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Few things capture the attention of both young and old like bubbles. So simple a concept, yet so undeniably entertaining. With that in mind, the Neighborhood Parks Council, Recreation and Park Department, City Fields Foundation and Friends of Silver Terrace Park are hosting a "Bubble Day" on Saturday, June 12th, 2010.

We encourage you to come out for free refreshments, bubble-making activities, and a story reading by the Portola Branch Library (bubble-themed of course). You'll meet your neighbors, enjoy this wonderful park, and get access to all the bubble-making madness we know you and your children have been craving! Please download the flyer (in English, Spanish and Chinese) and pass the word on to friends, neighbors, and all park supporters.

Saturday, May 15th, 2010

The morning fog combined with overcast skies provided a chilly backdrop for what would be a very productive morning at Crocker Amazon Park. The wind had done its part over the last several days to strew about thousands of eucalyptus leaves on the playfields. Luckily for the playfield, over 50 eager youth volunteers from Bay Area SCORES were up to the task of "relocating" this waste to its proper purpose: the compost bin.

For the second consecutive month, and as a bookend to their game day season, the youth from SCORES rolled up their sleeves and helped clean up Crocker Amazon's playfields. By now familiar with the work, the group's efforts took almost no coordination as they routinely picked up gloves, their tools, and made their way to where the leaves were. Within minutes, it was clear their work was paying off. Little piles of leaves soon became larger piles, and shortly after another pair of hands followed to scoop the piles up into a bag.

 

On Saturday, April 10th, over 100 youth helped cleanup Crocker Amazon Park's playfields. As part of Global Youth Service Day, these youth picked up litter, and spread the example of good stewardship to everyone at the park. This event was organized in partnership with Bay Area SCORES , and the San Francisco Unified School District.

 

On Thursday, April 29th, NPC hosted a coalition meeting on Approaches to Park Safety. Panelists from the Recreation and Park Department (RPD), San Francisco Parks Trust, SF Safe, Trust for Public Land and the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) discussed both park design treatments that enhance safety, as well as existing enforcement and information-sharing procedures, and how those might be improved.

While design alone cannot solve all of a park's safety issues, certain treatments can help minimize the instances and fear or crime in a park. Rob Mackenize of SF Safe discussed some of the key priniciples of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design). The three main considerations for CPTED involve visbility, natural access control, and reinforced territoriality. Creating a defined space that allows for sight lines both in and out is important for enhancing a sense of safety in a park. This was reinforced by Mary Muszynski of the Trust for Public Land, who used the example of Boedekker Park (and its impending renovation) as further fodder for discussion. Other panelists offered examples of both successful design implementation, as well as areas for improvement.

This month we spoke with three residents of San Francisco before they left for a swim at Aquatic Park: Andrea Waters, Pavel Machalek, and Art Ramirez

Q: How often do you come to Aquatic Park?
A: We come here 1-2 times a week.  During triathlon season, we make more frequent visits.

Q: What do you like best about Aquatic Park?
A: Andrea - Best place to get open water swim practice in the city.  Despite the water temperature - it's cold - in the low 50's.  There is no other view of the city and Golden Gate Bridge like what is seen from the water.
A: Art - It is a great place to meet for a swim.   There is little boat traffic, it is very swimmer friendly.  Parking is accessible and meter free.

Q: Are there any suggestions that you have to improve the park?
A:  Pavel - Open one of the nearby structures within Aquatic Park to provide a changing area for swimmers.
A: Andrea and Art - provide day use lockers

As part of the effort to make San Francisco the Most Sustainable City in the World, NPC recognizes that the real work to achieve this goal begins at the neighborhood level. Each day new strategies and initiatives are being developed that empower communities to take a leadership role in achieving sustainability and a great way to find out about these resources is by attending the Neighborhood Empowerment Network's 2010 Clean and Green Summit on Saturday, May 8th in the Mission District.

This all day event features:

Great Workshops - Featuring service providers and community leaders who will share their experiences and offer valuable insights on how to overcome barriers to success.  Workshops will include “Demystifying the community challenge grant process” and “How to green your neighborhood’s open spaces – Pavement to Parks and Street Parks”.  Check out the complete list of workshops below. 

Ben Schaefer is a San Francisco resident who works near Levi Plaza Park, which is located near the Embarcadero.

What do you like most about the park?
Ben:  I like the naturalness of the landscape with the raw boulders and how the buildings relate to the park.  This park offers streams, jazz bands during the summer months, a variety of trees and privacy from Embarcadero.  

How often do you come to Levi Park Plaza?
Ben: I visit the park once a month.

Do you have suggestions for improvement to the park?
Ben:  This park is nice.  A few suggestions are bring in more mom and pop businesses, stock the streams with fish, build a bridge over the roadway connecting the two sections of the park.

Ten years ago, Lydia Zaverukha joined the Recreation and Park Department and immediately started working with NPC on a number of projects that have proven to be key to improving the condition of our parks.  At that time, the legislation for a new park bond had just passed, as well as legislation requiring the Department to develop Strategic and Operations Plans.  Lydia worked with NPC on a variety of stakeholder meetings for that multi-year effort.