Tracie Chock Watanabe: Parkscan Helps Local Parks

Art Tom looks out over West Sunset Playground and thinks about possibilities. He also thinks about realities.

"I've gone out there myself and raked broken glass from the sand," Tom says. "My daughter is one year old and we worry about letting her play there because of the glass. Playgrounds are supposed to be for children, but they're not. That's sad for us and other families."

Tom's comments hint at problems plaguing many Sunset District playgrounds.

Tom has based his career and family in the Sunset. He's an active participant in community events and in efforts to enhance the neighborhood. Although West Sunset is receiving some attention from Supervisor Carmen Chu and the community, there's still more to be done for this and other district playgrounds.

The local non-profit group Neighborhood Parks Council (NPC) values Tom's comments and recognizes the importance of community parks and playgrounds. Further supporting the case, the Trust for Public Land issued a 2006 report, "The Benefits of Parks," that outlines the health, environmental and social benefits of parks. It states: "Numerous studies have shown that parks and open space increase the value of neighboring residential properties."

The report also mentions "a park that is dangerous and ill kempt is likely to hurt the value of nearby homes." This is a strong argument for increased community support for neighborhood recreational areas.

With 200-plus recreational areas under its jurisdiction, the SF Recreation and Park Department (RPD) acknowledges that community support is crucial. In 2003, NPC took action, creating an online tool to enable people to improve their parks with the click of a button.

Residents can access Parkscan.org online to submit observations and concerns about neighborhood parks and playgrounds. Information is routed directly to RPD, giving RPD an opportunity to reply and take action. Community entries are anonymous and posted for public review.

In 2006, NPC recorded 1,621 Parkscan.org observations, 90.6 percent of which were responded to by RPD. Parkscan.org also provides a venue to show public interest for local parks. Responses indicate the level of community concern and encourages interest on behalf of those parks. Parkscan.org gives voice to community members like Tom, providing hope for future improvement to parks, such as West Sunset.

Tracie Chock Watanabe is a member of Parkscan.