Recreation & Fun: Sunny Days are Here Again; Open House at Midtown

Sunny Days are Here Again; Open House at Midtown

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Saturday, December 5

What do California Senator Mark Leno, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, Mayor Gavin Newsom, District 8 Supervisor Bevan Dufty, District 7 Supervisor Sean Elsbernd and former California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley all have in common?

They are all either former or current members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and all were on hand on Saturday to help celebrate the grand reopening of Sunnyside Conservatory.

It was a proud day for the department as we hosted not one, but two, park openings—at Sunnyside and at Midtown Terrace Playground later in the day.

At Sunnyside, it was a who’s who affair, as neighbors (many of whom arrived in early-1900s-era garb), community leaders, department heads and elected officials came out in droves to celebrate the grand reopening of the 111-year-old conservatory.

The Conservatory, originally built in 1898 by then-owner William Augustus Merralls, an inventor and stargazer, is an octagon-shaped structure that, in its heyday, housed a wide collection of exotic plant and flower species. It was designated an official city landmark in 1975.

With Open Space funds, the Recreation and Park Department acquired the property in 1980 and a partial renovation project ensued in 1987. In 2001, together with the Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Friends of Sunnyside Conservatory, the Department began plans for the full-scale renovation of the site.

The recently completed project included the restoration of the building’s walls and finishes to match the other historic features of the Conservatory; new operable wood windows and skylights; new wood doors; new wood siding and trim; a new roof; copper cresting; and finial. The surrounding garden area and pathways were also upgraded.

The result is a stunning park space that will easily be one of the department’s most sought after venues for party and event rentals.

The renovation project was a collaborative effort between our department, our aforementioned elected officials and Sunnyside neighbors, led by the Friends of Sunnyside Conservatory.

It’s amazing what we can accomplish together.

Later in the day, Mayor Newsom and I headed over to Midtown Terrace, where neighborhood kids were busy testing out the new playground equipment and enjoying a jumpy house, games and arts and crafts. Mayor Newsom even took a ride on the new slide.

It was a quiet open house event that was a great way to end the day.