Recreation & Fun

Friday, August 14th -- I had lunch on a picnic bench at West Sunset with District 4 Supervisor Carmen Chu, where we discussed the playground, the Rec Center, and the Ortega Branch Library and Courtyard project. The new library, which is located on West Sunset park property, will be a green facility with a partial living rooftop and sustainable plantings.

West Sunset is definitely in need of a new playground. Luckily, there’s $1.1 million budgeted for a renovation project in partnership with the Neighborhood Parks Council and the Friends of West Sunset Playground. Initial design work will be starting imminently.

We also noticed a broken water fountain and the need for pigeon proofing right above the fountain. I asked staff to fix both right away.

After lunch, I went on to the ball field and watched the boys and girls of summer participate in a baseball camp.

At Jackson Playground, I watched the end of the Jackson Day Camp day, which was highlighted by a spirited kickball game featuring counselors Mike and Adele.

Jackson Playground is located at 17th and Arkansas streets, near the South of Market, Mission Bay and Dog Patch neighborhoods. There are very few open spaces in this part of town and the need for quality recreation facilities is especially apparent here. The sports fields and playground at Jackson were okay and there was a nice little community garden, but the basketball courts were cracked and the clubhouse is a mess.

Next week, I’m off to Camp Mather with my family. I have a couple of days worth of meetings planned but this will be a great opportunity for me and my family to experience first hand what generations of families have known for years.

Camp Mather is a hugely popular family camp near Yosemite National Park that is owned and operated by the Recreation and Park Department. For 85 years, San Francisco families have ventured up to Mather for a traditional camp experience, participating in wholesome activities like horseback riding, relay races, hiking, swimming, campfires and talent shows.

It should be an unforgettable experience, and my family and I are looking forward to it.