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Kids Might Still Have Sand in their Shoes in New Playground

December 18, 2011 by Elizabeth Weise

By Bonnee Waldstein

Photos by Bonnee Waldstein

Schematic of improvements slated for Glen Canyon Park
Community members sort through options for the playground renovation

The new playground in Glen Canyon Park, slated for completion in winter 2013-14, will feature the newest, most up-to-date play structures for Glen Park’s youngsters to run around and frolic in.

Yet, the burning issue in the new design couldn’t be more low-tech:  Sand or no sand?  Most parents were dismayed at the possibility that the playground would not have any sand; current conditions are—sand everywhere.  Most users like it that way.

Times change and so do playgrounds.  Health and safety codes put into effect in the last 30 or 40 years have addressed issues that weren’t on our radar screens until recently.

Community members sort through options for the playground renovation

At the final community meeting for the Glen Canyon Park Plan, which will guide improvements funded by the 2008 Clean and Safe Streets bond act, an array of options for improvements in the playground was presented.  The alternatives were based on feedback from previous meetings, emails and other communications.

In response to parents’ requests, a Rec and Park staff member was present to oversee the activities of the children whose parents attended the meeting at the Rec Center.

Although the focus this time around was on the playground, the other main features of the renovation project are:

.  New drop-off area on Elk Street with at least two parking spaces

.  A welcoming entry plaza

. Sidewalk renovation along Elk Street

. Relocation of tennis courts

. Picnic area

. Enhanced emergency access at the Bosworth Street entrance

. Pathways and circulation patterns within the recreation area

. Improvements to the gymnasium floor and restrooms in the recreation building

. Unisex restroom on east wing of building that is accessible from outside and also available seven days a week, during specified times when the Rec Center is closed.

Kristin Bowman, the park service area manager for Glen Canyon Park, and 30-40 other recreational sites in the city, gave the group a reality check on the operational challenge of sand.  Due to varying geographic conditions, some city playgrounds have sand and others don’t.

At Noe playground, cats use the sand as a giant litter box. Park staff needs to sift it twice a day.  Now the community wants to replace it.  Eureka Valley originally had sand, but the district supervisor had it removed because of hidden needles and condoms.  On the other hand, both Douglas and Christopher playgrounds have sand and very few issues.  Bowman anticipates that if Glen Canyon playground had a designated sand play area, we too would have few problems.

But there’s more.  Under current regulations, the other play structures would need to be on a rubber or some other safety surface.  That would inevitably result in sand migrating onto it. There’s no adequate way to prevent it or get it off once it’s there.  Over time (and we’re on a roughly thirty-year timeline), the sand would wear out the surface.

In the past, Bowman has looked into the possibility of covering the sand after hours, but says all the solutions are inadequate.

After this sobering news, the group decided they were still in favor of having at least a limited sand play area.

Another area of controversy that was addressed was the removal of trees to make way for relocating the tennis courts.  Karen Mauney-Brodek of Rec and Park announced that, for every tree removed, three more would be planted.  That seemed to end a simmering debate for now, at least.

Controversy aside, the main feature of the meeting was the presentation of two detailed design concepts for the playground.  One featured more natural play elements, such as “faux” boulders, to blend in with the surrounding park environment.  The other emphasized more traditional, although updated, structures.  Both plans had common elements, but it wasn’t an either/or choice.

One design feature common to both options was areas that served two age ranges:

preschool (ages 2-5) and school-age (ages 5-12).  Other common considerations were to meet current safety and disability standards, accessible ground surface, limited maintenance requirements, durability, and cost  ($1 – $1.4 million budgeted).

People broke into work groups, and each one mixed and matched the elements and gave their reasons for their choices to the larger group.

It remains to be seen what the final configuration will be, but most of the community favored:

. bucket swings

. belt swings

. seat and standing spinners

. hillside slides

. crawl through log tunnel

. wooden post and deck climbing structure

. sand play area with “mushroom” steps

And perhaps the crowning jewel:

. An “Explorer Dome” of metal struts with interior climbing nets, rocks and ropes.

Natural colored surfaces were favored over the bright primary colors seen at other renovated playgrounds.

In addition to the play structure elements, options were given for seating areas, benches, perimeter fences and gates, stairs and paving, and native plantings.

The final detailed design for the playground will be unveiled by Rec and park, either in an open house or on their website in January or early February.

The community phase of the project having coming to an end, the next steps are: detailed designs and construction documents; followed by advertising, bidding and awarding construction contracts by summer 2012.  So as not to interrupt camp and other summer recreation, construction should begin in fall 2012.  The construction zone will be off limits for 10 months, though the rest of the park will still be open.  Completion is anticipated in winter 2013-14.

Comments on the design concept alternatives will be accepted until December 24 (perhaps later if the drawings are delayed in posting).

Contact:

Karen Mauney-Brodek

Project Manager I

Phone: 415-831-2789

Email: Karen.Mauney-Brodek@sfgov.org

(As of this posting the illustrations presented at the meeting were not on the Rec and Park website.  When they are posted, you can view them at http://sfrecpark.org/glenParkProject.aspx.)

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

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Just need to get last week’s
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SFCTA Freeway Ramp Open House
Thursday, May 15, 5-6:30 p.m.
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Spread the Love and the Mulch
Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m. to noon
500 block of Arlington at Roanoke
The blooming Oakwoodland on Arlington and Roanoke turns two. Come join the community in keeping out the weeds and making space for the California Natives. Tools, lunch (sponsored by neighbor Jodell) and good company provided.


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Agenda


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District 8 Cleanup Day
Saturday, June 7, 9 a.m. to afternoon
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Logo Center for Creative Exploration

The Center for Creative Exploration
Explore all the Colors of the Rainbow
one-day workshop
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300 Chenery Street
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Weeding Party
June 21, 10 a.m. to noon
100 block of Arlington at Charles
Join neighbors on the North end of the Cut to keep down the weeds and beautify top to bottom. Tools, lunch and good company provided.


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Glen Park Association is in Glen Park.
7 hours ago
Glen Park Association

Save the Date! May 17th, Saturday 10:00AM - 11:30AM

Join us and help pick up trash & litter in the neighborhood!
We’re celebrating 3 years of collaborating with @refuserefusesf and the @glen_parkmerchantssf of #keepingGlenParkclean and bringing the #community together!🙌🏽

Meet at Critter Fritters Pet Food and Supplies @critterfritterspetfood
📍670 Chenery Street

Supplies and refreshments prov
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Save the Date! May 17th, Saturday 10:00AM - 11:30AM

Join us and help pick up trash & litter in the neighborhood! 
We’re celebrating 3 years of collaborating with @refuserefusesf and the @glen_parkmerchantssf of #keepingGlenParkclean and bringing the #community together!🙌🏽

Meet at Critter Fritters Pet Food and Supplies @critterfritterspetfood 
📍670 Chenery Street

Supplies and refreshments provided
No experience required

#refuserefusesf #glenpark #sanfrancisco #keepSFclean @rafaelmandelmand8 @anhishere @danielluriesf @sfpublicworks @avenuegreenlight #avenuegreenlight
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Glen Park Association is in Glen Park.
2 days ago
Glen Park Association

Yesterday was a great day at the Glen Park Small Business Stroll presented by the San Francisco Public Library’s Small Business Center and our Glen Park Branch Library!
Participating merchants were @bird.beckett , @perchsf , @theclarktechnique , @pebblescafesf , @glen_park_station_bar and Glen Park historian Evelyn Rose did a BART history talk at the Glen Park BART station.

📷: Photos courtesy of
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Yesterday was a great day at the Glen Park Small Business Stroll presented by the San Francisco Public Library’s Small Business Center and our Glen Park Branch Library!
Participating merchants were @bird.beckett , @perchsf , @theclarktechnique , @pebblescafesf , @glen_park_station_bar and Glen Park historian Evelyn Rose did a BART history talk at  the Glen Park BART station. 

📷: Photos courtesy of Bonnee Waldstein 

@sfpubliclibrary #glenparksf  #glenparksmallbusinessstroll
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Wonder what’s going on with the French restaurant on the corner of Chenery. It never reopened.

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Coyote Yipps
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Glen Park Neighborhoods History Project
Open SF History
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Sunnyside History
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Upper Noe Neighbors

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