[House] eNews from SF Recreation and Parks- November 17, 2021

[SF Recreation and Parks]

Updates, news and events in San Francisco parks  New Boat Dock Makes Waves at Lake Merced City officials gathered with community members and dragon boat racers at Lake Merced this past weekend to say ahoy to a new boat dock and gangway that allows safer recreation for seniors and people with disabilities and ensures future access for the public, including youth and cultural groups, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced.  The $1.68 million overhaul included removing the old gangway and freeboard wooden dock and replacing them with improved and upgraded facilities that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The slope of the new gangway is more gentle and the dock is slightly larger at 140 feet, allowing for safe access to boats docked on either side. Additional improvements include landscaping, an accessible parking stall, a concrete path leading to the new dock, a new light pole and an asphalt driveway. The project was largely funded through the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond Community Opportunity Fund thanks to the advocacy of youth and adult boating communities. A demonstration by the California Dragon Boat Association followed the ribbon cutting, while Rec and Park provided free kayaking to the public. Thank you District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar, former District 7 Supervisor Norman Yee, the California Dragon Boat Association, San Francisco Public Works, the community, and more for supporting this project! For more information, click the link below. Lake Merced Boat Dock Rec and Park and SFBGS Propose Unified Management of GGP Gardens In a move to improve visitor services and position the “Gardens of Golden Gate Park” as a one of the top cultural and environmental institutions in the country, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department this week will seek approval to merge admissions, education and outreach programs at San Francisco Botanical Garden, Conservatory of Flowers and Japanese Tea Garden under the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society (SFBGS). The San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission will vote on Thursday, November 18 on whether to recommend the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approve an amendment to expand the nonprofit’s current lease and management agreement of the San Francisco Botanical Garden to include the Conservatory of Flowers and the Japanese Tea Garden. While all three institutions are overseen by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and are located a short walk from one another, their admissions, fundraising, and visitor experience functions have historically been operated by different organizations. Under the proposed agreement, the three gardens would have a campus feel while keeping their individual legacy names. Together, they would be recognized and marketed as the “Gardens of Golden Gate Park,” a regional organization with national and international recognition and partnerships. The merge would eliminate nonprofit redundancies, estimated to save approximately $400,000 a year while allowing visitors, volunteers, and schoolchildren to experience a combined educational and cultural experience and attracting greater philanthropic support for capital improvements at each location. For more information about the proposed change, click the link below. Gardens of Golden Gate Park Greenager Graduation at Lake Merced Boathouse on November 20 Join us for the graduation of this year's Greenager class on Saturday, November 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lake Merced Boathouse (1 Harding Road). The Greenager program is a youth stewardship and leadership program led in partnership with the Port of San Francisco and supported by the San Francisco Parks Alliance. Teens play an important role in the community by improving the city’s green spaces, raising awareness, and creating place-based projects on issues participants value. We are honoring 20 Greenagers from our southeast and northeast crews, who come from districts 9,10, and 11, and 3, 5, and 6 respectively. Dress will be semi-formal attire. To attend this event, RSVP by emailing carissa.ortega at sfgov.org. For more information about the Greenager program, click the link below. Greenager Program Winter Lights in Golden Gate Park Begins on December 1 and 2 Starting in December, visitors to Golden Gate Park will journey through an immersive wonderland of light, nature and art as illuminated paths, interactive exhibits, and live performances brighten nearly a mile of car-free JFK Drive and the park’s Music Concourse. Winter Lights, an illuminated outdoor experience for all ages, is presented by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, the San Francisco Parks Alliance, Illuminate, Conservatory of Flowers, and the National AIDS Memorial Grove. On Wednesday, December 1, the National AIDS Memorial Grove will be illuminated for the public on World AIDS Day beginning at 4:30 p.m. to stroll amid the redwoods and to experience a candlelight reflection for an evening of lights and artistic performances. A moving ceremonial reading of names lost to AIDS begins at 5 p.m.   Afterwards, Illuminate presents San Francisco Poet Laureate Tongo Eisen-Martin, and Monumental Reckoning sculptor Dana King for a ceremony and performances starting at 5 p.m. at the Golden Gate Bandshell to kick off the Music Concourse’s transformation into The Alterverse, a celebration of poetry and light. The evening includes the debut of the words LIFT EVERY VOICE atop the newly revived Golden Gate Bandshell, and a giant wall of lighted scrolling poetry along the facade of the de Young Museum.  On Thursday, December 2 from 4 to 8 p.m., the annual lighting of Uncle John’s Tree in Golden Gate Park returns after a 2020 hiatus. This free family-friendly tradition will feature activities, food trucks, carnival rides, a tobogganing hill, the San Francisco Public Library’s Book Mobile, performances and more.   In addition, stroll down John F. Kennedy Drive to visit Entwined by Charles Gadeken at the Peacock Meadow, the lighted Conservatory of Flowers, the SkyStar Wheel in the Music Concourse, and more. The event will also feature a free Bike Valet from the San Francisco Bike Coalition, while the Golden Gate Park shuttle will be running between McLaren Lodge and the Music Concourse.    American Sign Language interpreters will be present at the McLaren Lodge event stage. For other accommodation requests, please contact Lucas Tobin at lucas.tobin at sfgov.org or (415) 831-6834. Please note that making your request at least 72 hours before the event will help ensure availability. We look forward to seeing you all under the winter lights! Winter Lights Camp Mather Lottery Opens on December 2 We're excited to share that Camp Mather will be back for the summer of 2022! Mark your calendars for the lottery, which will begin on Thursday, December 2 and close on Thursday, January 6. Proof of vaccination will be required for all vaccine eligible guests. For more information, click the link below or contact Carmelita Rogers by phone at (415) 831-2781 or email at matherreservations at sfgov.org. Camp Mather Love Letters to SF Workshop Series on November 18 Shine On SF and TogetherSF in partnership with Youth Speaks, the San Francisco Parks Alliance, First Exposures, Building 180 and One Hat One Hand, are excited to announce the Love Letters to SF Workshop Series. Workshop participants will learn about the art and skill of short-form storytelling while helping to create a traveling art installation using more than 3,000 individual Golden Cards. The Golden Cards were collected as part of the Shine On SF Golden Tree activation. Workshop volunteers will help affix Golden Cards to 7-foot-tall block letters spelling ‘SHINE ON SF’ under the direction of the installation designer. The letters will then pop-up at multiple locations across the city during the holidays.      Participate in the final workshop at TogetherSF, (2505 Mariposa Street) on Thursday, November 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. During the workshop, Youth Speaks’ facilitators will provide exercises in storytelling, using the Golden Cards as inspiration. For more information and to register, click the link below. Love Letters to SF Workshops Esprit Park Community Update on November 18 Join the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department for an online update for community members on the Esprit Park renovation project on Thursday, November 18, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. This update will include a presentation on progress with the park design, project schedule, budget and next steps. There will also be a chance for community members to ask questions of the project manager and design team. To join the meeting on November 18, see the details below: Join Zoom Meeting https://bit.ly/espritzoomlink4 Meeting ID: 817 9938 2376 Passcode: 041209 Dial in: 669.900.6833 For more information about the project, visit the project page at the link below. Esprit Park Project Golden Gate Park Bandshell Concerts for November 19, 20 & 21 Golden Gate Bandshell’s iconic stage is packed with a series of free outdoor concerts in Golden Gate Park this fall, courtesy of Illuminate, San Francisco Parks Alliance, and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. On Friday, November 19, the Brassworks Band will perform for Soul/Jazz Friday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, November 20, the San Francisco Parks Alliance presents Sven and the Masterful Orchestra with special guest Lara Louise from noon to 3:30 p.m. On Sunday, November 21, Jah Yzer and special guest Rocker-T will perform for Reggae Sunday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. For more information, click the link below. GGP Bandshell Concerts Sankofa Makers Market on November 20 Join community partners for the Sankofa Makers Market on Saturday, November 20 at India Basin Shoreline Park (Hunters Point Boulevard and Hawes Street) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This quarterly outdoor market will feature local BIPOC-run businesses from the Bayview-Hunters Point community. Stop by and enjoy games, food and more! For more information, click the link below. Sankofa Makers Market Mobile Rec at Hamilton Rec Center on November 20 Mobile Rec is coming to Hamilton Rec Center (1900 Geary Boulevard) on Saturday, November 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., for free BMX biking, skateboarding and more. Equipment will be provided. Note that there will be no rock wall for the fall session. Grind rails and catch some air this Saturday! For more information, click the link below. Mobile Rec Future of JFK Drive: Provide Feedback by November 24 The Golden Gate Park Access and Safety Program, a joint effort of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (RPD) and San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), is tasked with finding solutions that balance the need for safe, car-free spaces with the need for access to Golden Gate Park for all visitors, including seniors and the disability community. An extensive public outreach process that was launched asks the public to consider a broad range of proposed updates to the car-free route on Golden Gate Park’s John F. Kennedy Drive—from modifying street closures to improving access to mobility services like the park shuttle, bikeshare, scooters, taxis and pedicabs. Be sure to provide feedback by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24, which will mark the end of our outreach process. The Golden Gate Park Access and Safety Program Dahlia Society of California Community Design Meeting on December 8 Join the Dahlia Society of California for a virtual community meeting on Wednesday, December 8 from 5 to 6 p.m. to discuss the planned improvements to the Dahlia Dell's hillside garden in Golden Gate Park. Learn about the history of the Dahlia Society's efforts, view and comment on proposed improvements, and find out how you can volunteer. To register and receive a link to join the call, click the link below. Dahlia Dell Community Design Meeting Herons' Head Nature Exploration Area Wins UNICEF Award We are excited to share that the new Nature Exploration Area (NEA) at Heron's Head Park was awarded a UNICEF Cities Inspire Award. Watch Our Video of the Week to see the NEA's entry for this prestigious award.   The Cities Inspire Awards celebrate innovative and inspiring solutions or projects that foster child rights at the local level and improve the daily lives of children and young people in the cities and communities where they live. The Nature Exploration Area is a kid-designed, 12,000-square-foot playspace that encourages people of all ages to creatively engage with natural elements like logs, stumps, and boulders. The project promotes equitable access to outdoor play and nature and expands the role of Heron’s Head Park as an environmental education hub for youth. This project was a collaboration between the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, the Port of San Francisco, Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco Children and Nature, Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds, and KABOOM! Thank you to everyone who voted for the NEA, as well as to UNICEF and its partners in the Real Play Coalition for highlighting innovative projects that make cities and communities more equitable and child friendly. For more information, click the link below. UNICEF Cities Inspire Award San Francisco Recreation and Parks | sfrecpark.org ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ SF Recreation and Parks | McLaren Lodge-Golden Gate Park, 501 Stanyan Street, San Francisco , CA 94117 Unsubscribe house at digitalkingdom.org Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by rpdinfo at sfgov.org powered by Try email marketing for free today!
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