Beginning today, Fulton Playground – located on 27th and 28th Avenues, midway between Cabrillo and Fulton Avenues – will be closed as extensive renovations get underway for a complete redesign. The park is expected to reopen in Fall 2012.
The Fulton Playground project includes a completely new playground, resurfacing of the basketball and tennis courts, and upgrades to the park’s clubhouse. The park will also showcase a unique, kinetic sculpture from artist Moto Ohtake.
The total budget for the Fulton Playground renovation is $4.2 million, 100% funded by the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Park Bond passed by voters. For more information on the renovation, visit the Fulton Playground Renovation page on the SF Rec & Parks website.
Cabrillo Playground – located between Cabrillo and Fulton, and 38th and 39th Avenues – is also slated for a complete renovation budgeted at $4.5 million. Construction is expected to kick off in June 2012, with plans to reopen the playground a year later.
Upgrades to the playground, which first opened in 1938, will include repair and/or renovation to the two children’s play areas, picnic area, and sport courts. Work will also be done to restore pathways and perimeter fencing, as well as upgrades to the lighting, drainage, and irrigation. New landscaping will also be installed.
In October, the City Arts Commission approved Colette Crutcher to create the public art for Cabrillo Playground. Crutcher is the artist behind the tiled sculptures at the 24th & York Mini Park, as well as the tiled steps on 16th Avenue at Moraga.
For the Cabrillo project, Crutcher will be utilizing a different medium – Lace Fence – for the entrance to the playground. Lace Fence is a high-end metal fabric made in Holland that can be woven into different designs.
An example of Lace Fence
For more information on the Cabrillo Playground renovation, visit the project website.
Sarah B.
The renovation plans for Cabrillo Playground (view PDF)
Friends and neighbors, it’s great that the Fulton Playground is getting a facelift. My thanks to all the neighbors who have helped with this project. Just one cautionary word: Other playground clubhouses in the City have been rented to both public organizations as well as private companies after they’ve been renovated. Let’s keep an eye on our playground and assure that won’t happen here.
@ Jean – I don’t know if you are referring to the Argonne Clubhouse at the Argonne playground, but that clubhouse had been unstaffed and closed due to budget cuts within Parks & Rec. The Richmond YMCA recently leased the Argonne Clubhouse to run additional programming out of that space. The Richmond Y is a strong community organization that strives to to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities (per their mission statement). I’m not sure why anyone would have a problem with them leasing a facility that can’t be staffed by Parks & Rec.
With these two playground renovations, I believe that all Richmond district playgrounds will have been upgraded, with the exception of the Richmond Playgound between 18th and 19th Aves and between California and Lake. Yes, the tennis courts were recently resurfaced, but the old clubhouse and play structures remain. Does anyone know if this playground is scheduled for a revamp?
@Bob – For a good explanation of concerns that some of us have about the privatization of our City’s parks, see: http://www.sfbg.com/2011/07/12/parks-inc?page=0,0 I think they explain the issue much better than I can.
So it’s better to have these clubhouses sit unused and locked up versus allowing them to offer community programming delivered by someone other than Parks & Rec? I just don’t buy that. The Bay Guardian’s arguments are simply more of the same ideology-driven, impractical nonsense that it spews so regularly. Is Parks & Rec the best organization to deliver community programming for these clubhouses? I am not convinced. I would rather see an organization like the RDNC (rdnc.org) expand their programming through these new clubhouses. Yes, controls are needed to keep it open and affordable for all, but I think the RDNC would do a better job running one of these clubhouses than Parks & Rec.
I’m certainly in favor of renovating playgrounds. And don’t think the issue is renting out under-utilized clubhouses to other non-profit, public, social services agencies that support people in San Francisco. The problem the Guardian is talking about is renting clubhouses (and other park properties) to for-profit, private companies, such as tutoring centers and other businesses to generate revenue. By following the money it seems RPD spends millions of dollars in our tax dollars to renovate clubhouses, then converts them into private rental properties. There’s growing evidence that top management at Rec & Park has a skewed view of these public assets which are meant to serve the public good and not necessarily be revenue generators. I don’t believe public services like parks, libraries, schools or roads should be cash cows.
But I’m afraid we’re drifting away from the subject that was posted. These are probably issues best discussed in another venue. Check out http://www.takebackourparks.org and http://www.sfoceanedge.org for more information.