Panhandle Park Stewards

Incredible. I've submitted a 311 written work ...

2012-04-09T10:57:14.981-07:00

Incredible. I've submitted a 311 written work order. Thanks for calling attention to this on-going issue.

Is someone "traveling along Baker" or fr...

2012-04-02T21:03:35.201-07:00

Is someone "traveling along Baker" or from the East on Fell (presumably in a car) really "visiting" the edge of the Panhandle?

I bike through the panhandle a lot, and think how ...

2012-03-06T11:24:32.857-08:00

I bike through the panhandle a lot, and think how it must be terrible for people walking on that path to have all those bikes screaming by. I usually take Oak going downhill since I can ride at the speed of traffic, taking up the whole lane. I sometimes take Fell uphill, but often fear for my life due to impatient drivers swerving around me, probably to impress the point that I don't belong there.

The obvious answer is to take a lane away from those freeways and make them into bikeways, but god forbid we inconvenience drivers.

What do the walkers think?

If you want more traffic safety it may be a good i...

2012-01-25T23:05:17.546-08:00

If you want more traffic safety it may be a good idea to add some pedestrian railing.If you are interested in this product visit this wesite
www.sinoconcept.com

We really got a lot done in a couple of hours! Tha...

2012-01-16T17:49:05.100-08:00

We really got a lot done in a couple of hours! Thanks to all of the volunteers and Megan Bierman for leading us in song!

Then, put your bike on a truck, put yourself on a ...

2011-08-25T01:31:13.014-07:00

Then, put your bike on a truck, put yourself on a bus, and smooch your way back to Southbank and get yourself home again, tired, but happy.Bikes Brisbane

Thanks for being our eyes on the Panhandle and pro...

2011-06-20T07:14:28.018-07:00

Thanks for being our eyes on the Panhandle and providing so much context.

I applaud SFPDs policing of the Panhandle!

2010-10-16T17:50:28.943-07:00

I applaud SFPDs policing of the Panhandle!

I'll be there Dale! I think a cycletrack along...

2010-10-12T11:56:12.272-07:00

I'll be there Dale! I think a cycletrack alongside the Panhandle is on everyone's wish list so we can make the multi-use path friendly for everyone who wants to enjoy our beautiful Panhandle. Thanks for all that you do!

It's great to see folk enjoying the fruits of ...

2010-09-12T09:15:25.918-07:00

It's great to see folk enjoying the fruits of our labor!

As a biker and walker of the panhandle I love the ...

2010-07-24T15:41:43.984-07:00

As a biker and walker of the panhandle I love the bike lane on Fell idea but if for some reason that's not possible why not just spruce up the south path and dedicate the North path for bikes.

Great explanation about the work days and how much...

2010-07-12T12:58:42.358-07:00

Great explanation about the work days and how much they accomplish with emphasis on the need for the city to undertake some serious planning for the future of this neighborhood park enjoyed by people from all over San Francisco

This is so awesome Dale. Sorry, i was asked to go ...

2010-06-22T05:31:21.737-07:00

This is so awesome Dale. Sorry, i was asked to go to Airport last minute to pick someone up. Keep up the great work, we appreciate very much.

thanks
Jignesh Desai
NOPNA Board

Nice post, thanks for the update. Sure like to thi...

2010-05-19T17:56:46.653-07:00

Nice post, thanks for the update. Sure like to think that Rec and Parks is listening to neighbors' concerns.

Sorry missed this one, but great jobs you care tak...

2010-05-09T11:18:10.961-07:00

Sorry missed this one, but great jobs you care takers. Let's keep up good work. Hope to see you on block party next week.

Jignesh
NOPNA Board Member

I'm sure that is a typo. In 2000, it was the W...

2010-05-02T07:37:56.544-07:00

I'm sure that is a typo. In 2000, it was the William R. De Avila Elementary School at 1351 Haight St. Now this site is known as the Chinese Immersion School at De Avila Elementary School.

I'd like to add my concerns about the southern...

2010-04-16T21:52:57.926-07:00

I'd like to add my concerns about the southern ('walkers only) path's pavement being so rough - does anyone know of any plans to re-pave? I risk the bikers rather than deal with it, and I live on Page street!

The main problem with the playground (from the per...

2010-04-14T15:56:45.326-07:00

The main problem with the playground (from the perspective of a parent), is the enormous sand pit. There is nowhere for very small kids to crawl or walk. Its too hard for them to learn to walk on the sand and the asphalt around the pit is too rough. Newer playground at Rossi, Koret, Alamo Square or the new one at Hamilton all have a soft rubber surface that is great for toddlers to walk on. Parents can easily follow them on the rubberized surface and there is no need to worry about the getting hurt. Who knows, maybe from the kids perspective they like all that sand (they certainly like to eat it), but from a parents perspective its just easier to follow them on the rubber surface compared to the sand pit. As others have noted, the play structure is too old and not as useful as the newer structures at other playgrounds, plus there are no good structures for tiny crawling babies (Duboce Park is a good one for babies).

The other thing about the Panhandle is the southern walkway. It's too rough and uneven for strollers (and for little kids learning to walk). I prefer the northern path, but then we risk getting run over by bikers.

Hi Dale: as a parent in the neighborhood, I would ...

2010-04-13T18:57:47.212-07:00

Hi Dale: as a parent in the neighborhood, I would definitely give the playground at least a C or D grade. I rarely take my two year old daughter to the panhandle, as I find it dangerous and in need of lots of fixings.

First, the overall design: Alamo Square and Rossi have recently been upgraded, and you can see the differences. In the world of playground design, the panhandle is out of date and old-fashioned to the point of boredom. There are new and improved playground structures that offer kids more interesting and better suited play areas. There's nothing wrong with a slide and swing set, but there is virtually no climbing aparatus in the playground, no up/down structures (see-saw), and the limited space is poorly utilized. It also doesn't age well with the child - an older child is not going to be interested in the majority of activities in the playground.

The 'train' thing has been broken for years, and even if it worked, it's nearly impossible for a child to use. The safety mats below the tire swing are broken, with a large hole perfect for catching feet. The swings are uneven and the waterfountains clog. And finally, let's not forget the large sign identifying the wood as having been treated with arsenic, and a recommendation not to let your children touch their mouths after playing on the structure. On a playground! Wooden playstructures are almost unheard of now, with better material being used that doesn't have to be treated with arsenic to weather-proof.

This is a very busy playground with a huge amount of traffic. It should be a showpiece playground like Koret, (only smaller), as it serves a diverse and large community. Getting rid of the plantings that encouraged rats was a good step, but overall the playground needs a complete renovation and redesign to fix the problems. And this takes money, of course, and leadership.

My understanding is the the playground is not on the repair list because it was renovated (15? 10 years ago?) and sponsored by Saturn car company. But the D grade might help in pushing the issue to the front of the line.

Marla Kadlecek

Dale, thanks for the thoughtful post. I also thin...

2010-04-13T18:33:08.172-07:00

Dale, thanks for the thoughtful post. I also think D is too harsh but there are some things that need improvement.

I think generally if the equipment had an upgrade and the litter was kept in check that would help a lot.

The equipment is certainly functional but it is also showing its age. The tram thing (for lack of a better description) is worn out. The padding / mat areas are pretty worn and the wood itself is pretty weathered. I think koret and alamo must have had some grading advantage with more modern equipment. Maybe we can get a grant or do a fund raising drive for an equipment update.

Regarding cleanliness the bush removal was a good step. That, and moving the trash cans outside has helped with the rat problems. But there still seems to be a general litter problem (and lately some needles!). If each user picked up their trash and one extra item that would help a lot.

Other than those two items maybe we could get some little rakes and have the kids work/play picking up the eucalyptus leaves and caps out of the sand - I think that would cosmetically help the sandy sections.

April Work project=victory!!

2010-04-12T13:26:38.459-07:00

April Work project=victory!!

Great Work Dale!! It looks like you guys got some ...

2010-03-15T18:44:33.951-07:00

Great Work Dale!! It looks like you guys got some good work done!!!!

Thanks Dale for organizing. It was a lot of FUN. ...

2010-03-14T21:19:16.473-07:00

Thanks Dale for organizing. It was a lot of FUN.

Jignesh

We will be there. tnx Jignesh NOPNA Board Member

2010-03-08T13:29:14.920-08:00

We will be there.
tnx
Jignesh
NOPNA Board Member

Wow, looks like it took out a huge chunk of grass ...

2010-02-27T07:01:55.518-08:00

Wow, looks like it took out a huge chunk of grass too