APRIL 2009 |
| |
IN THIS ISSUE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
NPC QUICK LINKS |
Neighborhood Parks Council
451 Hayes Street, 2nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102
PHONE: 415.621.3260, FAX: 415.703.0889
Click here to email NPC.
Click here to find out how to take public transportation to our office.
|
| |
SUPPORT NPC |
|
|
GET INVOLVED
|
Click here to check out NPC's volunteer opportunities on Volunteer Match.
|
|
| ACTION ALERT |
Restore Sharp Park
Supervisor Mirkarimi recently introduced legislation that would require RPD to transfer Sharp Park to the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, or jointly manage the park with the Service. It would also require RPD to develop a plan, schedule, and budget for restoring habitat for two endangered species on the site: the San Francisco garter snake, and the California red-legged frog.
The bill will likely be heard on April 27th, starting at 1 PM. Visit http://www.sfnpc.org/restoresharpparkaction for background info, updates, and to find out how to write a letter to your elected officials to support this effort.
Existing Rincon Hill Open Space Threatened by New Construction
A group of residents in Rincon Hill are concerned that new construction at 430 Main Street / 429 Beale Street could have a significant negative impact on the existing open space of neighboring buildings. These neighbors urge you to attend the Planning Commission hearing at 1:30 PM on April 9th (City Hall, Room 400) to demand a redesign and to protect their existing open space. Click here to read more details about the issue.
|
|
Volunteer Day at South Sunset Playground
Another week, another group of community members out to take care of their park! On March 21st, over twenty volunteers came out to South Sunset Playground to do some weeding, planting, sand sifting and raking in an effort to beautify and maintain South Sunset Playground. In attendance were students from Lowell High School's Build On program, as well as Sunset Church parish members. As a result of their hard work, children and youth who play at South Sunset Playground will now have a cleaner playground, a well-groomed playfield, and a more beautiful park overall. Click here to view photos from the day. Thank you to all who participated!
Also, be sure to check out our new Playfields Stewardship Blogs on the Playfields Stewardship Initiative page: www.sfnpc.org/playfields.
Summer Ping Pong, and All Year Long!
NPC has an idea for summer fun that doesn't cost much to build and nothing to operate: outdoor concrete ping pong tables! We are currently looking for donations for the costs of concrete and materials so we can build tables in a number of parks. Can you help? If you would like to make a donation, or if you think your park could use one, please email Matt Silva at msilva@sfnpc.org (write "ping pong" in the subject line) or call 415.621.3260.
Annual Park Advocacy Survey Results
Each year, the Neighborhood Parks Council distributes a Park Advocacy Survey to its coalition of park group members. This survey aims to gather feedback on NPC's programs and advocacy work. Thank you to all our respondents for taking the time to provide feedback to help NPC improve our programs! Click here to read the results.
Seeking Contributions of Park News
Calling all park groups! Do you have a story about your park that you would like us to convey in our monthly E-news? Submit your text to Lucien Sonder at lsonder@sfnpc.org by the 20th of each month.
|
|
Mayor's Open Space Task Force
Open Space Workshops Wrap Up; Open Space Survey Still Open
The final of twenty open space workshops will be held on Thursday, April 2nd for the Bayview/Hunter's Point neighborhood (6-8 PM, Joseph Lee Rec Center, 1395 Mendell Street.) If you are a resident of this area and have concerns about the future of open space in your neighborhood, we highly encourage you to attend and make your voice heard. Particularly in these tough economic times, the squeaky wheel gets the grease!
If you were unable to attend your neighborhood workshop, you still have a chance to contribute your opinion through the Open Space Survey at http://www.openspacesf.org (see the block on the left: TAKE OUR BRIEF SURVEY.) It takes just a few minutes! You can also check http://openspacesf.org/OSmeetingnotes to read minutes from the past workshops.
One of the products of the Open Space Task Force will be a revised ROSE (Recreation and Open Space Element of the General Plan.) The draft goals and policies are available here. We encourage everyone to read the document carefully and send your comments ASAP to Susan Exline at City Planning: susan.exline@sfgov.org. We need to make sure the ROSE has enough teeth in it to get new parks, especially in the Eastern Neighborhoods where all the growth is happening. Also, watch for more information about the public meeting that NPC will host in April. Please email Mike Kritzman (mkritzman@sfnpc.org) if you want to be notified about the meeting date.
Playground Initiative
Phase II Begins with Play Day
On Wednesday, March 25th the second phase of the Playground Initiative officially began with Play Day 2009. (For more information about Play Day, please click here to read this month's Park Success Story.) NPC looks forward to working with RPD to host several more workdays at failed playgrounds this summer and fall. Stay tuned for volunteer opportunities in your neighborhood.
 ParkScan
2008 Annual ParkScan Report Released
Each spring, NPC analyzes all observations submitted to ParkScan in the previous year and compiles an annual report. The report calls attention to the year's trends and data highlights, both by political districts and citywide. As in previous years, vandalism (graffiti, litter, park misuse) remained the number one issue reported by ParkScan users. We invite you to download a free copy at http://www.parkscan.org/reports and check out your district's results.
Also shared in the 2008 report is the exciting future partnership between ParkScan and 311! The two will be joining forces this spring in order to improve city responses to park-related reports as well as increase public access to park-related data. Stay tuned for the official announcement in late April.
|
|
Play Day 2009 Puts Focus on Playgrounds
More than thirty people (adults and preschoolers) joined NPC on March 25th for Play Day 2009 at McCoppin Square Playground. An annual event, Play Day shines a spotlight on San Francisco's playgrounds, and highlights the importance of play in our city. It is also an opportunity to kick-start the Playground Initiative's work, and to upgrade our city's failing playgrounds. Click here for more details and photos from the event!
|
|
Corporate Volunteers Join NPC To Give Back to the Community
On Wednesday, March 25th, corporate volunteers from Ricoh Business Solutions joined us for Play Day 2009. The event was sponsored in part by Honest Tea and Safeway, who generously provided refreshments and food. Pat Dimmick from Friends of the San Francisco Public Library led story time for all the kids, as well as a sing along. Thank you to everyone who took part and helped to make it a great success!
Play Day 2009 would not have been possible without the generous efforts of our volunteers and supporters. NPC is always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help with workdays. If you or your company are looking for ways give back to the community and volunteer your services, please email Sunya Ojure at sojure@sfnpc.org.
NPC Welcomes Three New Board Members
This month, NPC announces the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors: Kelly Quirke, former Executive Director of Friends of the Urban Forest, Wachovia Bank Vice President/Market Compliance Specialist Greg Syler, and former NPC staff member Alfredo Pedroza. To read about them (and all of our board members), visit http://www.sfnpc.org/board.
|
|
For this month's I Love My Park interview with Marcella Ortiz and John Jackson at Kite Hill, click here.
|
|
Upcoming Community Meetings on Proposed Fee Increases
San Francisco has the last remaining botanical garden in the country with free admission. Now, due to the city's budget crisis, RPD is considering charging an entrance fee there, and also raising fees at recreation centers. RPD has scheduled three community meetings in April to get your opinions and feedback. Click here for meeting dates and topics.
Good News for Buena Vista Park
Pictured (L to R): Bob Incerti (BVNA Treasurer); Richard Magary (Chair, BVNA Steering Committee and Friends of Buena Vista Park Coordinator); Alex Randolph (District 8 Representative from Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services) presenting a Certificate of Honor from the Mayor to Buena Vista Neighborhood Association. Photo credit: Elton Pon, S.F. Recreation & Park Department.
Work has commenced on the $2.6 million Buena Vista Park Southeast Slope Improvement Project, funded by Park Bonds. Project highlights include a new ADA-compliant trail connecting the Duboce steps to the Buena Vista East/West Terrace, a new stairway running from the Buena Vista East sidewalk to the service road, a resin- and wood-based boardwalk trail, re-grading of the hillside, renovation and expansion of the irrigation system, tree trimming, and new retaining walls and barriers for erosion control for the sandy hillside. For more information on the project, contact Meghan.Tiernan@sfgov.org or 415.581.2557
Park/Recreational Facility Reopenings
For a complete list of opening and closure dates for RPD capital projects, click here.
Neighborhood Service Area Quarterly Meetings
RPD is now offering quarterly meetings in each Neighborhood Service Area so that the public can discuss park-related issues with key RPD staff members. Visit http://www.sfnpc.org/NSAcommunitymeetings for the dates and locations of the April meetings, and for a list of parks in each Service Area.
Keep Up With RPD Commission Meetings: 1st and 3rd Thursday of Every Month at 2PM
Click here for up-to-date schedules of Commission meetings. Public comment is now at the beginning of every meeting.
|
|
Eastern Neighborhoods Citizens Advisory Committee Vacancies
The Board of Supervisors adopted The Eastern Neighborhoods Plans in January 2009! We are excited to announce that the Board is now considering applications for the Eastern Neighborhoods Citizens Advisory Committee (ENCAC). Click here for more information and to download an application.
Peak Oil Preparedness Task Force Report Released in March
We are excited about a new report issued by the Task Force on Peak Oil Preparedness which recommends that the City study vacant public land and portions of parklands and golf courses to see whether this space could be transitioned from recreational to food production uses. Click here to read the full report (be patient, it takes a while to download!)
|
|
|
|
|
The San Francisco Arts Commission is pleased to announce the installation of a new sculpture by artist  Michael Carey entitled Woman with Birds, on the front lawn of J.P. Murphy Clubhouse (1960 9th Avenue near Pacheco Street.) Click here to read the full article.
To read all recent park-related news headlines, click here.
|
COMMUNITY EVENTS |
Check Out "Parks and Recreation" on April 9th!
We are not usually in the business of recommending TV sitcoms, but we think you will share our excitement for the premiere of "Parks and Recreation" on NBC! The show stars Amy Poehler as a staffer in the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana who helps a local nurse turn an abandoned construction pit into a community park. They struggle with defensive bureaucrats, selfish neighbors, real estate developers, and single-issue fanatics whose weapons are lawsuits, the jumble of city codes, and the very democratic process that she loves so much!
Sound familiar!?!?? Tune into NBC for some laughs on Thursday nights, starting April 9th! For more information and previews, click here.
Candlestick Point State Reserve Clean-up
The California Integrated Waste Management Board, in cooperation with California State Parks, is spending $1.2 million to clean up debris, rubble, and other trash at Candlestick Point State Reserve. Board member Carole Migden invites you to celebrate the cleanup of Candlestick Point State Reserve on April 9th. Please meet at the State Park Office at 1150 Carroll Avenue at 10 AM. Hope to see you there! For more information or to RSVP, contact John Nuffer at 916.341.6027.
Dogfest 2009: Saturday, April 18th
McKinley Elementary School's DogFest 2009 is set for Saturday, April 18th, from 11 AM – 2 PM in Duboce Park. The unique fundraising event features a carnival for kids, raffle, and food sales to benefit the children of McKinley Elementary. For more information, click here.
See the complete event calendar here.
|
|
In April we honor Richard Magary of Friends of Buena Vista Park as our Volunteer of the Month. He has been coordinating park volunteer days at Buena Vista for over 10 years. Click here to read an interview with Richard about what keeps him committed month after month, year after year.
|
|
