Every three months the Recreation and Parks Department (RPD) and the Controller’s Office rate the city’s 166 parks, playgrounds and civic plazas on a wide array of criteria covering built facilities and natural areas. The findings are sliced and diced and published in an annual report covering the fiscal year– July 2021 through June 2022–and […]
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New pilot program for instant, online electrical solar permits
Great news! Today, the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) launched a pilot program for instant, online electrical permits for some residential rooftop solar panel projects! During the pilot program, California licensed contractors can use SolarAPP+, a web-based application, to bypass upfront plan review and obtain an instant, online electrical permit for qualifying rooftop solar installations of […]
Neighbors recount wild night in upper Glen Park
By Sal Novoa: Multiple high schools got together Saturday night for a big party in Glen Canyon Park at around 8 pm. I estimated the crowd size at 200-250. According to some of the kids I chatted with, it was a Wolf of Wall Street keg party–the largest keg event this year. SFPD […]
Wet concrete vs. car on Elk Street conjures troubled history of achieving crosswalk
Glen Park resident Sal Novoa was driving on Elk Street Tuesday afternoon, January 24, when he spotted a most peculiar scene. He tells it this way: “Sharing some photos of an unfortunate driving error. “An older gentleman weaved around the street closure barriers. We heard the workers trying to stop him from entering, their hands […]
CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY–February events
Book lovers have a home at the Rec Center
The weekly Book Discussion Group at the Glen Park Rec Center is gaining popularity since it was started in March 2022. There are now thirteen regulars and no one is turned away. They currently meet Tuesdays from 1 to 3 pm. (Check the new feature in the Glen Park News sidebar for classes and events […]
Tuesday Night at the Movies–at the Glen Park Rec Center
Glen Park Rec Center is hosting free screenings of classic movies on Tuesday nights at 5:30. On Tuesday, January 24, we will be showing the musical Swing High, Swing Low (1937), and on Tuesday, January 31, we will be showing the Buster Keaton classic Sherlock Jr. (1924), at which local filmmaker and film scholar Maia […]
Join the Oxalis Campaign–volunteers urgently needed!
Dear Greenway supporter, The Greenway’s Native Meadow is at a key moment in its development and it urgently needs us to protect it. You’ve probably noticed how well the native plants are doing, but the Oxalis that escaped our weed suppression methods is just getting going and, if we’re quick, it presents us with a […]
Rising Waters in and Around Glen Park is Nothing New: A Look Back
The torrent of rain delivered by the Category 4 atmospheric river that careened into San Francisco on December 31, 2022, was nothing short of biblical. The 5.5 inches of rain recorded in those 24 hours (half of the expected total for all of December) exceeded any amount recorded for that date since record-keeping began in […]
Find out all about project leader of Burnside Mural+
Renee Berger, driving force behind the Burnside Mural+, the mural now having been completed and the mosaic tile stairway underway, has had a fascinating life and career of public service. Read all about Renee here, on San Francisco Senior Beat.
Winter storms wreak havoc in Glen Park
Call it what you will–atmospheric river, pineapple express, or bomb cyclone–no words are too hyperbolic to describe the mighty power of the current wave of storms. Glen Park has had its share of destruction, from toppled saplings to crushed homes. Our hilly and meandering geography, so charming in the sunshine and fog, turns threatening as […]
Deluge will continue over the next 10 days
The SF Chronicle has excellent coverage of the continued storms soaking Northern California. The Glen Park News encourages all residents to read up and be aware of how to stay safe. This link in particular is very helpful. And this, from DEM– SF Department of Emergency Management. In a time sensitive announcement, Glen Park resident […]
Atmospheric river drenches Glen Park with more rain to come
This week San Francisco is experiencing what’s known as either an atmospheric river or, the term more common years ago – a Pineapple Express. Both refer to the same meteorological phenomenon characterized, a storm with heavy rainfall that comes when a flow of warm, moist air flows from the Hawaiian Islands across the Pacific ocean […]
CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY–January events
As 2022 draws to a close, the Greenway is still a work in progress
Have you walked along the Glen Park Greenway recently? Many who live in Glen Park use the trail through the Greenway to walk from the BART station and the shops on Diamond Street towards the Recreation Center in Glen Canyon Park; to stretch their legs, clear their mind or walk their dog. Visitors from other […]
GLEN PARK REAL ESTATE — November recap
I just got back from my first real vacation since before the pandemic, and boy was that an adventure! I’ll spare you the details, but let me just say don’t get stuck taking a red-eye flight from an airport and town that closes down completely by 11pm. Any mishap will quickly become an epic disaster. Safe […]
Selfies with Santa!
CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY–November 2022
Halloween in Glen Park 2022
Photos by: Lindsey Scrase, Danh Trang, Charlie Vella, Bonnee Waldstein, Beth Weise
Volunteers needed for Nightmare on Elk Street
🎃We are looking for volunteers for Glen Park‘s 2nd Annual “Nightmare on Elk St. – CARNEVIL” Sat. 10/29 3-9pm🎃 Please sign up for shifts using this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A4AA8AE2DABFA7-glen **Volunteer times can be flexible – we appreciate being able to commit to whole time slot, but please let us know what portion you are able to be make and we […]
Department of Public Health speaks to issues of rodent infestation in Glen Park
Because of the many issues surrounding the rodent infestation in Glen Park, on October 20th the Glen Park News interviewed Patrick Fosdahl, MS, REHS, Director of the Environmental Health Branch of the Department of Public Health (DPH). Statement by DPH: The Department is prohibited by privacy laws from confirming if a person is receiving services […]
At age 100, Harry Lew stays healthy and happy playing tennis at Glen Canyon Park
The Glen Park News got a tip recently about a group of seniors who play tennis three times a week at Glen Canyon Park. The team was organized many years ago by Harry Lew, who had lived on Monterey Boulevard since 1960 but moved to Oakland in 2017. Lew retired in 1982 from the San […]
Nightmare on Elk Street: Carnevil 10/29
Nightmare on Elk Street: Carnevil on October 29 Carnival games, haunted house, entertainment, food vendors and more from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) on Saturday, October 29. For more information, call the recreation center at (415) 239-4007.
Muni’s 10 Worst Delay Spots
The 44-O’Shaughnessy has the dubious distinction of falling within MUNI’s top ten routes experiencing delays for various reasons. Muni will make three more improvements over the next few months at two locations along the 44 O’Shaughnessy route. Read this post from the San Francisco Standard to find out why and what is being done […]
Halloween pumpkins, a 28-year tradition by the Vella family
This year, 100+ pumpkins will be on display outside the Vella family home at 354 Sussex. It’s a family tradition in its 28th year, and the Glen Park community is grateful for this unique event that we look forward to each year! The pumpkins will be on display starting at 5 pm on October 31. […]
GLEN PARK REAL ESTATE–September recap
Happy October! Such a great month in San Francisco :). The weather is beautiful, Halloween is always fun (especially in Glen Park!). But what of the real estate market? Well, as I’m sure you’ve heard all over the news, and seen with your own eyes, interest rates are up and there are fears of a […]
SF Chronicle on Glen Park’s Birdseed Lady problem
One S.F. neighborhood’s severe rat problem may have a single culprit: ‘Birdseed Lady’ San Francisco Chronicle Nora Mishanec Oct. 12, 2022 It started with piles of bird seed, small mountains that would arrive on the asphalt at San Francisco’s Glen Park BART station and on nearby city sidewalks. Next, neighbors said, came swarms of rats […]
Completion of Burnside Mural is celebrated
Partners in TWMC, Elaine Chu and Marina Perez-Wong, have deep artistic roots. Both are San Francisco natives (Perez-Wong is third generation native) and women of color born to single-parent women from immigrant families. In the Burnside mural, the Gum Tree Girls and Mother Nature are represented. Water is another element the muralists have been exploring […]
CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY–October programs
In addition to Glen Park Branch Library’s weekly storytime on Thursdays at 11 a.m., there are a few more programs coming up in October. Thursday, October 13 4 – 5 p.m. Young Writers Group This is our first meeting! We’ll have snacks and icebreaker games, talk about what kinds of writing you’d like to work […]
BART to bring free outdoor music series to Glen Park station October 7
The sounds of rock, Latin music, and more will bring joy to BART riders in the months of September and October as the latest “welcome back” gesture by the agency to encourage riders to return to transit and reinforce the role public transit plays in fueling the Bay Area’s economy and culture. BART is relaunching […]
Update: Glen Park Cleaners could still come back, Tommy Baik still pondering
Editors’ note: Baik reached out to the Glen Park News to clarify that he’s still considering his options when it comes to reopening his business. The story has been updated to reflect this. The Glen Park News regrets the error Four months after a fire swept through building at the corner of Chenery and Diamond, […]
Fall Quarterly Meeting: Thursday, October 6, 2022
The Glen Park Association Board is thrilled to invite you to our fall quarterly membership meeting – our first in-person meeting since January 2020! Learn About Local Ballot Measures! The Glen Park Association Fall Quarterly Meeting Thursday, October 6, 2022 6 – 8 p.m. Glen Park Recreation Center Agenda 6:00-6:30: Meet & greet your neighbors. Light refreshments […]
Film by Glen Park director wins award at Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema
(Dan Goldes has lived in Glen Park on Joost St. since 1998. His documentary films include 5 Blocks, Arrested (Again), ub2, and Keeper of the Creek. 5blocksproject.com) Oakland resident Paul Panish has been writing poetry for most of his 87 years and a new documentary film about him, directed by Glen Park resident Dan Goldes, […]
Massive tree limb comes down with a thud
Monday, September 12, was the day a tree that was threatening to “do something” for years, made a dramatic statement. Neighbors flocked to the site on the Greenway at the upward slope to Bosworth Street, adjacent to Brompton Avenue, where at around 3:35 pm, a large tree limb broke away from its trunk and fell […]
9/10 Cleanup
Glen Park Neighborhood History Project & Glen Canyon Featured on SF Chronicle’s Total SF Podcast
Secrets of Glen Canyon: Dynamite, bears and a freeway revolt! Glen Canyon is one of the most underrated parks in San Francisco, with a dramatic history that’s mostly unknown beyond the Glen Park neighborhood. Glen Park Neighborhood History Project founder Evelyn Rose joins Total SF hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight to talk about the […]
Murals are having a moment
The latest one to appear in Glen Park is on one side of the home of the Schiraldis—Hilary, Mike and daughter Zelda (age 7). The family has lived on Laidley Street since 2009. The mural can be viewed up close on the east side of Castro Street between Laidley and Bemis Streets. They thought the […]
Glen Park is on an improvement spree—you can join in
NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUPS MAKE GLEN PARK STREETS SPARKLE How often have you walked by trash on Glen Park streets and grumbled to yourself, “I wish someone would clean this stuff up?” That someone might be–you. Blessed as a transit hub with a BART station, freeway access and multiple MUNI bus lines, as well as a vibrant […]
YOU’RE INVITED: Burnside Mural+ Party
We’re having a party to share the love of the fabulous Burnside mural! Please join to celebrate its completion and be among the first to see the gorgeous preliminary design for tiling the stairway that rises above the mural. You’ll have a chance to meet the wonderfully talented artists! DATE/TIME: September 17th from 3pm-5pm WHERE: […]
GLEN PARK REAL ESTATE–July Recap
As we move into the dog days of summer, things are moving at a slower pace in the world of real estate as well. For those of you who are concerned about a huge crash like we had in 2008—look at this pictograph as a helpful reminder that we do not have the same forces […]
A Good Read: Profile of Bookstore Owner Eric Whittington
The Glen Park News is pleased to reprint this wonderful story about Eric Whittington, owner of neighborhood gem Bird & Beckett Books and Records, written by Bill Snyder of SF Senior Beat, an online newsletter. We’re also taking this opportunity to draw attention to the Bird & Beckett Cultural Legacy Project, the nonprofit that supports […]
Warning sign goes up on Lippard Avenue as Crosstown Trail traffic grows
July 23, 2022 UPDATE After complaints about pedestrian safety as more people walk the Crosstown Trail that crosses Lippard between Bosworth and Chenery Streets, a warning sign went up the week of July 18, 2022. A red zone has also been added to the crossing. Original story from June 14, 2022 The amount of foot […]
Let your voice be heard on SF trash cans
As was reported in a previous post SFPW will be testing a variety of trash cans in neighborhoods throughout the city to gain experience and feedback about which one fulfills the unique and specific needs of San Franciscans wishing to throw stuff away. A special website has been launched offering a survey and showing the […]
History + Fun = Gum Tree Girls Festival
Planets, stars–nay–entire galaxies were aligned on Sunday, July 10 to bring about super weather and enthusiastic neighbors and friends to the Gum Tree Girls Festival in Glen Canyon Park. Neighborhood historian Evelyn Rose, founder and director of the Glen Park Neighborhoods History Project, spearheaded the event. Safe to say, without Rose this wouldn’t have even […]
What do you want to throw your trash into? SFPW wants to know
This summer, San Francisco Public Works will place prototypes of our next generation public trash cans on the street for real-life testing at 52 locations in the city. Community members will have the opportunity to evaluate the cans and give input into the final selection. A special website has been launched offering a survey and […]
The saga of the Peter Rocha case comes full circle
A mentally ill homeless man who frequents Glen Park and spent a year in jail and a year in a locked psychiatric ward after an elderly resident died subsequent to an altercation with him, is back in the neighborhood. On June 10, Peter Rocha was acquitted of murder in the May 2020 death of Leo […]
Volunteers needed for Gum Tree Girls Festival
Dear Fans of the Gum Tree Girls, We are just days away from the Festival! Everything is coming together! We are, however, still in need of volunteers to staff the various activities we have in store. If you are attending and even if you’re not, please consider donating some of your time toward making the […]
Fireworks safety tips for people and pets & how and when to report to SFPD
The current Ingleside Station newsletter has a lot of valuable advice about fireworks issues on this July 4 weekend. Read the newsletter here.
Local bus routes are being restored
In a sign that things are slowly and carefully returning to normalcy during the Covid-19 pandemic, SFMTA has announced the restoration of pre-pandemic bus routes along major lines in the city as of July 9. Local bus lines 23 Monterey and 52 Excelsior are among those on the list: Details here.
Two Greenway work parties in July
Hello Friend and Supporter of the Greenway, The grass plants that we put in the Native Meadow in January are looking really good. One of the secrets to their success is the careful watering using their drip irrigation system that we installed on the south side of the trail in March. Now it’s time for […]