Supervisor Carmen Chu:City Hall

Parks Update, Barbeque

District 4 Parks Update
In 2007, the voters passed the Clean & Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond, which funds several major capital projects within the SF Recreation and Park Department system. Both McCoppin Square and the Sunset Recreation Center are slated, together, to receive more than $19 million for technical planning, major renovation work and seismic upgrades from this bond.

With the planning process already underway for both of these sites, we wanted to make sure you are aware of opportunities to provide your feedback. Your public input will ensure that the renovated facilities and improvements match the needs of our neighborhood.

Please join us for these important planning meetings:

McCoppin Square:
June 6 (Saturday), 1 - 3 p.m.

Taraval Police Station Community Room - 2345 24th Ave.

This is an Open House format with a chance for you to review some design options and provide feedback. Light refreshments will be served.

Sunset Recreation Center:
June 23 (Tuesday), 6:30 - 8 p.m.

Sunset Recreation Center - 2201 Lawton St., at 28th Avenue

This is the second public meeting for this project.

Many residents have also called our office in recent months about changes to City services, especially as they relate to balancing the budget deficit.

One area of concern has been changes at the Recreation and Park Department, because of the impact those changes could have on the many families who use our park facilities and services.

As an update, the SF Board of Supervisors received a balanced fiscal year 2009-2010 budget proposal on June 1. The budget includes the entirety of proposals for the City's operations in the upcoming year. Within the budget are proposals for the Recreation and Park Department. At this time, the Recreation and Park Department has proposed to meet its budget reduction target through a combination of expense reductions and increased revenues.

The City's total anticipated budget deficit was $438 million at issuance of the Joint Report.

These cutbacks have required the Recreation and Park Department to adjust its programming and facility hours. Since the budget has not been finalized yet, please continue to check www.sfgov.org/recpark for the latest information on programming.

We also welcome your feedback at (415) 554-7460 or at carmen.chu@sfgov.org as we work to maintain as many programs and services for children and families as possible.

Finally, RecConnect will be hosting a barbeque at the West Sunset Playground on Saturday, June 6, from 1 to 3 p.m., to kick off the summer season. This will be an opportunity to meet RecConnect, its participants and to learn more about the program. We hope to see you there!

Carmen Chu is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 4.