By Calvin Welch, HANC Housing and Land Use Board Member and Member of the Kezar Stadium Advisory Committee
For the entire 35 year history of the “new” Kezar stadium Rec and Park (or as it is known by long time San Franciscans, “Wreck the Park”) has attempted to transform the facility into a “pay to play” venue, generating revenue for the department,
HANC was asked in 1987 to support a campaign for a general obligation bond to demolish the derelict hulk of the old sixty-foot-high, 60,000-seat stadium that was left empty when Rec and Park and the 49ers left it for the friendlier confines of Candlestick Park. Neither had any plans or concerns for the site. They were happy leaving it to rot.
The community did, however, have a vision: reclaim the old Poly High School site and the old Kezar site and extend the residential community to Poly and Golden Gate Park to Kezar.