A recent Examiner article about new direction signs in Golden Gate Park got me thinking about my own ability (or inability) to find my way around the park.
I have one advantage in that I go to a bootcamp several days a week that meets and works out right in the park. Even so, I am delighted every now and then by a new discovery. I remember jogging by the fly fishing casting ponds and seeing the steam rise off them in the early morning. It was one of those “Where am I?” moments.
But even with a lifetime of living in the city and my almost daily navigation through the park, I still get mixed up when trying to find things. This summer, some friends came in from San Mateo to attend the Alice 97.3 concert. We had in our heads that the show was at Speedway Meadow so we parked near 25th and Fulton and walked in. Too bad we didn’t capture our follies on video, it was a humorous sight.
“Shouldn’t we be hearing the music by now? I think it’s through those trees…”. iPhones were consulted for directions but that didn’t help much. Eventually we were near Stow Lake so I ran up and looked at the map there. We asked people walking by – they said they saw a concert over near Stanyan. Stanyan? Maybe it’s Sharon Meadow instead? But where exactly is that? Back to the iPhone, then back to 25th to get the car and move it. Like I said earlier, a comedy of errors.
The good news is we made it just in time to catch Train performing, which was who we really wanted to see anyway. But I was a little shocked that I, a SF native, neighbor to the park, and host to my peninsula guests, couldn’t find my way around. And god forbid someone ask me for directions to something in the park. I think JFK Drive is the only street I know and even that knowledge is a little shaky. I’m all about the hand signals and pointing when giving GGP directions.
Anyone else have trouble finding things in the park? Let’s hope these new signs and maps help. Poor tourists – if I have trouble, I can only imagine how someone totally new to the park feels.
Shouldn’t they hand out maps of the park at all the major attractions – the Academy, the de Young, the Conservatory, Stow Lake, Beach Chalet? They make those great ones that are the size of a credit card and fold out into detailed maps. Even I would pay for that. 🙂
Sarah “lost in GGP” B.
P.S. – All of the above can also be applied to the Presidio. Don’t even get me started on that maze…
Hi Sarah,
Let your readers know that the information desk at the de Young has copies of the Inner Sunset Merchants Assn. map which contains most of Golden Gate Park, the 9th and Irving neighborhood and the Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve. They’re free; just ask and we’ll give you one. GGP landmarks from Stanyan to 21st Avenue are identified on the map. I’ll bet you can also pick one up at any of the ISMA retailers in the neighborhood. Parks and Rec may have a map that extends to the Great Highway. Hope this helps.
Jill
Native here as well and just recently discovered a great single track trail that I now run that parallels Fulton St from around 8th ave all the way to 36th ave.
I get a little lost too, sometimes, especially on the paths near the Conservatory of Flowers.
Hi Sarah, I thought I was the only SF native who still gets lost in GG Park. I gave up a long time ago figuring out the maze that is the Park, and now look at taking walks there as an urban adventure. Once I had to walk all around the Polo Field to get from the Sunset to the Richmond ’cause I took a wrong turn. Thanks for the great article.