The very meadow that hosts nearly 600,000 people every summer for the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival was renamed today to honor the concert’s founder, San Francisco resident and financier Warren Hellman. Effective immediately, Speedway Meadow is now known as “Hellman Hollow”.
SFGate reports that the Rec & Park Commission unanimously approved the name change after hearing testimony from a bevy of supporters, including “musicians, educators, union representatives, business leaders, park neighbors, movers-and-shakers in high society and community activists”.
The article didn’t mention if anyone spoke in opposition to the name change, which displaces the historic “Speedway Meadow” name. The meadow is the former location of Speed Road, a track built in 1888 for recreational horse racing.
Golden Gate Park’s Speed Road in 1898. Courtesy of SF City Guides
The track was financed by wealthy businessmen like Leland Stanford, Charles Crocker, James Donahue, Adolph Sutro, and Adolph Spreckels, who wanted a place to race their horses privately. SF City Guides has more on the track’s history:
The intent was to build it as an exclusive racing road, not for the people of San Francisco like the rest of the park features. William Hammond Hall, the first park superintendent, wanted the park to be bucolic and was against this road. A battle ensued as those for and against the track lobbied politicians and newspaper editors. At the time, the speed in the park for horses and buggies was strictly enforced at 10 miles per hour. Park Commissioners finally relented, but required the horsemen to raise $35,000, the estimated cost, and to take responsibility for maintaining the track.
Eventually upkeep became too costly for private citizens, and the advent of bicycles and complaints from citizens who wanted equal access to the park led to the demise of the track.
After the 1906 earthquake, the meadow became “Camp Speedway” and housed refugees who were displaced by the disaster. The camp closed in October 1906 and Speed Road was officially closed, and converted into the meadow we use in the park today.
Read more on the history of Speedway Meadow at outsidelands.org
While it’s nice to honor Mr. Hellman – who has been very generous to the park and the city – with this naming, it is sad to see a piece of the park’s history be wiped away with the name change.
Let’s hope that in another act of generosity, Mr. Hellman will erect a nice info piece at the site that pays homage to the original name of the meadow, so the next generation will know what used to be.
Sarah B.
THEY can call it whatever they want. I’ll still call it Speedway Meadow.
bull**** what’s next Ginzburg grotto?
Corrupt fools.
Selling our souls for a bit of Judas silver. Park & Rec and our Government are OUT OF TOUCH. It’s Speedway Meadows forever.
Hellman aspires to own the Park outright. This is step one. I propose an Occupy Golden Gate Park movement before McLaren’s Dream becomes Hellman’s Neverland. Sickening.
I am so done with this city!!! San Francisco has been in a downward spiral and now this is the final straw for me, the poloticans in this city only care about their own personal intrests and have now effectivly chipped off yet another pice of history from golden gate park and for the whole city. Being a 4th generation san franciscan this is truly devistating, I cant belive that a man who throws a free party in golden gate park is all you need to wipe away an over 100 year old piece of history. After what happened today I have no doubt that the sewer plant will get approved, but honestly it is incredable how a few people can make such an impact that will effect generations and erase a piece of history of how the medow came to be. These concerts that have been put on by hellman are in violation of many park codes and yet the charade has continued… now they named the medow after him. New Yorks central park does not name historic medows, lakes, and buildings after people that have contributed nothing to the parks creation, so why does san francisco? Its called GREED & CORRUPTION, both go hand in hand, but it is usually low key projects and certinly not public or historic land. This is why I nor anyone who heres of san francisco has no respect for this foolish missfit town. The people who built this city that are now gone should be praised for their vision and creation, not hidden under a name that stands for nothing. In 1986 Donald Trump renovated woleman rink in central park, he compleated it and has since operated it. The thing to take away from this is that New York City didn’t rename it Trump Rink, it stayed woleman rink its rightfull and historical name. San Francisco is no longer what it use to be and what is happening now is the crumbling of a city becuse the people that run it dont follow the law or the people. Fifty years from now, a native san franciscan will not reconize anything about this city, and for most leaving will be the only way to protect yourself from what will be a truly changed city. Untill then brace yourselves for the next kick back a polotican gets as it will change the make up of san francisco, who knows the golden gate bridge my be next.
Supervisor Eric Mar promised the Richmond District a public hearing to air all problems about the park concerts. It’s time to contact him and let him know we’re not happy with this renaming and ask when he’s having that meeting. Please, email his office at eric.l.mar@sfgov.org or call him at 554-7410.
Take a deep breath, people. Basically you are complaining that a millionaire who is hosting (for free!) one of the world’s great music fests is displacing the name of a meadow that was given to other millionaires who wanted their own private race course.
Speedway meadow isn’t exactly like FDR’s face on the dime to fight polio. I like SF history too, but a private race course is not up there with the Sutro baths. Hardly strictly is a great moment in SF history. Get a grip.
I thank Mr. Hellman for his patronage, though I’d like to see a history sign erected in the vicinity with photos and information about the original Speedway Meadow and the Pre-polo field Speed Road that it was named after, simil;ar to the signs at Sutro Park.
More info on Speed Road here:
http://www.sfcityguides.org/public_guidelines.html?article=1054&submitted=TRUE&srch_text=&submitted2=&topic=parks%20and%20recreation
Until we get politicians in the city who really care about their constituents rather than their own gains or are too passive to take an opposing stance, these situations are going to continue to happen. We have both a supervisor and a Mayor who have stayed impotent through this whole concert and renaming process in order not to get involved; we have a corrupt and very passive-aggressive Manager of Rec and Parks who sabotages meetings to get what he wants. Until the people in the Richmond District group together and work to make some changes, everything will stay the same. I’ve lived in smaller districts in the city, and there is a definite lack of empathy and unity in the Richmond, despite its large size; let’s start grouping and making changes, people, otherwise we’re just going to continue to be herded over a cliff like blind sheep.
I am not opposed to renaming it for Hellman, although usually such things are posthumous honors (I know he is ill, and I hope he is feeling well). However, the east end of Speedway Meadow is already named Hellman Hollow in his honor. I think Hellman Hollow should be renamed Speedway Hollow to keep the name alive (or, Speedway Lea? Speedway Mead? Speedway Knoll?).
I don’t think the renaming is as big a problem as the lack of regard for thousands of Richmond District residents who are impacted year after year by these oversized concerts that go way beyond what RPD’s regulations allow. What’s done is done. Let’s move on to getting a hearing before Supervisor Mar. He needs to hear, in a public venue, how we feel. Again, email/call his office and ask him for a public hearing. email: eric.l.mar@sfgov.org or 554-7410
Well, here we go again…the people in the district who are up in arms about loud concerts, and now a part of the park has been named after someone who actually puts them on.
Well, you should all know there are many people in this district who have no problems with this renaming, and even more so, the large concerts which come to the park and make living near the park such a wonderful experience. We need more concerts like this, not less. I am very happy these concerts get thrown, and I actually can’t wait for Outside Lands to take place again next year.
So organize away; there are many people who live in the district who recognize these concerts for what they are, a minor inconvenienc that adds to the quality of life in the city and our district specifically.
Thank you Mr. Hellman for putting on a free world class music festival each year in my backyard. Awesome!!!
Well, here we go again… J, who loves to take the opposing viewpoint and rub as much salt into the wounds as possible.
Changing the name of a meadow from something named for a past time only rich people could afford to the name of a rich person who has freely given his money away by holding free concerts in the park is not a “wound”.
Seems like whenever these things happen people are up in arms. I understand people want to organize to stop these things from occurring in the park, and you should understand there’s a whole heck of a lot of us who don’t.
Since the citizens of this state seem to be opposed to paying taxes to maintain our public resources, I sure don’t object to renaming a meadow in honor of somebody who at least shells out his own money to provide a public festival.
I live in the Richmond and I attend and enjoy Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, so maybe I’m biased, but I’d love to know how many people who didn’t like this idea actually turned up at the public meeting to oppose it.
“I don’t think the renaming is as big a problem as the lack of regard for thousands of Richmond District residents who are impacted year after year by these oversized concerts that go way beyond what RPD’s regulations allow.”
I live near 25th and Balboa, can hear the concerts faintly through closed windows, can hear them fully with windows open and I *support* the concerts.
It’s a source of revenue for the park, it’s a source of revenue through parking tickets, let it be.
Next we’ll have a Huntington Park, Stern Grove, Bernal Heights, Coit Tower, Sutro Heights…
Geez, you people are so out of touch. Get over yourselves.
@ Annie: you can’t seriously be that naive. Mr. Ginsburg stacked the deck in the meeting today, as he’s done before in meetings like re-turfing the soccer fields. There was no vote or no decisions made during the hearing (it can all be seen on video on the sfgov.org site)… the members of the Rec and Park had even prepared speeches as well as a sign way in advance. Mr. Ginsburg even made sure the Mayor showed up. You might want to witness a few of his Rec and Park meetings before you make comments; any complaints or disagreements are ignored by Ginsburg and then he goes about dictating his own ideas. Do you think we didn’t know this was going to happen? Take a look at the previous forum re: renaming the meadow… it was played out exactly as predicted… and to Sam: a lot of the “revenue from parking tickets” is coming from the residents who live, buy and rent here because they.can’t find parking spots to get into their own homes. Do you think Mr. Hellman would pay us back for that? Unlikely.
Last Hardly Strictly a coffee shop worker told me it’s their busiest weekend of the year. I’m all for fun events that bring people into our district o support our local businesses. And there are few things free in life. Enjoy them.
When I first read of the name change I was strongly against it. After, just now, reading about Hellman upon his death I think it is a nice gesture for a man who gave a lot. I didn’t know much about him.
Although, like others, I hope a plaque will be put up in the meadow to share the history of the spot with future generations.
My condolences to the Hellman family; and I hope that Warren is resting in peace with a banjo by his side.
@Dman — I’m naive enough to believe city officials don’t know what we think unless we tell them. I think showing up at the meeting and stating opposition would have had a much better chance of preventing the name change than posting on a neighborhood blog. IF nobody spoke in opposition, you know, the commission might get the idea that there was no opposition and figure, why not do this?
I see in this morning’s paper that Warren Hellman has now died, so that takes care of “we only do this for dead people.”
Annie: in lieu of Mr. Hellman’s passing as soon as yesterday, I’m even more adamant that those of us who were against the decision who would have shown up and testified at that meeting would have looked pretty cold. Re: city officials not knowing what they think unless we tell them, they are very, very aware… there have been countless phone calls, e-mails to Eric Mar and the Board of Supervisors (and the Mayor) from angry neighbors, as well as others testifying at Rec and Park meetings for some time. Mr. Ginsburg listens and then goes about whatever he personally wants to do, completely ignoring or not making explanations of any kind to the person testifying (see the listings of videos on sf.org; take a look at last months!). There have also been meetings with the Police after Outside Lands and Hardly Strictly that many of us showed up to and were quite vocal about (and Rec and Park as well as Eric Mar had representatives there). We’re continually ignored, and that’s how a lot of us viewed the naming of the meadow; a slap in the face after trying to open up communication to make some changes re: three days of blasting music, trash, the growing crowds of huge amounts of people and no street parking until ten or eleven at night. There’s a much bigger picture here than I think you’re aware of.
I’m always mildly amused and slightly disgusted when the 99% get so riled up about honors bestowed upon the 1%. I hope all of you that railed against the renaming of Speedway read Mr. Hellman’s obituary this morning. He was someone who truely enjoyed spreading his wealth so others could benefit (medicine, education, music). Available cash is relative, what have the rest of us done lately to make life better for our fellow citizens? Sitting in front of our computers and whining doesn’t do anything for anybody!
dman, the problem with those who oppose these events or want major changes is that they have this mistaken belief that their opinions are not heard. That somehow, after making call after call and sending letter after letter, after attending meeting after meeting, that somehow the city is not listening.
What people don’t seem to understand is that your voices are being heard…they are just vehemently disagreed with. Not agreeing to demands or an unwillingness to make changes to these events does not mean that the city doesn’t hear people’s voices. It just means that the city disagrees with you. There seems to be this misplaced idea that if the city does not make changes, the city is not “listening”.
It’s kindof like this book on relationships that came out many years ago. There were all these self-help books about how to communicate with your partner, and how to make sure your needs were understood; that the greatest problem in relationships was communication and misunderstanding. This book (I forget the name) pointed out that most couples understand each other quite well…they just occasionally vehemently disagree. Vehement disagreement does not equal misunderstanding or “ignoring” a plea.
So you say “We’re continually ignored, and that’s how a lot of us viewed the naming of the meadow; a slap in the face after trying to open up communication to make some changes”. You weren’t ignored. They just disagreed with you. They most likely heard your ardent pleas, and said “We understand, but we are still doing this.”
@ ASG: I don’t think you’ll find any posting I’ve written that disagrees with Mr. Hellman’s contributions to the city (medicine or education, and there have been others, too). You also won’t find too many people contributing to the city like that, yes, because they don’t have the billions of dollars to spend that he did. (!?) However, many of us feel that the Strictly Bluegrass Festival has way outgrown its size for the neighborhood and has become a major nuisance, especially those that live within ten blocks of the concert (I’m right across the street). It also violates several codes in its own permit and there are legal issues involved, not only with the sound decibel range but also with the amount of people allowed in each meadow.
@ J: Once again, like many others on the board, I’m not even going to bother to respond to your posting. Your comments continue to get answered by me and others, and you either can’t understand or are not really listening.
The beginning half of this forum you’ll find here:
https://richmondsfblog.com/2011/12/09/poll-should-the-city-rename-speedway-meadow-to-hellman-meadow/
Again dMan, like many others here, we listen to you, and hear what you have to say. I completely understand you.
And I entirely disagree.
Never posted before, this was just my opinion but, that said, i agree with Al that I’m sure HSBG does bring a lot of people into local small businesses so I can see that there are many pluses along with some of the problems. But, my guess is, that anyone living near public spaces or event venues have similar complaints. This is a city after all and we are privileged to have events that we can bus or walk to all over town. Ask anyone who lives near the Marina (fleet week), near a soccer field (any Saturday all year long), near the Masonic, along the Bay to Breakers route, or how about that ski jump on Fillmore a couple of years ago. Should the city just shut down so it’s residents are never bothered?
ASG, what happens is that every time these events come up, and there are quite a few throughout the city, the general response of people who live nearby and who are bothered by them is not that the events should not be held, but that they should be held “somewhere else.” There’s always a more appropriate place for these events to be held, it appears…just not in my backyard. They don’t generally want the events shut down…they just want them wither moved, or the impact to their own quality of life lessened.
Specifically with Outside Lands, HSG, and other large events, people want these events held on Crissy Field or similar areas, or they want to restrict the hours and parking to such an extent that the enjoyment of the event is significantly diminished to appease a few neighbors. There are always noise complaints, trash complaints, intoxicated yahoo complaints, etc…
But many people feel that these things are part and parcel of living in a large metropolitan area, and that a bit of inconvenience is an acceptable price to pay for having access to wonderful events literally right next door.
In addition, many people on these boards continually assert that various rules and regulations are not being followed to a T, such as decibel levels, when the city and many neighbors clearly feel otherwise.
It’s not only the crowds that come to these concerts that some of us object to. It’s what these hoards of people do once their here. They camp out in front of our homes, and use the sidewalk to change their clothes, urinate and defecate, make campfires, and generally trash the neighborhood. They tear up parts of the Park, destroying turf and shrubbery. The music has been so loud that some of us have been left out of town for the weekend. Oh, let’s not forget all the illegal parking in driveways. And please remember, even if the majority of folks think these concerts are great, it’s important to consider the rights of the minority also.
Rec & Park and Supervisor Mar’s office have not just disagreed, they haven’t even been willing to put issues on the table for discussion. It’s been like talking to the wall. Mar is our elected representative, and so far he’s made no effort to listen to our concerns. Never showed up for a community meeting; didn’t solicit input from concerned residents, zero, zip, nada. Same with Rec & Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg and his minions.
And it’s not every large event that’s a problem. The SF Marathon and lots of other events come through the Richmond regularly, and it’s been fine. These concerts have their own unique problems that must be addressed.
I agree that reasonable people can differ. But everyone should at least be listened to, and all effortss should be made to reach an understanding of what works and what doesn’t.
I live along the Bay to Breakers route (and several other marathons that take place on Fulton), and have no issue with them. Re: Fleet Week, the soccer fields (not too noisy), and your other examples, how many of these continue for three days in a row, 10 hours a day? I work during the weekends on the other side of the city. Parking has become very sparse in this neighborhood for the last three or four years, but I’m unable to come home until at least 10:00-11:00 p.m. during these concerts due to the lack of finding any space; I also have to be up the next morning at 5:00 a.m to be at work by 7:00. I live and pay rent here, most of the concert-goers don’t; when I can’t even get into my own living space to get enough sleep to work the next day (for the city, no less), something’s wrong with this picture. If Hellman’s estate is this wealthy to support a concert of this size, why aren’t they offering nearby neighbors who are continually inconvenienced by the concert a place to stay to get away from it for three days, rather than leaving them in the middle of the epicenter and basically telling them “F*** you?” San Francisco has a great many economic problems right now… it seems to me that this money could be used a lot more constructively toward helping out poor neighborhoods, public health, homeless or a host of other problems rather than spending it on on concerts that blast people out of their homes for 72 hours… that is, when they can get into them.
I used to live in Long Beach, CA. Every year they host a Grand Prix car race…. You want loud? Try a week of race cars! But here’s the deal! They take over downtown, create a race track on city streets. Just like the big events in GGP, parking is a challenge, the noise is LOUD, there are people who don’t live there trying to find a place to park/walk/eat/etc…. and as a resident, you either stay put, find tickets, and attend & enjoy, or head out of town. It’s a urban environment! There are noises and events! You may need to change up your regular routine…for a few days. I do think our supervisor could greatly improve his communication with the district on this, and be more open to hearing the issues (but they seem to be the same ones, over and over and over) but the people nearest the events also need to realize that they may not get their way & they may just have to cope for the weekends of these events.
Susan, just did a pretty extensive search on the internet and don’t see anything about a yearly Grand Prix car race held in San Diego… I DO see a Grand Prix video game tournament that takes place every year. Do you happen to have a link for this week-long event?
Addendum: Sorry, you said Long Beach…
Did find the site. It lasts two days. It’ll be held from April 13-15 next year.
Have done a bit of reading on this Grand Prix. It takes place for two days in downtown Long Beach during a weekend; doesn’t sound too intrusive. I would be all for moving the concerts to downtown S.F. for the weekend, rather than invading others’ neighborhoods…
@DMan – I’m guessing you’ve never been to a car race…. They are LOUD… I lived 6 blocks from the track, and it was deafening inside…and just engine noise, not music! The actual race is 3 days… but they set up (close the roads) the week prior, and run test runs for a few days… try just driving past Sears Point on a race day & see how loud it is!
Now that hellman is gone who funded these aubsurd concerts, hopefully these oversized unnecessary concerts will stop and no one will continue funding them.
Yay for the fact that Mr. Hellman set up an endowment/foundation to ensure HSB would happen even after his death! And for what it’s worth, I live 2 blocks from the park, I have 3 kids who use the park almost daily, and we ALL love HSB (which lasts for 1 day more than the Long Beach Grand Prix event).
It’s quite refreshing to hear voices here from people who live nearby and who do not mind the noise and added inconveniences that these fantastic shows bring.
Those of us who are happy with these events must be vigilant, and let the city know how much we actually do support these events, lest they be significantly altered or eliminated or moved. We need to let Eric Mar know that there are plenty of us who enjoy these events and want them to remain largely in their present form.
You can call Eric Mar’s office or email him to let him know of your support: email: eric.l.mar@sfgov.org or 554-7410
I wonder if anybody feels bad for complaining about the name change applying to a living person now that Hellman has had the decency to go and die right away about it. I also read that his kids say he left plenty of money to keep the festival going a long long time
I was irritated at first, but I’m ok with it now. Honestly, the speed road only lasted a few years and has no great significance. It isn’t really all that noteworthy– a neat little bit of trivia, but not much else. It’s barely worthy of an informational sign.
Considering the trend in recent placenames– “Willie L. Brown Jr. Blvd.”, “Walter U Lum Place”, “Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place”, “Frank H. Ogawa Plaza”– we’re lucky they didn’t rename it to “F. Warren Hellman Hollow”.
This man has spent a small fortune putting on one of the best music festivals anywhere, year after year, for free. He does it to give back to the city that loves. The meadow was previously named for wealthy elites who took the same public land for their own private use, excluding the public from using it. The people who are complaining on this site about the noise and the name change sound shrill and bitter. The idea that this name change somehow proves that the Supes are corrupt is about as intelligent as the mindless whining one hears on Fox News. And if you don’t like to see or hear people enjoying public parks then perhaps you should not live near one.
^ I agreed with that until the point it became unnecessarily insulting.