Overview
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Containing over 24,000 square feet of land, 2/3rds the size of historic San Francisco’s historic South Park, the proposed park at Rincon Hill is located on Harrison Street alongside the Fremont off-ramp. Designated as a potential park by the Rincon Hill Plan and approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2005, the new park will serve one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in San Francisco. Over the last 15 years, over 6,000 new residents have moved into the Rincon Hill/South Beach neighborhood. Residents living in the 860-unit Bayside Village development have waited 20 years for this park. Newer residents in the 400-unit One Rincon project and the 500+ Infinity development are counting on this park to provide a recreation place for them and their families.
Shielded from the 80 decibel noise of the Bay Bridge (four times louder than the 60 decibel levels recommended for parks) by a residential building that totally blocks the bridge and the freeway off-ramp, the new park will be adjacent to the sunny Harrison Street edge of the property. Based on community discussions (8 meetings with neighbors), park design will capture many priority features suggested by adjacent neighbors. The Prop. 84 process will be completed by mid-February, 2010; early indications show a prospective-user desire for a large lawn area, secluded seating areas surrounded by bushes and flower beds, and an area for some type of games.
Funding for the new park was originally envisaged as coming from fees paid by residential developments. With such developments indefinitely stalled because of the bad economy, it is necessary to search for new sources of financing. One of these potential sources is Prop. 84 which would fund acquisition and development costs for this badly-needed City park.
The Prop 84 process includes 5 public meetings between December 2009 and March, 2010. The goal of the community meetings, as well as a public survey available on the project website, is to solicit neighborhood priorities for the park purpose(s) and features. Early indicators show a prospective-user desire for a large lawn area, secluded seating areas surrounded by attractive landscaping, and an area for some type of games. A smaller contingent is interested in a possible dog-play area as well.
The park will be located in the northern section of the site. A residential building in the rear of the site by the bridge will serve to block the 80-decibel noise of the bridge and bring the sound to acceptable levels (60 decibels).
