Renovation

Report on Second Community Meeting on Playground Renovation

On June 26, 2008 we held the second of three Community Meetings on playground renovation, with the goal of unveiling three design options to the public for review and comment.

The 3 designs (shown above) are part of our current Schematic Design phase in which we are exploring base options for the form and circulation of the playground as a medium for play and social gathering. After reviewing the community feedback, specific playground structures and cost decisions will be discussed in the Design Development phase. Our goal is to move into the final phase of Construction Documentation and break ground in May 2009!

You are invited to download a comprehensive report of the meeting with detailed drawings, public comments, and explanations of the goals for each schematic drawing.

Click here to download the report (pdf file >1.6mb).

We will be conducting the final public meeting in mid-September. We are thrilled with the world-class ideas being explored and look forward to seeing you at the meeting. Stay tuned for further announcements.

Please feel free to provide your feedback by sending us email.

What are we up to?

Friends of Dolores Park Playground is continuing to work with Supervisor Bevan Dufty and the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department. The goal is to create a world-class playground that is beautiful, clean, and safe for children of all abilities.

Hear about our efforts in a televised interview with our chair of the Steering Committee, Nancy Madynski on the Neighborhood Empowerment Network.
Watch the video >

There are several important reasons to renovate the playground.

1. The current play structures are more than thirty years old and do not comply with current safety standards. One example is arsenic in the paint.
   Learn more about this >
2. The surface of the playground is sand which often hides dangerous materials (broken glass, cigarette butts, syringes). Most of the newer playgrounds have a rubberized surface which does not hide foreign objects.
3. There is currently no physical barrier surrounding the play area, and most research shows that a barrier is a key safety component for playgrounds.
4. The drainage system in the play area is poorly-designed and often leaves the playground flooded and unusable.

Short-term Goals

1. Installation of signs that define the perimeter of the current playground and specify codes and regulations.
   (Installed on May 10, 2007- Thank You SF Rec & Park)
2. Installation of a "kiosk" with a covered bulletin board to post events and notices.
   (Installed on February 12, 2008 - Thank you Neighborhood Parks Council)
3. Daily sifting of the sand and playground clean up.
   (Started in April 07 and is on going- Thank you SF Rec & Park)
4. Increased vigilance of the playground to minimize night-time use by adults.
   

Friends of Dolores Park Playground 2008