A New Opportunity for Golden Gate Park
Withdrawal of the Treatment Plant Proposal
The decision to move the proposed Water Treatment Plant out of Golden Gate Park recognizes the value of Golden Gate Park as parkland. When the local community was first informed of the SF Public Utilities Commission (PUC) proposal to construct an industrial building for tertiary water treatment next to the Murphy Windmill, many raised concerns. The SF Public Utilities Commission (PUC) responded by holding a series of meetings at which the community presented detailed maps of alternative locations for the facility. Over and above the availability of better locations, the public’s concern for preserving Golden Gate Park’s parkland resonated with the staff of the SF PUC and resulted in their wise decision to move this industrial use out of Golden Gate Park.
This decision now opens up the western edge of Golden Gate Park to the completion of the vision of the park outlined in the 1998 Golden Gate Park Master Plan. The GGP Master Plan talks of the western end of the park as being a “wild and forested” area.
In addition, the recently published Ocean Beach Master Plan praises the beauty of Ocean Beach, which states, “Ocean Beach has a wild, rugged character and a unique culture and history. Improvements should retain and draw upon these qualities.” Together, these plans emphasize the potential for a natural connection between Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach.
By envisioning the entire western edge of the Park — an unsightly construction yard, the soccer fields, and the connection to Ocean Beach across the Great highway — as a whole, there are now over 15 acres open for a new design. Here is an opportunity for renewed meadows, an enhanced windbreak, new planted areas, wildlife habitat, and for a connection to Ocean Beach that enhances the beauty of the entire area. The idea that the Beach Chalet Soccer Fields, currently grass, should be replaced by artificially paved fields to be used until 10 p.m. every day of the year under 60-foot tall stadium lights, is entirely out of place in this setting. The playing fields should be renovated as live grass that serves a wide range of park-goers as active recreation while preserving the area for quiet pursuits as well.
With the soccer fields restored with natural grass to be used in daytime only, visitors would then enjoy the Beach Chalet restaurant and walk the old railroad path next to the Beach Chalet fields to the renovated Murphy Windmill and the Millwright’s Cottage. Maintaining the fields as real grass and opening them to the general public would allow people to return to the area for picnicking, kite-flying, and all of the other activities that in the past allowed them an opportunity to enjoy nature away from the stresses of city life.
This far-reaching vision will value wildlife habitat and the park as a multi-use, naturalistic landscape. While the park would be enjoyed by visitors during the day, at night, when darkness falls, it would return to nature and to the wildlife who find refuge in it. Ocean Beach would continue to be a place where San Franciscans could enjoy the pleasure of watching a sunset, without 150,000 watts of bright sports lights behind them. They would be able to stroll on the ocean edge in falling darkness and to view the stars in the night sky.
