| |
Home
Current Issue
Advertisers
How to Advertise
About Us
Issue Archive
Community Links |
|
New Improvement Project Breaks Ground at Buena Vista Park
Taking part in the March 16 ground breaking ceremony are (from left to right) Jared Blumenfeld, Acting Director of the SF Recreation and Parks Dept., Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, Richard Magary of the Buena Vista Neighborhood Association, Supervisor Bevan Dufty, SF Police Department Captain Teresa Barrett, Alex Randolph of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, and Isabel Wade, Executive Director of the Neighborhood Parks Council. Two
unidentified canines get in on the action.
Long-time residents living near the park (from left to right) Jerry Ellis,
Marjorie Mull, Carlyn Halde and John Hooper turned out for the event.
By Bill Sywak
In the drizzle of a Monday morning in March, friends, neighbors, civic officials and even a sampling of appreciative canines gathered at the base of Buena Vista Park to witness a simple groundbreaking ceremony to kick off the “Southeast Slope Improvement Project.”
The result of over ten years of planning by the neighboring community and the public works and recreation and parks, departments, the work will include erosion control and trail improvements, a new stairway and retaining walls, tree maintenance and new plantings and irrigation lines. According to Richard Magary of the Buena Vista Neighborhood Association, “There’s six to eight months of hard work ahead, and we’re looking for minimal disruption in the neighborhood.”
Over the years this wooded hill in the heart of the city – boasting spectacular views of the bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, St. Ignatius Cathedral and the city itself – has gone from a busy after hours meeting place, to a beloved strolling and dog walking paradise. The March 16 groundbreaking ceremony represented a commencement of the $2.6 million park improvement bond initiative approved by San Francisco’s voters several years ago.
Buena Vista Park straddles two supervisor’s districts, District 5 of Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi and District 8 of Supervisor Bevan Dufty. “This is a really active neighborhood. I can’t emphasize enough that Buena Vista Park is an example of what makes this city special, to have this beautiful oasis where you can see the grandeur and the physical beauty of this city,” said Dufty who complimented Mirkarimi for his role.
“I’m glad to see this point of arrival, where the advocacy of everyone from this area helped us secure the city’s commitment,” said Mirkarimi. He referred to the “wonderful caretaking that has been going on” by volunteers and recreation and park staff, and was glad that the park “will be upgraded in a way it deserves. There is no other park like it, and we are fortunate to have it so close to us.”
Buena Vista has long been a special park for dog walking, something that was acknowledged by longtime neighbor Carlyn Halbe. Described by one person at the ceremony as a “generous and thoughtful neighbor,” Halbe noted that the public funding did not include any money for new benches and a community bulletin board. As a result, she has pledged $5,000 to start a fund for additional benches, noting the need for “the owner to sit while the dog plays.” Halbe would like to honor those who contribute by placing a plaque on each donated bunch with the donor’s name and that of their dog. According to Magary, Halbe’s pledge “will give us the spark we need” to get the park campaign under way.
For more information on the Buena Vista Park improvements contact Meghan Tiernan at (415) 581-2557 or by e-mail at Meghan.Tiernan@sfgov.org or Richard Magary at Info@bvnasf.com.
|
