Pilot program may open more schoolyard playgrounds on weekends
By: Beth Winegarner
Examiner Staff Writer
November 15, 2008
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| Community in mind: Schoolyards chosen to open on weekends were picked to serve areas where there aren’t many play options. (Cindy Chew/The Examiner) |
SAN FRANCISCO — One year after 11 public schools began opening on weekends to provide neighbors access to their playgrounds and basketball hoops, leaders are exploring where — and whether — to expand the number of open schoolyards.
The pilot project, launched in December with much fanfare by San Francisco Unified School District leaders, Supervisor Carmen Chu and Mayor Gavin Newsom, quietly provided bonus play space through June and relaunched when school started in September.
Although some initially feared the move would expose schoolyards to the vandalism seen in San Francisco’s public playgrounds, participating schools so far say the extra traffic actually keeps campuses safer, according to Chris Armentrout, director of development and government relations for the district.
“We had a few reports of graffiti and one break-in to a bungalow last spring,” Armentrout said. Since then, the district has added a few more police patrols and vandals appear to be staying away.
Each site was picked to serve an area where there aren’t many other play options. The school district and Recreation and Park Department share responsibility for them, with park patrols swinging by to unlock and lock gates, and school janitors making sure to sweep up and secure sites on Sunday evenings, officials said.
Leaders are looking for more eligible schools, but have struggled to identify campuses that can add something communities don’t already have, along with making sure the Recreation and Park Department can spare personnel on weekends to open and lock gates, according to school district spokeswoman Gentle Blythe.
Although the sites have been available for nearly one year, leaders have heard little feedback from the public regarding their popularity, Blythe said.
Despite the program’s star-studded launch, not every neighborhood with ailing playgrounds has gotten the message about open schools.
Charles Farrugia, who is rallying to bring playgrounds back to McLaren Park — where five have disappeared in the past four decades — had no idea that Monroe Elementary School is available to the public.
“The location is just OK, and there’s not much parking there,” Farrugia said. “I’m not saying I won’t take my kid there now that I know, but a park is more than a play structure. A park has more space, and it’s green.”
Make a play date
Eleven schools in The City open their playgrounds, basketball hoops and other amenities each weekend.
- Alamo Elementary, 250 23rd Ave.
- Claire Lillienthal Elementary, 3630 Divisadero St.
- Gordon J. Lau Elementary: 950 Clay St.
- Francis Scott Key Elementary, 1530 43rd Ave.
- Rosa Parks Elementary, 1501 O’Farrell St.
- Bessie Carmichael Elementary, 375 Seventh St.
- Commodore Sloat Elementary, 50 Darien Way
- James Lick Middle, 1220 Noe St.
- Cesar Chavez Elementary, 825 Shotwell St.
- Daniel Webster Elementary, 465 Missouri St.
- Monroe Elementary, 260 Madrid St.
Source: San Francisco Unified School District
