The Week That Was: October 19-25, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009Posted by
Reflindo
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Monday, October 19, 2009
Today, I attended another meeting of the city’s Capital Planning Committee, where, in light of this month’s 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake, we reviewed some of the seismic projects the city’s completed since 1989.
Later in the day, I appeared before the San Francisco Youth Commission. The commission is made up of 17 youths, ages 12 through 23, who are appointed by the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor and who represent the interests and issues of their peers.
The Youth Commission offers a unique perspective on city services and serves as a compass for our Department and the City as a whole in determining what’s best for today’s young people. I look forward to working with them on Recreation and Park issues.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
At the end of a long day, I attended the San Francisco Police Athletic League (PAL)’s 50th Anniversary Dinner at the United Irish Cultural Center. For five decades now, police officers have teamed up to provide kids in the city and the Bay Area with opportunities to participate in sports, join a police cadet program and build lasting friendships. Everyone cheered as emcee Renel Brooks-Moon inducted 19 coaches, mentors, police officers, and professional athletes into PAL's inaugural Hall of Fame. PAL is rejuvinated by its new executive director, Lorraine Woodruff-Long and I'm eager to work with Lorraine to continue to build our partnership into the next 50 years. For more information about PAL visit www.sfpal.org.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009I headed out to McKinley Square at night for a Meet and Greet with the neighbors of the park, including members of the McKinley Square Park Foundation. Folks from the San Francisco Parks Trust were also on hand. I took a tour of the park and discussed with the neighbors some of their issues and concerns related to the park.
At the forefront of their concerns are the public health and safety issues that are present at the lower end of the park and plans for a new park design to better utilize open space to meet the needs of the neighborhoods diverse community.
From there I headed to the Planning Association of the Richmond (PAR) meeting. PAR is involved in a variety of issues that affect the quality of life in the Richmond Neighborhood. During the meeting, Rec and Park staff fielded provocative questions from the neighborhood about how best to balance the needs of the Richmond neighborhood with the desire to continue having large, fun events in Golden Gate park.Friday, October 23, 2009
During the day, I attended the memorial for Donald Fisher, who passed away in September. Mr. Fisher, along with his wife, Doris, was an early and generous supporter of the City Fields Foundation, which was founded in 2005 by Mr. Fisher’s sons Bob, Bill and John. The Foundation is currently working in partnership with the City to help renovate public athletic fields across the city. The Fisher family’s commitment to improving recreation opportunities for city youth is a shining example of his lasting legacy. The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department extends its sympathy to the Fisher family for the loss of its patriarch, Don Fisher.
Saturday, October 24th, 2009
After attending two soccer games (both of my girls' teams won today), I concluded my Saturday by attending the Friends of Mountain Lake Park Picnic. FMLP is one of the City's stronger friends groups. It's currently led very effectively by Kate Sanclon and its Board includes former Willie Brown Chief of Staff, Eleanor Johns.
Mountain Lake Park is located north of the intersection of Lake and Funston. It was designed by engineer William Hammond Hall in the late 19th century, circa 1875. Hall also designed Golden Gate Park and was significantly influenced by Frederick Law Olmsted. Mountain Lake is a small body of water east of Park Presidio Boulevard. On the south side of the lake is a playground and tennis court. A hiking trail that starts at Funston and Lake weaves along the south of the lake and then continues east along the southern edge of the Presidio. A variety of birds can be observed around the lake's water including California seagulls and ducks. The lake has even played home to a white alligator that was abandoned in its waters. On the east and south sides of the lake, native plants have been planted. The park comprises approximately 14 acres. In addition to the playground and tennis courts already mentioned, there are other amenities. One of the oldest Parcourses (a "fitness trail") in San Francisco (1980) has exercise stations around the perimeter of the park. Many of these were recently renovated by San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.
At the picnic, I presented my first "Simple Things" Award to FMLP. When I began my job back in July, I teamed up with the Neighborhood Parks Council and the Parks Trust to initiate a "Simple Things" campaign in conjunction with my running of the San Francisco Marathon. We have received numerous submissions and the winners will be announced at the Rec Park Commission Meeting on November 19th. One winner is FMLP which requested a new flag and lanyard for their flagpole. Simple enough....
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