Rec & Park approves budget to resurface Richmond Playground basketball courts

Richmond Playground on 18th Avenue. Inset: a large crack that runs through the basketball courts

At a meeting today, the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Commission approved a $45,095 budget that will be used to resurface the basketball courts at the Richmond Playground, located between 18th and 19th Avenues near Lake Street.

The project was initially proposed by Commissioner David Lee, who lives in the Richmond District and frequents the park to play basketball with his 9-year old son.

“I play basketball at the Richmond Playground with my son and it’s pretty ratty,” Lee said which prompted him to propose the renovation to the park’s basketball courts.

Lee points out that the indoor court at the Richmond Rec Center down the street is usually booked solid, and another nearby court at Argonaut School is only a half court. “The basketball courts at Richmond Playground are heavily used – it’s one of the few places where you can play pick-up basketball in the neighborhood.”

The $45k project will include resurfacing and repairing the basketball courts, cleaning and providing crack filler and fabric, restriping the courts, and replacing the four basketball hoops and backboards.

The park also includes a playground, tennis court, multi-purpose court, and a clubhouse, but the funds approved in today’s meeting are only for repairs to the two basketball courts.

The funds will come from Rec & Park’s Open Space Contingency Reserve Fund, which is reserved for one-time capital improvements. The project proposal includes a bid from Nicole’s Work Inc, a general contractor in Daly City. View the full proposal and budget

The project will be completed this winter, with Lee estimating that construction should begin in early October and last for a few weeks. “I told them they had to be done by Thanksgiving because everyone wants to play basketball on Thanksgiving,” Lee said.

Lee said that he’s always looking for ways to improve on the parks in the neighborhood. Know of a good improvement project at one of our neighborhood parks? Leave it in a comment here on this post – Commissioner Lee definitely reads the blog!

Sarah B.