Showing posts with label environment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label environment. Show all posts
The Fate of Sharp Park Golf Course
Monday, November 9, 2009Posted by
Reflindo
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On Friday, November 6th our Department released its long awaited report on the fate of Sharp Park Golf Course in Pacifica.
In recent years, the popular golf course, owned by our Department, has become somewhat of a hot topic amongst golfers, environmentalists and city leaders. The golf course, you see, is the home of the endangered San Francisco garter snake and the California red-legged frog.
This report, commissioned by Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, looks at three possible scenarios under which the San Francisco garter snake could be allowed to thrive--- keeping an 18-hole course with some modifications, reducing the number of holes to nine, and scrapping the entire golf course and creating a nature preserve and park in its place.
A team of environmental consultants who are experts in all issues related to the garter snake worked over the past several months to study and evaluate the three scenarios.
Our department, in turn, will take the report and make its official recommendations to the Recreation and Park Commission and, ultimately, to the Board of Supervisors.
As general manager of the Recreation and Park Department, it is often my job to balance the interests of our park users and come up with solutions that make the most sense for all of us.
This latest report, I think, lays out a plan that accomplishes this. Modifying the existing layout of Sharp Park and maintaining a full 18-hole course seems to make the most sense here. The garter snake, which lives in three main wetland areas on the course (Laguna Salada, Horse Stable Pond and the connecting corridor between the two), would not only be able to survive, but thrive, by modifying the course layout and moving the existing 12th hole of the course.
Obviously, compromise leaves everyone a little wanting, but with the help and input from congresswoman Jackie Speier (D) and other local officials from both Pacifica and San Francisco, I hope we’ll be able to put this win-win into action. To hear an hour-long discussion on Sharp Park that aired on KQED radio this week, click here.
In recent years, the popular golf course, owned by our Department, has become somewhat of a hot topic amongst golfers, environmentalists and city leaders. The golf course, you see, is the home of the endangered San Francisco garter snake and the California red-legged frog.
This report, commissioned by Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, looks at three possible scenarios under which the San Francisco garter snake could be allowed to thrive--- keeping an 18-hole course with some modifications, reducing the number of holes to nine, and scrapping the entire golf course and creating a nature preserve and park in its place.
A team of environmental consultants who are experts in all issues related to the garter snake worked over the past several months to study and evaluate the three scenarios.
Our department, in turn, will take the report and make its official recommendations to the Recreation and Park Commission and, ultimately, to the Board of Supervisors.
As general manager of the Recreation and Park Department, it is often my job to balance the interests of our park users and come up with solutions that make the most sense for all of us.
This latest report, I think, lays out a plan that accomplishes this. Modifying the existing layout of Sharp Park and maintaining a full 18-hole course seems to make the most sense here. The garter snake, which lives in three main wetland areas on the course (Laguna Salada, Horse Stable Pond and the connecting corridor between the two), would not only be able to survive, but thrive, by modifying the course layout and moving the existing 12th hole of the course.
Obviously, compromise leaves everyone a little wanting, but with the help and input from congresswoman Jackie Speier (D) and other local officials from both Pacifica and San Francisco, I hope we’ll be able to put this win-win into action. To hear an hour-long discussion on Sharp Park that aired on KQED radio this week, click here.
Other media coverage on the Sharp Park report:
Day 7: An Aging Irrigation System, Environmental Sustainability and a Salad for Lunch
Monday, July 13, 2009Posted by
Reflindo
Monday, July 13th, 2009
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.
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.
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