various park areas.

I want to thank and commend the staff and students who helped out in our parks this year. Enterprise is currently applying for a grant that will expand the program to Saturdays during the school year. I look forward to seeing these kids out there again very soon.

New Recreation Model

This week marks the beginning of our new recreation model. Our staff has been working very hard over the last several weeks in preparation for this transition and I want to thank them for their efforts.

We are moving from an outdated fixed-post model to a more flexible model that will ultimately provide more programming to the public and allow the public to decide the types of programming they want to see at their rec centers.

Fall season Phase One includes after school enrichment, senior programs, early childhood development, dance and aquatics programs. Phase two begins the first week in September with additional programming. For details or to register for a class visit:

http://sf-recpark.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=126