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Re: Goals of Childhood

Re: Goals of Childhood

06/10/12 - posted by Paul Rosenberg

The first draft of the Presidio Vegetation Management plan called for replanting of poison oak among the lessingia.

I attended the debate at the Richmond Recreation Center last year and this whole debate seems to be based upon assumptions that differ side to side. The folks who play soccer want the artificial turf and have pointed out how successful the the new turf has been at other locations in San Francisco parks. As Tammy reported, the high school football fields have been resurfaced with the artificial turf to much success. So, the proposal is to replace seven acres of the 1017 acres of Golden Gate Park with artificial turf. That's less than one percent of Golden Gate Park. Of the four fields, one is always resting and the others are not always available because of maintenance issues. The proposed four fields would each be available almost all the time. I do appreciate the other side's arguments on the 'naturalness' of the current grass fields although they would be sand dunes if not constantly maintained. Indeed, there are arguments to restore that land to sand dunes. Until after the Second World War, the city had separate departments of recreation and of parks. They were then combined. Nevertheless, the ideas of recreation and of parks do sometimes conflict. A park is sometimes thought to be a museum that must be preserved naturally. Thus, poison oak and, even, mosquitos! Others emphasize recreation. I admire the passion on both sides of the issue. I just wish they could get along.

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