DECEMBER 2008 |
| |
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.
|
| |
2008 SPONSORS |
NPC is grateful to the generous foundations and corporate sponsors that are supporting our work in 2008.
Foundations
Adobe Foundation Fund
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
City Fields Foundation
Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
Gaia Fund
The Koret Foundation
The McKesson Foundation
Miriam & Peter Haas Fund
The Morris Stulsaft Foundation
San Francisco Foundation
The Seed Fund of the Studio for Urban Projects
Walter & Elise Haas Fund
Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation
Corporations
Monthly Subscribers (Individuals)*
Adrian Cotter
Art Persyko
Cole Thomason-Redus
Darius Contractor
David Strother
Helene York
Ixchel Vargas-Mendoza
John Katz
Jordanna Thigpen
Judith Berkowitz
Kurt Shuck
Rudeen Monte
Sally Scully
Sunya Ojure
*A monthly subscription of any amount you choose, is a great way to show your ongoing commitment to NPC’s mission. To sign up today, click here.
|
 |
GET INVOLVED
|
Click here to check out NPC's volunteer opportunities on Volunteer Match.
|
|
| NPC HOLIDAY PARTY |
 The NPC Holiday Party is set for Wednesday, December 3rd, from 6-8 PM at the NPC office (451 Hayes Street, 2nd floor.) Join NPC Staff and RPD’s interim General Manager Jared Blumenfeld for a potluck-style party to celebrate the Holiday season. We’ll be serving up Isabel’s special punch and other refreshments. Please consider bringing a dish to share. Please RSVP to council@sfnpc.org. If you have any questions, please contact Matthew Silva at msilva@sfnpc.org, or 415.621.3260. Please mark your calendar, and be there with bells on!
And since “tis the season” for tree lighting, why not find out about the most energy efficient and toxic-free lighting options for your home. The Department of the Environment has just created the nation's first list of the amount of toxic mercury in over 700 energy efficient, long-lasting lighting products by major manufacturers. Click here to read the list so you can make sure to purchase energy-efficient and low mercury lighting. |
| SUPPORT NPC |
Give Thanks For Your Parks—Donate To NPC!
Soon you will receive a year-end appeal letter from NPC in your mailbox. We encourage you to celebrate this year's Thanksgiving, and show thanks to the city you love by responding with a donation that will benefit your neighborhood parks and playgrounds.
Please consider making an ongoing commitment to your parks and playgrounds by becoming a monthly donor. A gift of as little as $10 a month can make a real difference towards supporting NPC's work and improving the city's green spaces. You can also donate stock or arrange a matching gift from your employer. Please click the red button below to donate today! Please contact Development Director Lyn Spataro with any questions: lspataro@sfnpc.org, or 415.621.3260.
Final Month of Solar Incentive through SolarCity
This is the final month of our solar incentive partnership with SolarCity! For each purchased or leased system, SolarCity will donate $100 to NPC to aid in park revitalization efforts. SolarCity's special donation program for NPC is only available until December 31, 2008!! Act now to save money and also help NPC! More details are available at http://www.solarcity.com/neighborhoodparks. |
| ACTION ALERT |
How Do Your Trees Look?
 The park bond, passed in 2008, funds a program for the repair and restoration of trees within city parks for the first time, including new tree planting. In preparing for a focused tree element of the parks bond, it is important that the Recreation and Parks Department has a clear snapshot of current park forestry issues.
Luckily, park advocates in the city already have a perfect tool for reporting: ParkScan! We encourage you to make a commitment this month to get out to your neighborhood park and observe your park’s trees. The information you provide will help determine how this $4-million chunk of the parks bond is spent. Here are some things to look for:
- Hanging or broken limbs that are 4” or greater in diameter (especially limbs over pedestrian pathways)
- Tree health (except for seasonal tree health – i.e. trees that die in the winter)
- Vines that have extended more than 5 feet up the tree trunk and have gotten into the tree’s canopy
To read more about the city’s plan for tree maintenance, click here to download the Parks Bond Report and go to page 49.
|
|
Emerging Park Group at Kimbell
With the recent renovation of the Western Addition branch library, the ongoing construction of a new pool and recreation facility at the Hamilton Recreation Center, and the eventual installation of a new athletic field at Kimbell, park lovers in the Western Addition are getting mobilized.
Resident and parent Callen Taylor has been busy getting neighbors interested in the renovation of Kimbell Playground (Pierce and Ellis). She recently contacted Supervisor Mirkarimi’s office to get support, and also met with Park Section Supervisor Nick Repetto and Jared Blumenfeld (interim General Manager of RPD). Callen has also contacted neighborhood parents and residents to gather their ideas. Kimbell Playground is on the list for the
Neighborhood Parks Bond, and should be receiving some resources to implement
the emerging group's vision.
Park Kiosk Installed at Crocker Amazon
A new kiosk is in place at the Moscow/Italy entrance of Crocker Amazon Park! It joins its sister kiosk installed at the entrance gates to the new soccer fields. Thanks to the efforts of park partners and friends, especially Meredith Thomas of NPC, Brian Pangan (Crocker Park Section Supervisor), and the great carpenter's shop for the beautiful work and installation, this kiosk will be an asset to the community. The Friends and Advocates of Crocker Amazon and the Excelsior (FACE) plan to use the kiosk to inform park users and pedestrians about upcoming park and recreation classes, events, and meetings. They will also post information on how to report park problems with ParkScan and 311, as well as park staff contact information.
McLaren Park Neighbors Organize Around Lack of Local Playground
Years ago there were several play areas in McLaren Park complete with swings, climbing equipment, and slides. After decades of use, almost all of the structures became too old, and were removed due to lack of funds to replace them. Sadly, families who live around McLaren Park currently must drive their children to other playgrounds around the city, sometimes several miles away.
However, a group of dedicated residents have begun to organize around this issue. The first priority of the group “Help McLaren Park” is to create a play area at the Burrows and Gambier Street entrance to the park, thus providing local children a place to play safety within walking distance of their homes. To find out more about these efforts or to get involved, please visit http://helpmlpark.weebly.com.
Duboce Park Community Conceptualizes New Play Area
Duboce Park has long been the treasured hangout of dog-owners and the parents of young children alike. Now the Friends of the Duboce Park are working toward creating an innovative space for school-aged children to play. The Duboce Park Youth Play Area would be located between the existing playground and the recreation center, and would feature a mix of equipment and creative play space.
The Friends have held three community meetings to date, created a detailed design, and raised over $25,000 for the project. For more information or to get involved, please contact Peter Cohen at pcohen_sf@yahoo.com. You can also visit http://dubocepark.com/pages/events/events_youth.htm.
Seeking Contributions of Park News
Calling all park groups! Do you have a story about your park that you would like to see included in our monthly E-news? Submit your text to Lucien Sonder at lsonder@sfnpc.org by the 20th of each month.
|
|
ParkScan ParkScan Year-End Challenge—Report Maintenance Issues in Your Park!
Are you ready to make a difference in your park? Get started by reporting at least one park maintenance issue before the end of the year through ParkScan.org!
Reporting park maintenance issues on ParkScan is an easy and effective way to become a park steward. Have you seen a broken swing, or a dead tree branch? Did you discover graffiti on a playground bench? With ParkScan, you can report these types of maintenance issues and track the progress of repairs. Your report will not only help address the immediate issue, but will also help the City and County of San Francisco plan and budget for a park maintenance program that is responsive to community priorities.
Let RPD know how your park looks by making your report today at http://www.parkscan.org. For more information about the ParkScan program, contact Meredith Thomas at mthomas@sfnpc.org.
Blue Greenway
Thank You for Voting Yes on Prop D
We are pleased to report that Proposition D passed with a 68% majority on November 4th. Prop D will provide an optional financing tool to pay for improvements to Pier 70 including waterfront parks, remediation of environmental conditions and rehabilitation of the historic buildings. Cleaning up over a century of industrial pollution and revitalizing Pier 70 will provide up to 20 acres of new waterfront open space and a major new segment of the Blue Greenway and the San Francisco Bay Trail for both residents and visitors to enjoy.
Mayor’s Open Space Task Force
NPC is currently seeking a full-time, temporary Program Assistant through February 2009 with the possibility of becoming permanent. The Program Assistant will support Open Space 2100, an initiative to develop a community-based Open Space Vision and Action Plan for San Francisco. Under the direction of Program Coordinators, he/she will also work with communities to engage in park stewardship. Please click here for information about how to apply.
Playground Initiative
The Playground Initiative is a joint venture of the Neighborhood Parks Council and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. It focuses specifically on upgrading playgrounds that were identified as "failing" in the 2008 NPC Playground Report Card. Failed playgrounds are play spaces that are unsafe for our children to use.
During November, NPC and RPD completed the last four Playground Initiative Workdays of the year. These cleanups took place at Crocker Amazon Playground (@ Moscow), Crocker Amazon Playground (@ Italy), Cayuga Playground, and Herz Playground. All told, approximately 250 volunteer hours were spent installing new playground sand, sifting existing sand, weeding and planting garden areas, and picking up trash.
Throughout December, NPC will reassess all failing playgrounds at which a Playground Initiative workday was held, to determine if volunteer efforts upgraded the play areas to a grade of C or higher. Stay tuned for the results of this reassessment, which will be posted at www.sfnpc.org/playgrounds. |
|
Day of the Dead at Garfield Square
On November 2nd, close to 10,000 people made their way to Garfield Square in the heart of the Mission District for a celebration of Day of the Dead. With altars officially commissioned by the Marigold Project, as well as impromptu altars made by community members, the event lived up to its tradition of honoring and celebrating the lives of deceased ancestors.
There were spontaneous musical performances, as well as free face painting. The crowd was a diverse mix of families, long-time Mission residents, new faces, and even folks who made their way over from the East Bay and the North Bay. The Day of the Dead celebration at Garfield has become a landmark event, demonstrated by the increasing numbers of attendees in recent years. The Marigold Project is excited to hold this event again next year.
|
|
Sponsor of the Month: Safeway Food and Drug
Safeway supports non-profit organizations that work to improve the quality of our community. This month NPC received generous in-kind donations from two local Safeways, the Church and Market store as well as the Webster and Geary location, which fed workday volunteers. “We really like to support neighborhood projects. It’s especially nice to know we are helping volunteers—this is our way of thanking San Franciscans who are giving their time,” said Safeway employee Marcelino Gomez. Thank you, Safeway, for supporting our work and helping to revitalize our parks and playgrounds!
Shop Locally and Support NPC
Make an in-kind donation to Community Thrift Store and the proceeds will benefit NPC! When you drop off your donation, simply mention NPC’s name, or account # 142, as the charity partner, and credit will be applied. Please refer to the Community Thrift Store website regarding acceptable donations and shopping hours. Community Thrift Store, 623 Valencia Street, (415) 861-4910, http://www.Communitythriftsf.org
Cole Hardware
Please mention NPC’s name (or Community Partner # 783) the next time you’re shopping at any Cole Hardware store, and a percentage of your transactions will be applied towards a gift certificate for NPC to purchase needed supplies for park and playground work days. To find Cole’s four San Francisco locations, click here.
|
|
| 
For this month’s park interview with Gareth Maher in 24th and York Street Mini Park, click here.
|
|
Interim
RPD Manager Continues Park Bike Tour
Charles Spencer of Fillmore-Turk Mini Park, pictured with Jared Blumenfeld
As we reported last month, the interim General Manager of RPD, Jared Blumenfeld, has embarked on a bicycle tour of the city’s 220 parks, which will stretch over the next two months. You are invited to follow along, either remotely by reading his blog, or on your own bicycle. This is a wonderful opportunity to speak personally with Jared about your concerns for your park. Click here for the complete schedule (subject to change.) You can also find maps of his bike routes 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. The following meetings will take place in December:
- NSA #4 (SOMA, Potrero Hill, Mission, Tenderloin, Financial District ): December 3rd, 6-7 PM, Gene Friend/SOMA Rec Center
- NSA#5 (Noe Valley, Glen Park. Diamond Heights, Twin Peaks, Upper Haight): December 2nd, 7-8 PM, Glen Park Rec Center
- NSA #6 (Bernal Heights, Duboce Triangle, Castro, Mission): December 10th, 7-8:30 PM, Bernal Heights Rec, and December 17th, 7-8:30 PM, Mission Rec
- NSA #8 (Sunset, West Portal, Lake Merced): December 3rd, 6-8 PM, Trocadero, Stern Grove
Visit http://www.sfnpc.org/NSAcommunitymeetings for the dates and locations of all future meetings, and to find out which Neighborhood Service Area your park is located in.
RPD Park Openings and Closures: Capital Projects
For a complete list of opening and closure dates for RPD capital projects, click here.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
To read all recent park-related news headlines, click here.
|
COMMUNITY EVENTS |
| Mission Greenbelt Project: December 3rd
You are invited to the Department of the Environment's Brown Bag Lunch Lecture by Amber Hasselbring on December 3rd. She will be speaking about "Transforming Mission District Sidewalks into a Connected Series of Gardens.” For more information, click here.
Silver Terrace Holiday Party: December 13th
The Friends of Silver Terrace will host their first-ever Holiday Party on Saturday, December 13th from 1-4 PM. The party will include a wreath-decorating contest and an ornament-making activity, and the ornaments will displayed on a community tree throughout the holiday season for everyone to enjoy. This event will bring together residents, local community-based organizations, and schools in the area for a fun celebration of the holidays.
Playground Dedication and Caroling in Dolores Park Playground: December 13th
On Saturday, December 13th at 3:30 PM, The Friends of Dolores Park Playground invite you to a dedication of the new playground, as well as holiday caroling. Join the San Francisco City Chorus, supporters of Friends of Dolores Park Playground, the Hellen Diller Family, Supervisor Bevan Dufty, and Mayor Gavin Newsom for this historic occasion! For more information, visit http://friendsofdolorespark.org/events.shtml.
Tell Santa Your Playground Wishes: December 20th
On Saturday December 20th, the Friends of West Sunset Playground are hosting a holiday event at the playground (3223 Ortega Street) in order to obtain community input on what types of play elements should be included in the new playground design. Drop by from 10 AM-2 PM for hot cider, a photo with Santa, and tell FOWSP what your playground wishes are. For more information about the event,
please click here.
Past Events
Youth Bike Skills Demo Held in McLaren Park
On October 19th, the SF Urban Riders held a Youth Bike Skills Demo in McLaren Park open to youth of all ages. The demo, which highlighted wheelies, bunny hops, and other two-wheel favorites, was held in conjunction with a professional cycling event, the Pilarcitos Cyclecross Series Opener. Over 100 individuals participated in the demo, enjoying both healthy recreation and the community it created.
To read more about these park events, click on the underlined links above, or see the full calendar here. |
|
This month we celebrate volunteer Jane Flaherty. Jane has been a key member of Friends of West Sunset Playground, taking the lead on numerous fundraising events, including the Sunset Soiree, the group’s kick-off event at City Hall on October 2nd. Click here to read an interview with Jane and learn about her vision for the future of her playground.
|
|
