Issues in Golden Gate Park

CURRENT ISSUES IN GOLDEN GATE PARK

PARK TO GET BADLY NEEDED REPAIRS

The Rec and Park Commission are to consider reallocation of Prop 40 funds to complete the Concourse and Rhododendron Dell restoration, along with a host of other critical project and repairs. Recall that in 2000 the voters of California approved Prop 40, (AB 716) for a number of special projects. One specifically being an urban park of 1018 acres. That was Golden Gate Park and a number of projects were to be funded with the $32,673,000. The Bison Paddock, Children's Quarter, landscaping for the new deYoung and Academy, Portals of the Past, Botanical Garden, and Concourse Restoration were some of the projects that have consumed $20,744,940 to date.

But several other of the remaining projects either don't qualify, are not adaquately funded or cannot be completed by the required date of October 2010. Seismic upgrades to McLaren Lodge and Kezar Pavilion are most notable. Therefore the remaining funds are to be reallocated to urgent needs in the Park. This infusion of roughly $12,000,000 will go for repairs to the parks irrigation system, restoration of the now dangerous Polo Field, Restroom restorations, repairs to the Bandshell, restoration of the Concourse fountains, completion of the lighting in the Concourse, and more. For a full list of the project involved visit the Park and Rec website.

CURRENT HEALTHY SATURDAY = UNSAFE CONCOURSE

Healthy Saturdays, in its current form, makes the Music Concourse decidedly less safe. The closure of JFK at Tea Garden Drive doubles illegal cut-thru traffic in the Concourse. There are changes that could remedy this, but the Mayor and those that “made the deal” refuse to even talk about them.

Because of the closure of JFK west from Tea Garden west- and south-bound drivers on JFK must choose between leaving the Park all together, making a U-turn, or ignoring posted NO LEFT TURN and driving through the Concourse. Most choose to break the law increasing cut-through traffic from 250 to 400 cars in total, and by 125% southbound specifically. This makes the Concourse considerably less safe for pedestrians, an issue that must be considered as within one year the Academy of Science will reopen and millions of children will stream through the Concourse.

I personally enjoyed almost every Healthy Saturdays, as did tens of thousands of other San Franciscans. I also carried a stopwatch, notepad, and camera, as I have for several years now. VISUAL REPORT

Sadly, the active opponents of a pedestrian-friendly Golden Gate Park, in negotiating Healthy Saturdays spited themselves in the process. By forcing the closure west of Tea Garden, they removed the bulk of parking on JFK. They forced the deYoung and Rec and Park to provide 3 full-time staff to escort trucks and cars to the deYoung loading dock. And they demanded an ADA shuttle that is little used because it goes nowhere those in wheelchairs wish to go.

For their part, the self-proclaimed representatives of Healthy Saturday negotiated an agreement that ignored realities in the Park. The bulk of pedestrian activity is east of the Concourse, between the museum(s) the Conservatory of Flowers and most of the city's population and public transit. That they negotiated for the fog months is another issue.

FIXES: Station a park patrol officer at the entrances of the Concourse with a ticket book. This was done initially, but the opponents demanded the Mayor remove the officers and he did. It reduced cut-through from the north entirely.

SOLUTIONS: Move the closure to 8th Ave EAST on JFK to Kezar:
1. Unwitting drivers entering the Park from the east would be directed via Kezar to the 875 free spaces within 1⁄2 mile of the Concourse which are SOUTH of the Concourse (83% of the total available parking)
2. No Park or deYoung staff would be required to escort vehicles to the deYoungs dock. 3. With in 1⁄2 mile of the Concourse the deYoung would trade 160 parking spaces east of 8th for 215 West of 8th.
4. The portion of the Park that is most heavily used by pedestrians would be made safe for pedestrians.
5. The ADA shuttle would actually go somewhere people want to go and with a little creativity (something not show so far) the shuttle could loop through the Concourse and probably double weekend attendance at the Conservatory of Flowers.

THE NEW ACADEMY - WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE?

The contractors on the new Academy of Science are supposed to clear out by Nov 1st, and the landscaping crews are planting thousands of trees and plants and adding a wonderful path system. (more images to follow)

Why do the people that so wanted the Concourse Garage not use it?

Dede Wilsey, who sits on the board of the garage as well as the deYoung, in contesting Healthy Saturdays told the Boards of Supervisors that the garage was too expensive for her patrons. And when the deYoung hosts “Special Events” they always provide free valet parking using surface roads in the Park, never the garage.

When the Parks Trust, who fought hard for the garage, held their recent big-ticket fundraiser in the bowl of the Concourse, they had a dozen valet double stacked the cars in the bus lot behind the Bandshell though the garage was actually a closer walk for them.

And when Warren Hellman, who actually owns the garage and needs the receipts to pay it off, holds his bluegrass weekend in the Park, why does the garage stand half empty while he cordoned off park roads for his “Special Guests,” using a private shuttle to bring them to the concert?

Back when the Concourse Authority used to meet (this is the city body that’s supposed to oversee the Garage and all parking in the Park) were asked these questions they and the Rec and Park Department insisted the Garage would be used for special events parking and the contractors that operate the garage exclaimed that they were more then ready to provide valet service using their garage.

Why do these people refuse to actually use the garage?

Could it be that these same folks, who have spend small fortune (to the rest of us anyway) to dismantle our city, state, and federal tax structure resent the 25% city tax fee placed on public parking in the City? That they believe that the garage is for others, not for they who are “special?”