Notes
from our first community meeting Date: May 30th 2007 Location: SGI San Francisco Culture Center, 2450 -
17th Street
To view our invitation
flyer for this event Click
Here Spanish version - Click
Here
Our
first community meeting was a great success. We had good representation
from the entire neighborhood (roughly 50 people) and a good
discussion on what we would like to see in Franklin Square in
general and the playground in particular. We had official guests
from the city as well as a representative from Supervisor Chris
Daly’s office. Also, for the kids in the crowd, we had
a separate room with childcare and a guest appearance by Enzo
(… a famous local children entertainer) – they had
a blast.
The main hall at the SGI
Culture Center
Enzo entertaining the kids in room next door
For those
of you who were unable to attend, we would like to try and recap
the main points from the meeting and share some videos and photos:
Meeting
agenda and high-level notes:
1.
Welcome, Introductions & Background Ariel Braunstein, Friends of Franklin Square &
Marvin Yee, Recreation and Parks Department
2.
Purpose of Meeting and Ground Rules - Marvin Yee
Purpose
of Meeting:
To Brainstorm Ideas & Vision
For a Renovated Play Area
At Franklin Square
Neighborhood
Services Manager: Steve Cismowski (415) 831-6358
Ground
Rules
1. Keep
to the agenda
2. Cell phones/pages off
3. Disruptions not tolerated
4. Raise hand to speak
5. Direct comments to co-facilitators
3.
Design Consideration - Marvin Yee
•
Playground safety guidelines
•
Disability access (ADA)
•
Budget
o City
funds
o MOCD
grant
•
Schedule (MOCD grant by July 2008)
o Typical
process:
o Concept
Plan
o Commission
Approval
o Construction
Documents
o Advertise
and Award
o Construction
o Park
Opening!!!
4.
Site Analysis - John Merten of Studio Green - Landscape
Architect for the Project
Diagram
of observations by John Merten. Click
Here for large view
Note: THIS IS NOT A PLAN!
5.
Brainstorming/Open Discussion - John Merten and Marvin
Yee
Marvin Yee
John
Merten and Marvin Yee
•
Lack of bathroom (incl. use by soccer players)
•
Good to remove “blind area”
•
Landscaping along Bryant Street
•
[NA – Concerned with protection of industrial zone;
should have more housing]
•
Arts tile proposal and ‘Brotherhood of Man’ mosaic
A picture of "The Brother Hood
of Man" presented by Lillian Sizemore
Anthony
Stellon's mosaic "The Brotherhood of Man"
at Franklin Square
*
To view a larger Image of "The Brother Hood of Man"
Click
Here
•
If $ limited, playground should be functional
•
Separate age groups
•
Locked at night
•
Jackson Square, KidPower Park, 24th/York – good
•
Deb: child tiles; have kiln to produce tiles for small spaces,
such as a table top. Apply for arts grant for communities.
•
Pro-sand. Black rubber can get hot.
•
Wrap around corner of soccer field
•
Reduce low visibility areas – good. More lighting ???
•
Tile Project good fundraiser
•
Like to have continuity between park and neighborhood. Lower
walls?
•
Consider dog uses; dog-friendly
•
More direct access to playground from street
•
Fencing around picnic tables as part of playground
•
Can path be captured as part of the play area?
•
Low-voltage, solar lighting
•
Chess tables outside of play area to encourage multiple uses
(tile project opportunity?)
•
Increase in maintenance budget after playground completed?
•
Maintain a long path as possible for dog walking (Parque Ninos
Unidos path – good)
•
Fence should not be required; open – keep flow. Dynamic
play area.
•
[NA – Water catchment from soccer field.]
•
Water on sidewalk problem along 17th Street
•
Move play area to another location that is sunnier
•
Community bulletin board
•
Visible entrance from 16th Street, across from the mall
•
Approach nearby businesses to purchase tiles
•
Concern of illegal drug activity at restroom kiosk in the
past. Status of restroom across from the mall? Supports having
restroom.
•
Like Duboce Park landscape area as hiding area for kids in
the play area. Natural space for kids.
•
Should be better access from 16th/Potrero into the park (DPW
owns land)
•
Security of kids important
•
Consdieration for soccer use & connection to mall important
•
Mall should be interested in having nice park across the street
•
Concern with having unfenced play area
7.
Conclusion - Marvin Yee
Next
steps:
The
architect, John Merten, will take the community inputs and
work with Friends of Franklin Square to come up with several
alternatives and design ideas.
Friends
of Franklin Square will meet with the city and come up with
a plan for bridging the gap between the budget that we have
the ideas that we would like to see implemented.
We need
to start a large-scale campaign with the city to make sure
that Franklin Square is budgeted appropriately in the 2007-8
fiscal year (we are missing roughly $900K).
Friends
of Franklin Square will continue with our fund raising efforts.
These funds will be used for the architecture work, missing
items/budget in the implementation and long-term maintenance
and programming at the park.
Posted
on April 15 2007
Notes
from our second community meeting Date: May 30th 2007 Location: SGI San Francisco Culture Center, 2450 -
17th Street
To view our invitation
flyer for this event Click
Here For Spanish version Click
Here
Our
second community meeting was very energetic and productive.
Most of the meeting revolved around the two possible directions/plans
that were presented by John (Studio Green) and the great ideas
that came from the community. We had a wonderful active discussion
and lots of participation.
Meeting
agenda and main notes from each section:
* Sorry
for not publishing videos this time. We just ran out of time
and it was more important to publish the notes... Maybe later
I will go back and publish the video transcript.
1. Welcome, Introductions and background (Ariel Braunstein)
2.
Purpose of Meeting and Ground Rules (Marvin Yee)
Purpose
of Meeting
To
Collect Feedback
On
the Conceptual Plans
For
the Renovaation of
The
Franklin Square Play Area
Ground
Rules
Keep
to the agenda
Cell
phones/pages off
Disruptions
not tolerated
Raise
hand to speak
Direct
comments to co-facilitators
4.
Anticipated Schedule (Marvin Yee)
May 30,
2007 Community Mtg. #2
June
28 Board final budget
July
18 Community Mtg. #3
Aug
16 RecPark Commission
Mid-Feb
2008 Project Out to Bid
Late-June
Award Contract
Late-July
Start of Construction
Late-Dec
Project Complete
5.
Community Mtg. #1 Comments (Marvin Yee)
Design/Function
Separate
age groups
Incorporate
sand
Access
from street
‘Brotherhood
of Man’
Visibility/Security
Remove
“blind area”
Security
of kids
Other Park
Uses
Dog friendly
Mmaintain
circulation
6.
Comments (John Merten and Marvin Yee)
John
Merten presenting the Playground Location Evaluation (for larger
view Click Here)
Two design
alternatives (or any combination of the two...):
•
Prefer ‘A’ (‘B’ has vague space in back).
All space programmed.
• ‘A’ – good balance. Path on street
side.
• ‘A’ – can align ‘Brotherhood
of Man’ with staircase? (as shown in ‘B’)
• Design to activate spaces. Not by fear of what can happen.
• Set ‘B of M’ back as possible to eliminate
hading spaces.
• Like ‘A’ for sense of inclusion (pathway
through play area)
• Plant behind ‘B of M’, rather than hardscape.
• ‘A’ – like microclimate and shield
from wind.
• *9. ‘B’ – like sense of lawn extension
east of ‘B of M’ plaza. Alter angle of ‘B
if M’ shown on ‘A’.
• ‘A’ – like the improved visibility.
• ‘A’ – can the entire play area be
visible from any spot within? [Response: Yes, because grade
differences are not that great.]
• How will wall be treated? Plantings, vines, tiles*,
climbing wall. Play it up!
• Bring tables into play area.
• Structure in center of play area seating circle?
• Play equipment with organic feel; progressive design.
• Fantasy play for younger kids.
• Rossi Playground has different type of play equipment.
Also has grassy knoll with boulders.
• Suggest play equipment that is not within walking distance
of park.
• Shade is important.
• Rubber surface can get hot.
• Unique feature: topography >> play it up!
• CommunityBuild.org – options for playground design.
• Duboce Park labyrinth photo tiles.
• Rolling play in park, perhaps based on ‘B of M’
infinity symbol.
• Possible themes: Seal Stadium, train tracks, bike lane,
MUNI, etc.
• Maintenance concerns of unprogrammed space, mower access,
public urinal.
• ‘A’ – lower ‘B of M’ plaza
to create lawn picnic area, therefore expanding play space.
• Climbing wall, concrete slide, adult play apparatus.
• Chess tables in adult use area.
• Concerns with having chess tables.
• 17th/Bryant water runoff.
• ‘A’ path access (8’-10’ wide)
better for maintenance.
• New light transformer for field lights being located
next to backflow unit. Coordinate field light design with the
play area design.
7.
Conclusion/Next Steps (Marvin Yee)
Posted
on June 11 2007
Notes
from our third community meeting Date: July 18th 2007 Location: SGI San Francisco Culture Center, 2450 -
17th Street
To view our invitation
flyer for this event Click
Here For Spanish version Click
Here
Our
third community meeting in this series of planning sessions
was dedicated to the last pieces of the design stage. We reviewed
a new, more refined, design from Studio Green, possible play
equipment and design styles for our park. We also reviewed other
playgrounds in walking distance from our neighborhood and thought
through what is important for us to have in ours.
New proposed
plan by Studio Green (For large view Click
Here)
Ideas for
different types of possible play equipment
Inventory
of different playground features in our area (as consideration
for our selection)
Main
comments and suggestions from the community:
• Concern with negative use at picnic table area outside
of play area
• Picnic tables can be an alternate item
• Motion sensors for light is a good idea
• Keep light on picnic table area
• Include dog bowl with drinking fountain
• Design picnic area to feel as part of the plat area
• Swap swing area with play structure in kids play area
• Extend feel of play area with sculpture in lawn area
• Like shade over the seating area. Would like more shade
in tot area
• Dedicated lawn area as part of play area. Feasible?
Gate opening?
• Add STOP sign on Hampshire St.
• Water + sand. (Can get messy)
• Noise features are good
• Expand accessibility
• Transportation theme (old trolley, street signs, street
lights, etc.)
• Individual surprises are good (small play features)
• San Jose Museum (example of including automobiles for
kids to climb in)
In
this meeting we were also able to announce that all of our hard
work in writing, making phone calls and speaking on behalf of
Franklin Square has paid-off. With the help of the mayor’s
office, Supervisor Daly and complete support of the entire board
of supervisors, the 2007-8 budget includes $950K in additional
funding for Franklin Square. This is an AMAZING achievement
and a testament to our collective passion and dedication. Together
with last year’s budget allocation and grants we now have
a budget of $1.2MM – Congratulations!
