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Playfields Initiative - Update
December 8, 2004
San Francisco Parks Trust has gone through many phases during the last 33 years.
From our humble beginnings as a support organization for the San Francisco Recreation
and Parks Department, to a driving and self-initiating force in the community, SFPT
has undertaken a variety of distinctive and meaningful projects. The $2 million
improvements to the West End of Golden Gate Park, the Neighborhood Parks Grants
Program providing $500,000 to aid small parks organizations throughout the City, the
launching of the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show, and the enormous success of the
renovation and re-opening of the Conservatory of Flowers have all had a lasting impact
on our City.
SFPT is now turning our attention to one of the core issues in our park system—a
lack of ball fields for organized and pick-up games of softball, soccer, football and
rugby. During the first phase of the Playfields Initiative, SFPT will build on the
recently completed Recreation Assessment and undertake a comprehensive examination of
the overall need for new playfields in San Francisco and identify specific locations
for new and renovated fields. We also want to review the permitting system to ensure
that families and new sporting leagues have the opportunity to use the City’s playfields
and look at creative ways to keep these fields maintained and renewed.
Of course, San Francisco Parks Trust is not in this alone. We are teaming up with
San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, the San Francisco Unified School District,
city athletic leagues, independent schools, community groups and other organizations so
that we have a complete understanding of what kinds of fields people want, and where
they need them.
We hope that by adding playfields in the City, whether for soccer, football, lacrosse
or baseball, we will bring opportunities to areas of San Francisco that do not enjoy the
advantages of established sports programming.
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