OUR FUTURE CITY
Time for a quick quiz. No cheating, and no asking Alexa or Siri: What’s bigger, Golden Gate Park or New York’s Central Park?
It’s a loaded question. We wouldn’t have asked if Central Park were the answer, right? Our park is 20 percent bigger. You can argue with your New York friends whether it’s also 20 percent better.
But there’s no dispute that the 1,017-acre Golden Gate Park requires a lifetime to know. The Frisc has already featured two of the park’s less heralded corners as part of our series of city explorations, and no doubt we’ll have more.
There’s a big celebration on April 4, the park’s actual birthday. In anticipation, we’ve asked a range of park lovers, from the chiefs of top institutions to people with dirt under their fingernails, for their vision of the park’s future.
Answers are edited and condensed for clarity.
Phil Ginsburg, general manager, SF Recreation & Parks Department
“My vision for Golden Gate Park’s future is driven by access and equity. It’s a phenomenal resource for everyone, and I want it to be easy to access by people who live in the eastern part of the city and beyond. I think that happens through a sustainable, multi-modal transportation strategy. People love the sheer diversity of things to do, from fine arts to sciences to outdoor recreation. Our future will involve celebrating that diversity and finding even more meaningful ways to enjoy the park.”
[Note: As part of the 150th anniversary, Rec and Park is running free shuttles to the park this year from recreation centers around the city.]
Zeima Kassahun, community tree planting manager, Friends of the Urban Forest
“In the next 10 years, I want to see more trees planted in and near the park. As time progresses, I hope that these plantings will result in a beautiful and fuller urban canopy with a wide variety of species, ages, and plant communities. So as trees come and go, we will always have access to a healthy and robust urban forest.
I was a part of planting in the [Tree] Fern Dell where we planted Tasmanian fern trees. I would love to see more of those. The park is unique in that it is a suitable habitat for many species that we can’t plant outside of the park, so I support the planting of these rare species like the fern tree or the Araucaria araucana (monkey puzzle tree).”
Thomas Campbell, director and CEO, Fine Arts Museums of SF
“I would prioritize increased safety for all visitors, whether they arrive by foot, car, bicycle, or public transportation. I would like to see lighted pathways so the park can continue to be a safe and attractive place to gather after dark. I would like increased night programming, especially in the Music Concourse, more access for those with mobility limitations, and even a light rail line to the park, connecting visitors and our staff who take BART from the East and South Bays.
At the de Young, I want to restore our grounds to the original glory that Walter Hood designed in 2005. (More than 1 million visitors a year for 15 years have had their wear and tear.) Our 125th anniversary this year presents the perfect opportunity to raise the funds.”
Elizabeth Rappolt, president, SF Vikings Soccer Club
“Where the stables are, I would like to see some futsal courts. The unused stables are just dilapidated buildings, and we are currently playing futsal on basketball and tennis courts because there is not a single futsal court in SF. Rec & Park runs a huge winter futsal league indoors, but for the rest of the year, it would be great to have outdoor courts.”
Amber Hasselbring, executive director, Nature in the City
“Golden Gate Park will continue to be a haven for individuals to immerse themselves in nature. However, we envision a more dynamic and alive ecosystem. Protected habitats must be created at every opportunity — especially at the edges of trails, grassy meadows, and to surround cultural institutions. We must protect all existing habitats from further degradation. Water features must be cleared of pesticides and planted with berry-producing shrubs and pollinator plantings to ensure that they are good habitats for breeding birds. Trails would undergo major improvements, ensuring they are well defined and labeled, and ADA-accessible trails would open up to and connect park destinations.
A significant population of people reside hidden away within the park. Rather than forcibly uprooting them, we envision a partnership with service groups that would provide training, entry-level jobs, and employment assistance for those experiencing homelessness. People could learn about ecosystem restoration, the health benefits of nature, and gain valuable skills and connections to new opportunities.”
David Miles, Jr., aka “The Godfather of Skating” and “The Mayor of Golden Gate Park”
“I truly think Golden Gate Park should be completely car-free. I see interpark transportation that gets people to all areas that make the park great. Maybe underground, maybe connected to a BART station, or maybe a driverless electronic cable-car type of system.
I see the roller skating area redesigned to be a real outdoor roller skating rink, much like the tennis courts, complete with restrooms and a concession stand that blend in with the green grass and trees that surround the area.”
Inner Sunset Park Neighbors
From the board of directors: “We would love a grand arched entrance at 9th and Lincoln, an outdoor pool, and a separate Pickleball center. It would be wonderful to have BART or N-Judah Muni service in the park. We would love to get private vehicles out of the park and, like in New York’s Central Park, use tunnels or subgrade crossovers so cars could get from north to south neighborhoods. (Crossover Drive was supposed to be underground, but they ran out of money for it.)
We would also like to have seamless entrances from the Panhandle and the beach, without large streets cutting off the connections, by undergrounding Stanyan Street and the Great Highway for a short while.”
Stephanie Linder, executive director, SF Botanical Garden Society
“We hope to see:
— A new nursery in the Botanical Garden that will allow us to nurture and exchange rare plants with other botanical gardens, governments, and nonprofits around the globe, with the goal of preserving these species and saving them from extinction.
— Expanded and further specialized global plant collections that truly capitalize on our exceptionally unique ‘Goldilocks’ climate, including many more rare and endangered plants from biodiversity hotspots like California and beyond.
— A new, world-renowned Nature Exploration Zone in the western end of the Botanical Garden that allows all children and their families to engage the wonder and magic of the natural world in the heart of the city.”
Colleen Stobbe, commodore, SF Model Yacht Club
“One of the main issues in the park is infrastructure and facilities. Our clubhouse was built in 1939, it’s a classic WPA building. We wouldn’t want a full makeover, but it needs some repair. Spreckles Lake, where we sail, was built in 1904 specifically for model boating. You can come right up to the edge and put your boat in, so the integrity of the lake itself is a huge deal. The lake edge is subsiding.
And when the geese are around, there’s algae bloom in the lake [from their poop]. It’s a challenge to clean up; within a day it can get bad.
People aren’t supposed to feed the birds or the fish. The park is working on new signage, which helps, but it’s hard, people just want to do it.”
Drew Becher, CEO, SF Parks Alliance
“We’d love to see more San Franciscans get involved in the variety of community and volunteer groups throughout Golden Gate Park. Examples include volunteering for habitat restoration with Friends of Oak Woodlands, discovering the Golden Gate Park Band, or getting involved with Friends of Golden Gate Park Dog Parks.
Participating in these groups is a great way to support the park’s overall cultural and environmental fabric.
Some of them have existed for 50-plus years. Membership and participation have declined over the years; we’d love to see these groups persist for the next 150 years. They’re a critical part of not just the park’s identity but also San Francisco. A majority of San Franciscans aren’t aware of these groups. Your next favorite hobby or pastime could be out there waiting, be it roller disco, lawn bowling, or Frisbee golf!”