City officials are hoping voters will approve a $195 million bond measure that would cover upgrades to parks, playgrounds and other recreation facilities that Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg said are being “loved to death.”
A little more than half the funds would pay for upgrades to specific neighborhood facilities. The rest would cover long-deferred improvements to parks citywide — including Golden Gate, McLaren and Lake Merced — along with programs targeting playground safety, water conservation, forestry and trail maintenance.
A portion of money also would fund new waterfront projects, including a public plaza at Pier 43 and a 2.7-acre park at Pier 27.
The bond, introduced by Mayor Ed Lee at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, is intended for the November ballot.
Backers say it would create 1,275 construction and related jobs without raising tax rates above 2006 levels.
City voters last approved a parks bond in 2008. That $185 million paid for renovations to 13 parks and 11 waterfront sites, but Rec and Park said it still has $1.6 billion in deferred maintenance needs.
The current proposal must be approved by various supervisor committees before a final vote by the full board in July. It is likely to sail over those hurdles, as 10 supervisors are listed as co-sponsors.
It would require a two-thirds majority at the ballot box to pass.
acrawford@sfexaminer.com
Generating funds
What the bond measure would include:
- $99M Neighborhood facilities
- $9M Golden Gate Park
- $10M John McLaren Park
- $2M Lake Merced
- $15.5M Playground safety
- $34.5M Waterfront projects
Source: Mayor’s Office
