Exciting News

We are delighted to announce our new web site.
You can find up-to-date information about our activities by visiting:

www.friendsofdolorespark.org

Thank you for visiting. We hope you will enjoy the new site.

Mercer Fund Grant

After years of hard work, outstanding support and involvement by the community, and remarkable good fortune, Friends of Dolores Park Playground is pleased to announce a $1.5 million grant from the San Francisco-based Mercer Fund for the renovation of the Dolores Park playground. The grant is made in honor of Helen Diller. Mrs. Diller and her family are longtime residents of the San Francisco Bay Area who are committed to the advancement of education, science and the arts. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Mrs. Diller, her family, and the Mercer Fund for this generous gift.

WHAT ARE WE UP TO?

Renovation

Hear about our efforts in a televised interview with our chair of the Steering Committee, Nancy Madynski on the Neighborhood Empowerment Network. Click here to watch the video.

Friends of Dolores Park Playground is continuing to work with Supervisor Bevan Dufty and the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department. The goal is to create a world-class playground that is beautiful, clean, and safe for children of all abilities.

There are several important reasons to renovate the playground.

1. The current play structures are more than thirty years old and do not comply with current safety standards. One example is arsenic in the paint (see http://www.safe2play.org/ to learn more about this).
2. The surface of the playground is sand which often hides dangerous materials (broken glass, cigarette butts, syringes). Most of the newer playgrounds have a rubberized surface which does not hide foreign objects.
3. There is currently no physical barrier surrounding the play area, and most research shows that a barrier is a key safety component for playgrounds.
4. The drainage system in the play area is poorly-designed and often leaves the playground flooded and unusable.
   

Short-term Goals

1. Installation of signs that define the perimeter of the current playground and specify codes and regulations. (Installed on May 10, 2007- Thank You SF Rec & Park)
   
2. Installation of a "kiosk" with a covered bulletin board to post events and notices. (Installed on February 12, 2008 - Thank you Neighborhood Parks Council)
3. Daily sifting of the sand and playground clean up. (Started in April and is on going- Thank you SF Rec & Park)
   
4. Increased vigilance of the playground to minimize night-time use by adults.

Social Events and A Long-term Commitment

Friends of Dolores Park Playground supports social events in the playground for the enjoyment of parents and children and also to bring greater vitality to Dolores Park and the wider community. Our long-term plan is to remain stewards of the playground for years to come.