Thanks to a $5 million donation from the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund and donations from National Park Service and Park Conservancy members, Lands End will soon be home to a brand new visitor center.

About 100 people gathered in the Terrace Room of the Cliff House on Wednesday night to hear details about the center, and offer feedback to the park service and project architects.

The new 2,500 square foot center will be called the Lands End Lookout, and will include 500 square feet of food service. A separate, 1,000 square foot building will house restrooms. The center and restrooms will be built on a triangular patch of land on the south end of the Lands End parking lot along Point Lobos Avenue.

The project design is in good hands. Architectural firm Esherick, Homsey, Dodge & Davis (EHDD) has years of experience with oceanside venues and leveraging the natural climate in their designs. They were the lead firm for the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Sea Ranch houses back in the 1960s.

The Lands End Lookout will be located on this patch of land adjacent to the parking lot and Point Lobos Avenue.
New restroom facilities will eliminate the need for port-a-potties.

No formal plans or drawings for the visitor center were shared at the meeting. Instead, National Park service and EHDD staff shared the goals and visions they have for the center. Attendees were then asked to discuss some key questions to help inform the design development process: What does Lands End mean to you? How do you use Lands End? and What functions would you like to see at Lands End Lookout?

EHDD has a weighty task on their hands. Lands End is many things to many people. For some it’s simply a place to stroll and enjoy stunnings view while for others it’s a rich source of local history that includes San Francisco landmarks like the Cliff House, Sutro Baths and Sutro Heights Park. Still others think of it as a place rich with maritime and Native American history.

EHDD envisions the Lands End Lookout as “a touchstone for a network of places along the edge”, a starting point for visitors to begin their exploration of Lands End. And visitors don’t just mean tourists; according to a recent survey, 80% of visitors to Lands End are local to San Francisco.

Because the visitor center can’t be all things to everyone, the Park Service developed five themes to help guide the design process: Lands End’s history of recreation (think Sutro Baths, Camera Obscura, rides along Merrie Way, the Cliff House and its Sky Tram), the cultural landscape (who’s been part of the history of Lands End and the archaeology that has evolved), the natural landscape, the Native American presence of the Ohlone/Costonoa tribes that visited seasonally for nearly 3,500 years, and finally, Lands End’s identity as a National Park.

EHDD summed up their objective nicely for the new center: “A place that reflects the past, represents the present, and provides opportunities for future use of Lands End, its protection and enjoyment.”

Design development is slated to run through the summer, with construction documents to be completed by December 2010. Construction will begin in February 2011 with the Lands End Lookout opening its doors in Fall 2011.

The new visitor center and accompanying restrooms won’t fill the entire space along Point Lobos which was parceled out back in 1993 when planning for Lands End was underway. Future phases may include another 5,500 square feet of facilities.

If you’d like to receive regular email updates or have any questions about the Lands End Lookout project, contact Jennifer Greene Ringgold at 561-3054 or at jgreene@parksconservancy.org.

Sarah B.

I’ve never known much about lawn bowling, but there’s something appealing about those ultra-flat grass plains and shiny balls that glide smoothly across them.

There are a few lawn bowling venues in San Francisco, including North Beach and in the Sunset alongside 19th Avenue. But the one in Golden Gate Park near the Children’s Playground is one of the nicest places to play.

The Examiner recently profiled Al and Cheryl Minvielle who took up the sport post-retirement. They both have the Richmond District in their blood; they met as high school sweethearts in George Washington High School’s class of 1965.

Since taking up lawn bowling, the couple is hooked. It gives them something they can enjoy together and, well, they’re good at it. Cheryl has earned a couple of trophies in various tournaments. “I’m becoming more competitive here than I’ve ever been in my life,” Cheryl said.

Cheryl also volunteers her time to keep the lawn bowling club looking nice, pitching in on landscaping projects.

“Being a part of this is more than just a game,” said Al, who grew up in the Richmond district and settled with his family in the Inner Sunset. “It’s our neighborhood, our park, our clubhouse and our sporting community.”

Read the full article at sfexaminer.com

The San Francisco Lawn Bowling Club welcomes new members anytime. For about $100 a year, members get a key to the clubhouse and open access to the three bowling greens. Visit their website or call 487-8787 for more information.

Sarah B.

The explorers over at Spots Unknown take us on a walk at Land’s End to a place few of us have probably seen. Don’t miss the blooper reel at the end.

And before anyone comments on it: no, this is not my endorsement to ignore posted warning signs…

Sarah B.

As a result of a $5 million grant from the Goldman Fund, preparations are being made for improvements at the Land’s End recreation area.

Among the planned improvements are the construction of a new visitor facility, enhancements to the USS San Francisco Memorial parking lot and ongoing stewardship of the recreation area.

The National Park Service is holding a meeting on Wednesday, July 21 at 6pm to get feedback from the public on plans for the new visitor center. The meeting will be held at the Cliff House restaurant.

Seating is limited so if you’d like to attend, please RSVP by Wednesday, July 14 by writing trailsforever@parksconservancy.org or call (415) 561-3054 for more information.

Sarah B.

This Saturday, the Presidio is offering a guided tour of the brand new Park Trail in honor of National Trails Day. The Park Trail begins at the top edge of Mountain Lake Park, then winds down through the Presidio and finishes at Crissy Field.

Once a military zone, the Park Trail winds through majestic old growth, past a historic cemetery, and around the recently opened Presidio Habitats exhibition, a site-based art show celebrating the wild Presidio that showcases temporary habitat sculptures.

The Park Trail is about 2 miles long with moderate terrain. The guided tour leaves from the Presidio Officer’s Club (50 Moraga Avenue) at 1:30pm on Saturday. Registration is required so call 561-5418 or email presidio@presidiotrust.gov

If you can’t make the guided tour, download the Presidio Trails Map to walk the new Park Trail on your own. The Presidio Habitats exhibition is also worth checking out – get all the info on the show and the self-guided tour on their website.

Thanks to Matt Baume for the tip.

Sarah B.

Have a student returning home from college for the summer, or a high schooler that would benefit from a gym?

The Richmond District YMCA is running a special promotion for students age 13 to 25 – 100 days of membership for just $100.

A valid student ID is required, the offer is open to new members only and membership does not include access to other YMCA locations.

Sign up by June 30, 2010 to be eligible. For more information, stop by the Richmond District YMCA at 360 18th Avenue or call 666-9622.

Sarah B.

This Thursday is the city-wide Bike to Work Day event sponsored by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. Join our Supe this Thursday at 7:30am at the Blue Danube Cafe, 306 Clement, for the ride downtown.

Happy pedaling!

Sarah B.

Supervisor Eric Mar bikes with members of the SF Bicycle Coalition. Photo by kate at yr own risk

Curious about how the new Presidio Parkway project is coming along? Want to get your fill of rebar, concrete and construction planning?

Then head to the Presidio on May 15 for a special bike tour of the Presidio Parkway construction area where you can learn the best bike routes during construction and get a sneak peak at the future trail network.

There’s also an afterparty at the Sports Basement near Crissy Field. Free food (pizza from Pizzeria Avellino – yum!) and drinks plus ride participants get 20% off all Sports Basement purchases that day.

The ride lasts from 10am to 12noon and meets at the Sports Basement in the Presidio, 610 Old Mason Street.

And a reminder for you Presidio cyclists and walkers out there: Lincoln Boulevard will be closed in front of the National Cemetery (between McDowell Avenue and Montgomery Street) from mid/late May 2010 until late 2011. More info

Sarah B.