By James Sword, HANC Board
San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department (RPD) has banned sand. After following this policy secretly for an unknown amount of time, it has finally become public. The ban of sand was not stated during either of two public meetings held about the Panhandle Playground (PP), and was only brought to light when specifically asked about by members of HANC. Through various email conversations with RPD, the reason for a sand ban has changed from accessibility, to maintenance, and finally RPD settled on safety.
Through media outlets, a RPD spokesperson clarified “safety” concerns why sand is banned as cat feces, needles, and glass (maintenance). According to Lenore Skenazy, author, blogger and star of TV show “World’s Worst Mom,” the fear that cats are using America’s playgrounds as litter boxes is an urban myth. As a regular PP visitor over the last 3 years, I have found broken glass once, and never a needle or poop.
On July 2nd in Colma at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, friends & family gathered to honor and remember long-time UPS driver Wayne Chan. It had been two weeks since Michael Lefiti, Benson Louie and Wayne were shot by a co-worker at the UPS distribution facility on San Bruno Ave.
The Haight Ashbury Street Fair will take place on Sunday, June 11, from 11 am to 5:30 pm, on Haight Street between Masonic and Stanyan, with a Children’s Alley on Belvedere between Haight and Waller.
American Cyclery, at the corner of Fredrick and Stanyan Streets, has developed plans for a Public Parklet and Plaza in front of the entrance on Stanyan Street. The Parklet area will be 225 square feet and the Plaza is planned to be 757 square feet.