FEBRUARY 2009 |
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IN THIS ISSUE |
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| Blue Greenway |
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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.
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2009 SPONSORS |
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GET INVOLVED
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Click here to check out NPC's volunteer opportunities on Volunteer Match.
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| ACTION ALERT |
Take the Online Open Space Survey
Starting in January and continuing through March, NPC is leading a series of community open space workshops across the city in coordination with the City's Open Space Team. Read more about the community process here.
For those who cannot attend a workshop, we have designed a brief online survey to capture your ideas and priorities for the future of open space in San Francisco. Visit http://www.openspacesf.org to take this important survey and participate in this exciting community process.
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RPD Draft Strategic Vision for Recreation Service Delivery
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department released a Draft Strategic Vision for Recreation Service Delivery at the January 15th Commission meeting. This three-page document outlines the Department’s recreation priorities, and also discusses ways to continue delivering services in the midst of budget shortfalls. It is meant to spark discussion on the topic before a final draft is presented to the Commission on February 5th for approval and implementation.
Park advocates interested in reading the draft can access it here. Additionally, if you are concerned about the future of your recreation center or its programming, please email your comments to NPC and Lisa Gruell no later than February 19th, 2009 to make sure your voice is heard before decisions are made!
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.
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Blue Greenway
The Draft Urban Design Plan for the Hunters Point Shipyard Phase 2 and Candlestick Point was expected to be approved on Wednesday, January 28th at a joint meeting of the Mayor's Hunters Point Shipyard Citizens Advisory Committee and the Bayview Hunters Point Project Area Committee. If approved the Draft Urban Design Plan will go to the San Francisco Redevelopment Commission and the Board of Supervisors. The Draft Plan can be found here.
ARC Ecology has completed a study of Alternatives to the Draft Urban Design Plan and will make a presentation to the community on Wednesday, February 11th at the Bayview Opera House (4705 3rd Street) from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. The study includes alternative locations for the proposed 49ers Stadium, Open Space options, transit and traffic considerations (including bridging Yosemite Slough), economic development and employment opportunities. NPC is part of a coalition of environmental groups urging the consideration and possible inclusion of some of the great ideas developed in the Arc Ecology alternatives. Please review the plan and weigh in if you cannot attend the meeting. You can send your thoughts to Saul Bloom at Arc Ecology: info@arcecology.org.
Seawall Lot 337
On January 15th, the Port received a proposal for the mixed-use development of SWL 337. The developer's proposal has been posted on the Port's website here. The developer entity is comprised of: San Francisco Giants, Wilson Meany Sullivan, Kenwood Investments, The Cordish Company, Stockbridge Capital and Farallon Capital Management, LLC.
The developer will be making informational presentations to the Port Commission and public on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at the Ferry Building, and at a Public Workshop in mid-March (date and location forthcoming). At the conclusion of the review process, the Port's SWL 337 Advisory Panel will present its recommendation to the Port Commission for its consideration prior to taking action on developer selection. As the Feb. 10th meeting approaches, check the Port Commission Agenda to confirm the estimated time of the presentation.
Mayor’s Open Space Task Force
The work of the Mayor's Open Space Task Force continues in its second phase, Community Outreach, to seek the ideas and the priorities of neighbors and neighborhoods around the City. Approximately 20 community outreach workshops will take place in neighborhoods throughout the city during January-March. The Confirmed February workshop dates are below:
Sunset Neighborhood Community Open Space Workshop (District 4)
February 9th, 2009
6:30-8 PM
Location: AP Giannini Middle School , 3151 Ortega St.
Host: Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center
Excelsior Neighborhood Community Open Space Workshop (District 11)
February 11, 2009
7-9 PM
Location: Crocker Amazon Recreation Center, Moscow Street @ Italy
Host: Friends and Advocates of Crocker Amazon and the Excelsior (FACE)
Hayes Valley Neighborhood Community Open Space Workshop (District 5)
February 18, 2009
6:30-8:30 PM
Location: Ella Hill Hutch Community Center, 1050 Mcallister St.
Host: Community Partners United
Mission Neighborhood Community Open Space Workshop (District 9)
February 19, 2009
6:30-8:30 PM
Location: Brava Theater, 2781 24th St.
Host: Lower 24th St. Merchant & Neighborhood Association
Potrero Hill Neighborhood Community Open Space Workshop (District 10)
February 24, 2009
7-9 PM
Location: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 DeHaro @ Southern Heights
Host: Potrero Hill Boosters Neighborhood Association
Pacific Heights Community Open Space Workshop (District 2)
Thursday February 26, 2009
6:30-8:30 PM
Location: Calvary Presbyterian Church Educational Center, 2515 Fillmore St. (@ Jackson) Hosted by the Pacific Heights Residents Association
Visitacion Valley Neighborhood Community Open Space Workshop (District 10)
February 28, 2009
10 AM-12 PM
Location: TBD
Host; Visitation Valley Planning Association
You may track our progress throughout this entire community engagement process at www.openspacesf.org. Minutes from all meetings are posted here. Click here to read more about how you can hold your own meeting and to learn about our goals for the outreach process.
Playground Initiative
Since completing the 2008 Playground Reassessment, NPC staff members have been focusing on planning the 2009 phase of the Playground Initiative. The year’s work has already begun in the office with grant writing for monies to support future playground work. The workday portion of the Playground Initiative will kick off in March at Play Day 2009. Stay tuned for more information and remember to use ParkScan at your neighborhood playground!
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Sava Pool Reopens!
January was a wonderful month for pool-lovers in the Outer Sunset as it marked the first full month that Sava Pool’s doors were open. The neighborhood worked to rebuild the pool for the past ten years. The facility was one of the most popular pools in the city before renovation began in June 2007, and the brand new, state-of-the-art facility will undoubtedly attract even more swimmers in the future.
The new facility boasts a standard length pool with eight 25-yard lanes and a wonderful new community room. Be sure to check out Sava Pool with your friends and family. The pool is located at 19th Ave. and Wawona.
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Do you love your park?
Have a heart, and make a Valentine's Day donation to NPC!
We can’t do it without you. Now more than ever your support is needed! Every gift makes a difference, no matter how big or small. Your support will help NPC to work with neighbors on improving parks, playgrounds and green spaces throughout San Francisco. Show your passion for parks, playgrounds and green spaces by donating to NPC today! Sign up to be a monthly donor – you won’t even notice the $10 a month, but we will!
Three easy ways to give:
*Donating online: Click here
*Calling our office: 415-621-3260
*Mailing in a gift:
Neighborhood Parks Council, 451 Hayes Street, 2nd floor, San Francisco, CA 94102
Green Zebra Guide
The 2009 Green Zebra guide makes it easy to explore the best of sustainable living in San Francisco. Over 275 exclusive offers can save you thousands of dollars at organic restaurants and markets, eco-friendly retailers, spas, Yoga and Pilates studios, independent bookstores, bike shops, museums and more!
NPC is now selling 2009 Green Zebra guides to support our efforts. Priced at just $25, the Green Zebra guide pays for itself after just a few uses because it's loaded with discounts at places you already love, as well as new businesses you'll be glad to discover. $10 from the purchase of each book will be donated to NPC.
Click the icon above to buy a guide today! When you make your purchase, be sure to enter our Organization Code, NPC912, in the appropriate field (if you don't see one, the code has automatically been recognized) so NPC will be credited for your purchase.
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For this month's park interview with Matt Enos at Justin Herman Plaza, please visit http://www.sfnpc.org/ilovemypark0209.
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2009-10 Budget Workshops
RPD is looking to the public to help them set budget priorities and develop strategies to generate more funds, so that our city’s parks and recreation programs can strive to meet the needs of residents during these tough financial times. At the final workshop on February 4th, you will learn about the fiscal challenges they face this year, and engage in a conversation about how to address them. San Franciscans of all ages, including children are encouraged to attend! For more information, call 311, or visit http://www.parks.sfgov.org
Meeting information:
Wednesday, February 4th, 6-8 PM
Sunset Recreation Center, 2201 Lawton Street at 28th Avenue
Accessible by MUNI via the 71 Noriega and N Judah lines
Quarterly Park Inspections: Check Your Park’s Grade!
RPD parks are rated on a quarterly basis jointly by RPD and the City Controller. Most neighborhood parks (approximately 175) are evaluated each quarter (other than those closed for renovations.) The parks are evaluated according to how well they comply with the San Francisco Park Maintenance Standards Manual.
Park staff makes unannounced visits to different parks each quarter and do not evaluate parks for which they have supervisory responsibility. Click here to see your park’s FY2008-09 Second Quarter rating.
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 all future meetings, and a list of parks in each Service Area.
The February meetings are listed below:
- NSA 6: February 4, 7-8:30 PM, Duboce Park
- NSA 8: February 4, 6-8 PM, Trocadero, Stern Grove
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
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To read all recent park-related news headlines, click here.
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COMMUNITY EVENTS |
| Researching Re-use in the Garden
Photo Credit: Marcus Yam, Buffalo News
If you have incorporated recycled elements into the design of your Bay Area garden-- such as old boots, tires, buckets or baths as planters, if you got your gravel free from Craigslist.org, or your pavers from neighbors--Chloe Short would love to hear from you.
Chloe is collecting research on the aesthetics of 're-use' and elements of salvage within public and private garden spaces. Whether your garden features high-end barn-boards or low-fi tin cans as yard art, if you've 're-used' then you're news! You can contact Chloe at thefoxandthewolf@yahoo.com.
See the full event calendar here.
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Callen Taylor of the Friends of Kimbell Park has been chosen as NPC’s Volunteer of the Month for February. Callen has worked hard to get a park group started at Kimball, and the group is fast on their way towards making some major improvements! Click here to read an interview with Callen and learn about her vision for the future of Kimball.
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