Recreation & Fun

I started my Monday with a run through Golden Gate Park. I bumped into a gardener who pointed out to me a problem with our irrigation system. The irrigation system in the park is largely functional, however, it is mostly manual, meaning it’s not on automatic timer controls -- either due to age or vandalism. Consequently, our irrigation operation is tied to staff schedules. As the PUC converts GGP to recycled water within the next three or four years, they will also be funding the upgrade of all of our GGP irrigation systems to timer controls. We must begin to think about how we are going to fund the long overdue upgrade of many of our neighborhood parks irrigation systems.

Later in the day, we had a Department Head meeting down at City Hall, during which a discussion came up about environmental sustainability, including recycling, composting, healthy foods, exercise and community gardens.

Mayor Newsom has long been a proponent of promoting healthy food choices and physical activity, especially to our youth. Over the years, he’s helped get salad bars into schools, launched Victory Gardens 2008, which funded 15 urban organic food gardens in the city, and, together with local hospitals and nonprofits, launched Shape Up San Francisco, an effort to introduce healthy eating habits and regular exercise to young people. Today’s youth are more likely to be overweight or obese than ever before, a condition that can result in several life-threatening diseases.

The Recreation and Park Department has been an active partner in these efforts. Our Community Gardens Program is a perfect example. With more than 40 community gardens citywide, citizens have the opportunity to get outside and get some exercise by growing and tending to their own produce. For more information on our Community Gardens Program, click here, or email Marvin Yee at recpark.gardens@sfgov.org.

Needless to say, after all that talk on healthy eating, I opted for a salad instead of a burger for lunch.