Playground Report Card

Transcription

1 2012 eport ard Helen iller at olores Park, Opening ay on March 31, 2012 prepared by

2 The eport ard: Project of the Initiative uboce Park s new Youth Play rea Every two years SP and P survey public playgrounds to determine the condition and quality of individual playgrounds. The playground grades that result from these surveys are published in the eport ard. The eport ard helps identify which playgrounds are in the worst condition and in need of the most attention. In intervening years between surveys, the eport ard is utilized as an advocacy tool. The results from the eport ard provide timely data to P and other ity departments that pinpoint playground sites in greatest need of maintenance and capital investment. P and SP also utilize the eport ard data to prioritize which playgrounds would most benefit from immediate improvements through community and corporate volunteer work days. The ultimate goal of SP s Initiative is to so greatly improve the overall condition of all our city s playgrounds that no failing playgrounds remain. The Initiative The Initiative is a partnership between San rancisco Parks lliance (SP) and San rancisco ecreation and Parks epartment (P) dedicated to ensuring that all children in San rancisco have access to safe and engaging play spaces in their own neighborhoods. SP works closely with P, neighborhood groups, and elected officials to This report is published by the San rancisco Parks lliance (SP), an IS 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. SP was created through the union of the Neighborhood Parks ouncil (NP) and the San rancisco Parks Trust (SPT) in October 2011, to create a larger, stronger, more effective park-serving organization for San rancisco. SP s mission is to inspire and promote civic engagement and advocate, fundraise, and mobilize communities for playground improvements citywide. SP also identifies playground gaps (neighborhoods not served by a playground) and supports response initiatives to open school playgrounds to public use during non-school hours and to construct new playgrounds where needed. philanthropy to protect, sustain, and enrich San rancisco parks and green open spaces. SP is dedicated to fulfill a vision of parks that acknowledges and supports their critical environmental functions while striving to ensure that they are accessible, beautiful, safe, clean, fun, and managed in a manner that makes them accountable, open, and welcoming to all. History of the eport ard The 2006 eport ard provided the first comprehensive baseline detailing the status of playgrounds in San rancisco. Understanding Grades It is noteworthy that a playground s grade does not necessarily reflect its fun factor or the diversity and quantity of its play equipment. or example, a playground with two or three play structures that are in good condition may receive a high grade. SP s predecessor organizations, NP and SPT, fostered playground improvement projects since their organizational inception in 1996 and 1971, respectively. In 2006, SP (as NP) developed its first playground-survey tool (based on the work of the National Program for Safety), and engaged volunteers from across the city to complete playground surveys in their own neighborhoods. Thus the eport ard was born! The playground survey evaluates the quality and condition of each playground s equipment, fall surfaces, fencing and gates, signage, and overall cleanliness and upkeep. playground s potential to cause injury is the overriding consideration. Like school grades, a playground s grade provides a snapshot of how it measures up. n grade signifies that a playground s equipment and play structures are in good condition and have been designed and installed in a manner that provides utmost safety. s with conditions that eport ards were published in 2006, 2008, 2010, and, now, 2012 providing an objective basis for raising and allocating resources, and for fostering community organization around playground needs and improvements. The Initiative has been instrumental in reducing the number of failing San rancisco playgrounds from 30 in 2006 to 16 in may cause injury (sharp edges, broken equipment, splintered wood, inadequate fall zones, damaged rubber surfacing, metal corrosion, etc.) receive successively lower grades, depending on the number of hazardous conditions. In general, the newest, best-maintained playgrounds receive an grade while older playgrounds with deteriorating equipment and maintenance challenges receive lower grades. No playground lasts forever and play structures naturally deteriorate over time. In most cases, an grade signifies that a playground has outlived its useful life, and should be completely renovated. Parks lliance 2012 eport ard 3

3 How is the eport ard Used? In addition to assessing which playgrounds are in need of capital investment, the eport ard also is used as a catalyst for volunteering. The Initiative uses each eport ard to plan playground advocacy, fundraising, and community mobilization. SP distributes the eport ard to the Mayor s Office, oard of Supervisors, and other ity leaders to inform and foster their support, and presents the eport ard in meetings to focus attention on neighborhoods specific needs. Where and when residents express interest, Initiative staff orients the organization and action of volunteer playground support groups. These riends of groups then raise funds for improvements, participate in playground clean ups with P, and otherwise support and steward their neighborhood playgrounds. P uses the eport ard to identify playgrounds that are in greatest need of capital investment. The 2012 eport ard will play a particularly important role in the design of the $195 million 2012 lean and Safe Neighborhood Parks ond, to be presented to voters in November 2012, which will dedicate 15.5 million to improve failing playgrounds citywide. SP will play a leading advocacy role in conducting a public education campaign in favor of the ond. The eport ard is also used as a catalyst for volunteer activation and engagement with the end goal of improving conditions at select playgrounds. Working in tandem and utilizing the information in the eport ard, SP and P staff determine which playgrounds (graded or worse) could most substantially improve from a work day conducted by community and/or corporate volunteers. ctivities may include sifting sand to remove debris; adding clean, sterilized sand; enhancing landscaping around play areas; and cleaning and painting equipment. fter volunteer work days have concluded at targeted playgrounds, a reassessment is conducted by SP and resulting improvements and grades are released in an annual eassessment eport. Twenty such work days were held in , improving the grades at 13 of the 20 sites. St. Mary s Grades Holding Steady with an Upward Trend 26% 7% 6% Improvement ity-wide istrict 1 istrict 2 istrict 3 istrict 4 istrict 5 istrict 6 istrict 7 istrict 8 istrict 9 istrict 10 istrict 11 ity 2012 esults 24% 37% Grades + In 2006 In San rancisco % 37% verage Grades 10 84% 84% 82% 82% 83% 77% 80% 82% 85% 84% 81% 82% 20% 13% 6 The 2012 survey (123 playgrounds total) found a citywide-average playground grade of (82%), as compared to (83%) in 2010 and + (79%) in Thirty seven percent of all playgrounds received an grade, 24% received a, 26% received a, and 13% were failing (7% and 6% ). s that were closed for renovation during the assessment period (ebruary pril 2012) were not surveyed. t the istrict level, istrict 9 (Mission, ernal Heights, Portola) had the highest The playground surveys show a considerable improvement in citywide playground quality over time. In comparison to 2010 when the last eport ard was published, the number of playgrounds has risen, from 42 playgrounds in 2010 to 45 in This represents an increase from 33% in 2010 to 37% in ompare this year s figures to earlier eport ards, and the upward trend in the percentage of playgrounds is more evident. In 2006, 25% of the playgrounds were given an, and in 2008, 29% of the playgrounds were ranked with grades. Looking at the other end of the spectrum, in both the 2010 and 2012 eport ard, the percentage of failing playgrounds was 13% of all playgrounds surveyed, while in 2006 the percentage of failing playgrounds was at 20% and in 2008 it was at 21%. In summary, since the first eport ard in 2006, grades of playgrounds have consistently improved, with more 2012 average (85%). istrict 10 (ayview, Hunters Point, Potrero Hill, Visitacion Valley) showed the greatest rate of improvement since the last survey, going from 81% in 2010 to 84% in istrict 6 (ivic enter, Tenderloin, South of Market, South each) suffered the greatest decline, sliding from 84% in 2010 to 77% in 2012, primarily due to recent redistricting because istrict borders have changed, three highly graded playgrounds (ranklin Square, Hayward, and Kid Power Park) are now located in other istricts. playgrounds each time and less failing playgrounds. The results show positive, upward momentum in the overall state of our city s playgrounds. The improvement is due in large part to investments from the 2008 lean & Safe Neighborhood Parks ond, P s ommunity Opportunity und, and private contributions via riends of playground groups. SP contributed to these investments by leading a public education campaign in support of the ond. ll told, twelve playgrounds were renovated under the 2008 ond. (s renovated were in dire need of repair of the twelve playgrounds renovated, eleven were ranked with grades or worse pre-renovation.) t the publication of this report, funds for playground renovation are still available through P s ommunity Opportunity und, so further playground improvements from 2008 bond monies are pending. 4 Parks lliance 2012 eport ard Parks lliance 2012 eport ard 5

4 2012 esults More s are Needed In May 2012 San rancisco was ranked by the Trust for Public Land as having the best urban park system in the U.S. While there is much to celebrate regarding S s parks and open space, much work remains to provide access to clean and safe play areas for children. s reported in the ity s ecreation & Open Space Element of the General Plan (S Planning epartment, evised raft, June 2011), many playground gaps remain: these are areas of the city that are outside a quarter-mile walking distance to a playground. uilding playgrounds in gap neighborhoods is a crucial step in ensuring equitable access to playgrounds for all San rancisco children and families. San rancisco map, with 1/4 mile walking radius and playground gaps Map redit: ecreation & Open Space Element, n Element of the General Plan of the ity and ounty of San rancisco, (evised raft, June 2011) Published by S Planning epartment emoval of Equipment at Oldest s One trend related to the city s oldest playgrounds that should be noted is that at some sites structures and equipment are being removed over time. The removal is taking place because the structures and equipment have been deemed unsafe by the ity. Perhaps a structure is removed because it is dilapidated and consists of hazardous splintery wood, or has a negative design feature that poses safety risks, such as unprotected high platforms. While removal of unsafe equipment by the ity is logical and prudent, sometimes community members don t fully understand why the amount of play equipment at their local playground is being reduced. ecause unsafe equipment is removed over time, the result is that some older playgrounds sites may have only two or three pieces of equipment remaining, or none at all. Sites with no remaining equipment are not surveyed, as there is no equipment left to evaluate. Instead, these sites are listed in the s emoved section of the eport ard. 6 Parks lliance 2012 eport ard Parks lliance 2012 eport ard 7

5 E 2012 eport ard Lincoln Park abrillo Golden Gate Park Golden Gate Park (Koret) Golden Gate Park (Lincoln) Golden Gate Park (Stow Lake) South Sunset Lake Merced ochambeau West Sunset ulton Larsen Park Parkside Square Stern Grove olph Nicol Park 8 Parks lliance 2012 eport ard ichmond rgonne Sunset J.P. Murphy Golden Gate Heights Park Mcoppin Square 2 4 Joe imaggio 5 Moscone ec Michelangelo 3 enter (W) Moscone ec enter (E) Washington Square 3 Presidio hinese Helen Wills ow Hollow ec Woh Hei Yuen Park 3 enter 3 Portsmouth Square Washington & Hyde Mini Park Willie "Woo Woo" Wong 3 Julius Kahn Huntington Park 3 lta Plaza Park Lafayette Park St Mary's Square 4 Mountain Lake Park 2 Presidio Heights Sgt. John 3 Macaulay Park 3 Hamilton ec enter Tenderloin ec enter 3 Laurel Hill oeddeker Park 2 Kimbell Hyde & Turk Mini Park 4 10th & lement uchanan St. Mall (N of Turk) Hayward Mini Park uchanan St. Mall (S of Turk) South Park 2 lioto Performing rts Piazza (N) ossi uchanan St. Mall (ulton) lioto SOM ec enter Performing Golden Gate Park lamo Square Patricia's Victoria Manalo raves Park 3 rts Piazza (S) (ulton) Hayes Valley 1 Green Panhandle 2 4 Koshland Park 2 uena Vista Park uboce Park 3 1 Grattan Peixotto ranklin Square 4 States Street Jackson 3 Kid Power Park 4 Eureka Valley 4 olores lioto Mini Park McKinley Square 3 Playgound (Helen iller) Mission 2 S Seward Mini Park Jose oronado Potrero Hill 4 Potrero Hill ec enter 3 Parque Midtown 3 Ninos Unidos Terrace Noe Valley ourts 24th & York Mini Park 3 Garfield Square 4 Juri ommons Potrero del Sol ouglass 4 James olph Precita Park 1 West Portal hristopher 4 Upper Noe Glen anyon Park Walter Haas ernal Heights ec enter Selby & Palou Mini Park Miraloma Youngblood oleman Holly Park Palou & Phelps Park Sunnyside Silver Terrace Joseph Lee ec enter India asin Shoreline Park St. Mary's Hilltop Park S ptos dam ogers Park Palega Junipero Serra alboa Park McLaren Park (Gambier) McLaren Park (Peru) McLaren Park (Oxford) Excelsior McLaren Park Louis Sutter Merced Heights (John Shelley) rooks Park Tennis ourt Minnie & Lovie Ward rocker mazon (Italy) McLaren Park Visitacion Valley ayuga Greenway andolph right Mini Park rocker mazon (La Grande) rotherhood Head Mini Park rocker mazon (Geneva) Visitacion Valley Herz Lessing-Sears Mini Park lice halmers Kelloch & Velasco Mini Park MKET ST 03 ST ayview Little Hollywood Park Gilman andlestick Park 10th ve & lement Mini Park 24th & York Mini Park dam ogers Park lamo Square lice halmers lta Plaza Park alboa Park ay View ow Hollow uboce Park olores (Helen iller) Eureka Valley Garfield Square Golden Gate Park (Koret) Hamilton ec enter Hayes Valley Hayward J. P. Murphy Joseph Lee ec enter Julius Kahn Junipero Serra Kelloch Velasco Park Kid Power Park Lincoln Park Mcoppin Square McKinley Square Midtown Terrace Minnie & Lovie Ward Noe Valley ourts Parkside Square Parque Ninos Unidos Patricia s Green Potrero Hill Potrero Hill ec enter Presidio Heights ossi SOM ec enter St. Mary s Sunnyside ec enter Upper Noe ec enter Victoria Manolo raves Park Visitacion Valley Greenway Washington & Hyde Mini Park West Sunset Woh Hei Yuen Park lioto Performing rts Piazza (S) ptos rgonne uchanan St. Mall (N of Turk) rocker mazon (La Grande) ouglass Excelsior ranklin Square Golden Gate Park (ulton) Helen Wills Holly Park Jackson James olph Jose oronado Koshland Park Laurel Hill Little Hollywood Park Louis Sutter Michaelangelo Moscone ec enter (West) Peixotto Potrero del Sol andolph right Mini Park ochambeau St. Mary s Square South Sunset Tenderlion ec enter Visitacion Valley Walter Haas Washington Square lioto Mini Park lioto Performing rts Piazza (N) ernal Heights ec enter rooks Park uchanan St. Mall (S of Turk) uena Vista Park abrillo hristopher rocker mazon (Geneva) Glen anyon Park Golden Gate Park (Lincoln) Golden Gate Park (Stow Lake) Grattan Hyde & Turk Mini Park India asin Shoreline Park Juri ommons Kimbell Larsen Park Lessing Sears Mini Park Merced Heights Moscone ec enter (East) Mountain Lake Park Palou & Phelps Park Panhandle Portsmouth Square ichmond olph Nicol Sergeant John Macaulay Park Silver Terrace South Park Willie Woo Woo Wong Youngblood oleman rotherhood Head Mini Park rocker mazon (Italy) Gilman Herz Huntington Park Joe imaggio Miraloma Selby & Palou Mini Park West Portal oeddeker Park uchanan St. Mall (ulton) Golden Gate Heights Lafayette Park Precita Park States Street Stern Grove losed for renovation in 3/2012 ayuga 4 hinese ecreation enter 1 ulton 3 Mission 4 Palega 1 Sunset oncrete slides only S 5 Hilltop Park S 3 Seward Mini Park s emoved McLaren Park (Gambier) McLaren Park (John Shelley) McLaren Park (Oxford) McLaren Park (Peru) McLaren Park (Tennis ourts) Grade anges 90%-100% 80%-89% 70%-79% 60%-69% 59% & below Parks lliance 2012 eport ard 9

6 Lincoln Park rgonne 10th & lement Mini Park uchanan St. Mall (N of Turk) uchanan St. Mall (S of Turk) ossi uchanan St. Mall (ulton) Golden Gate Park lamo Square abrillo ulton Patricia's (ulton) Hayes Valley Green 2012 Parks ond Similar to the 2008 lean and Safe Passage of the 2012 Parks ond in Panhandle Neighborhood Parks ond, which was November means a majority of the Koshland Park approved by 71.6% of San rancisco failing playgrounds will be addressed, Golden voters, Gate the 2012 Park Parks ond will be a and Golden through Gate renovations Park (Koret) be elevated $195 million General Obligation bond up to grade status. If approved in uena Vista Park uboce Park Golden Gate Park (Lincoln) to address outstanding Golden capital Gate needs Park (Stow in November, Lake) the 2012 Parks ond the city s parks. represents a major victory for Grattan Peixotto San Kimbell Hyde & Turk Mini Park Hayward South Park lioto Performing rts Piazza (N) lioto SOM ec enter Performing Victoria Manalo raves Park rts Piazza (S) Parks lliance Success Stories mong its more than 120 Park Partner groups, SP proudly serves as the fiscal sponsor to seventeen riends of playground groups, fostering an effective and robust cadre of playground advocates. ranklin Square rancisco s children and families, and States SP Street provides the groups expertise in fundraising and Jackson funding sources, Thanks in large part to the ongoing P should be commended for advocacy of SP and the legacy of authorization to receive Kid tax-deductible Power Park contributions, liability insurance, diligently championing the goals of Eureka Valley the eport ard, the 2012 bookkeeping, and administration to enable their initiatives to improve their the Initiative. olores lioto Mini Park McKinley Square lean and Safe Neighborhood Parks neighborhood Playgound playgrounds. mong them: ond calls for Sunset a substantial investment or more information on the S (Helen iller) Mission of $15.5 million for renovations of our Seward Mini Park Jose oronado Potrero Hill 2012 ond, please see city s playgrounds. J.P. Murphy Potrero Hill ec enter sfrecpark.org/bondoutreach.aspx. Help McLaren Park Parque Portola and Excelsior istricts are SP, HMP hosted community design Midtown Ninos Unidos densely populated and have limited workshops, and worked with P and Terrace Noe Valley ourts 24th & York Mini Park open space. Their residents depend on an architect to develop a great Garfield Square Juri ommons McLaren Park (the city s second largest) playground design, featuring swings, a West Sunset Golden Gate Heights Park Potrero del Sol for play, recreation opportunities and tepee rope climbing structure, and a ouglass Koret hildren s Quarter ossi nature experiences. Unfortunately, James olph five naturalistic, tree house structure. To Precita Park playgrounds Mcoppin Square in the northwest section of date, HMP has secured a $250,000 West Portal hristopher the park were dismantled and removed award from P s ommunity Upper Noe in the 1980s and 1990s because of Opportunity und, a $65,000 unsafe equipment. ommunity hallenge Grant, and the South Sunset Larsen Park Glen anyon Park endorsement and support of istrict 11 Parkside Square The volunteer group Help McLaren Supervisor, John valos. Walter Haas ernal Heights ec enter Selby & Palou Mini Park Miraloma Youngblood oleman Park (HMP) formed in 2007 with a Groundbreaking is scheduled for Stern Grove vision for restoring the urrows & Peru ugust 2012, with the playground Holly Street Park former-playground site into Palou a & Phelps Park reopening by year s end. beautiful, new children s playground. Sunnyside Joseph Lee ec enter With orientation Silver and support Terrace from India olph Nicol Park St. Mary's Hilltop Park S ptos dam ogers Park Palega Lake Merced 10 Parks lliance 2012 eport ard Junipero Serra alboa Park McLaren Park (Gambier) McLaren Park (Peru) McLaren Park (Oxford) Excelsior McLaren Park Louis Sutter Merced Heights (John Shelley) rooks Park Tennis ourt Minnie & Lovie Ward rocker mazon (Italy) McLaren Park Visitacion Valley ayuga Greenway andolph right Mini Park rocker mazon (La Grande) rotherhood Head Mini Park rocker mazon (Geneva) Visitacion Valley Herz Lessing-Sears Mini Park lice halmers Kelloch & Velasco Mini Park 03 ST ayview Gilman ive playgrounds have been removed in McLaren Park due to hazardous equipment. SP Park Partner Help McLaren Park has held community design meetings (above) and raised funds toward a new playground at urrows and Peru Streets. andlestick Park Little Hollywood Park Parks lliance 2012 eport ard 11

7 Parks lliance Success Stories riends of alboa Park alboa Park, in the Mission Terrace neighborhood, received a grade in the 2006 eport ard. Neighborhood residents formed the riends of alboa Park (OPP), which, with support from SP and P, organized, advocated, and fundraised their way to a new, grade playground that reopened in June OPP continues to initiate projects to expand and further improve their playground. or more information, please see riends of Presidio Heights group of neighborhood moms formed the riends of Presidio Heights in 2005, when they decided to wait no longer for the ity to improve their playground (Presidio Heights Park was ranked 254th on the city s park improvement waiting list.) The renovation broke ground in March 2010, following five years of organizing, planning, and fundraising by the riends of Presidio Heights, which raised more than $800,000 for their project. Presidio Heights reopened to the public in March 2011, and earned an grade in the 2012 eport ard. riends of olores Park olores Park received a failing grade in the 2008 eport ard, and was identified for renovation via the 2008 lean and Safe Neighborhood Parks ond. SP served as the fiscal agent for the project and riends of olores Park, which also received a $1.5 million grant from the Mercer oundation. Koch Landscape rchitecture developed the conceptual designs based on community input from participatory design workshops. The fabulous new playground, renamed the Helen iller, reopened at the end of March It features a one of a kind, -accessible, suspension bridge, shipwrecked boats (climbing structures) and climbing nets, and a 40 super slide built into the hillside behind the playground. or more information, please see Presidio Heights riends of Huntington Park eceiving a grade in the 2012 survey, the play structures at Huntington Park are over 40 years old and are deteriorating, presenting hazardous conditions on site. oncerned Nob Hill neighbors formed the riends of Huntington Park in 2011, and are in the process of informing and gathering input from the wider community to develop concept designs and initiate fundraising. or more information, please see riends of Lafayette Park Lafayette Park, in Pacific Heights, received a grade in 2010, and an in the 2012 survey. The park and playground are slated for renovation via the 2008 lean & Safe Neighborhood Parks ond. The riends of Lafayette Park have raised an additional $475,000 (toward a goal of $575,000) to include new features such as swing sets for toddlers and older children, and a unique, nature-themed playground featuring a creek bed with old-fashioned water pumps. or more information, please see Helen iller at olores Park 12 Parks lliance 2012 eport ard Parks lliance 2012 eport ard 13

8 Parks lliance Success Stories New Lafayette Park esign endering riends of West Sunset Sunday, September 10, 2012 marked the long awaited grand re-opening of the West Sunset. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the riends of West Sunset (OWSP), a dazzling world-class playground and town square now stands at a site previously occupied by aging and hazardous play structures. It all began in 2008 when OWSP formed after their playground once again received a failing grade in the eport ard, and the site was not slated as part of the 2008 lean and Safe Neighborhood Parks ond. That year OWSP started a strong fundraising campaign, securing funding from PG&E and T&T. They then received their biggest boost in late 2009 when Supervisor armen hu secured over a million dollars for the project. or more information, please see West Sunset riends of Mountain Lake Park Mountain Lake Park is located in a beautiful woodland site in the Inner ichmond istrict, at the end of 12th venue just north of Lake Street. Its 30+ year-old wooden play structures have deteriorated and present hazardous conditions. Neighborhood residents formed the riends of Mountain Lake in March 2011, and are in the process of informing and gathering input from the wider community to develop a playground design that meets the needs and desires of its users. Their goal is to open the new playground in early or more information, please see riends of Waterfront ounded in 2011, this group of residents of the northeast Embarcadero is raising funds to build a new children s playground in Sue ierman Park. urrently, there is no playground within a mile of the erry uilding, limiting options for the growing number of resident-families. or more information, please see 14 Parks lliance 2012 eport ard Parks lliance 2012 eport ard 15

9 Thank you The Initiative received financial support this past year from the Mimi and Peter Haas und, San rancisco ederal redit Union, Wells argo oundation and many individuals. If you would like to support SP s playground work, please visit sfparksalliance.org/support/donate. cknowledgments San rancisco Parks lliance extends heartfelt thanks to all the P staff and community volunteers who conducted playground surveys and helped to make the 2012 eport ard a reality. San rancisco Parks lliance feedback@sfparksalliance.org esign: Peter W. Tucker Printed on Green E-certified paper