Rec. and Park approves Fulton Playground renovation plans

by Ed Moy

The SF Recreation and Park Department has approved plans to rehabilitate the Fulton Playground, located at 855 27th Ave. in the Outer Richmond.

According to Rec. and Park, the project will included repair and/or renovation of the clubhouse and two children's play areas and courts; restoration of existing roads and pathways; upgrades to the infrastructure, including lighting; modifications to the site to remove barriers and improve accessibility; and overall reconditioning of the park's landscape.

Design development is currently underway, with construction plans scheduled for completion by the end of 2010. It is anticipated the construction phase will begin in the Spring of 2011 and be completed in the Spring of 2012.

Residents and parents from the Fulton Playground neighborhood initiated the project when they began working with Rec. and Park about a year ago. ÊSpearheading the project is a small group of about six residents who have been involved in all aspects of the renovation plan.

"I have been impressed by the level of involvement of the neighborhood group," stated neighborhood resident Dean Rader. "Folks are taking the playground renovation seriously, and there has been a great deal of productive collaboration surrounding the design of the playground, and in particular what sorts of play structures would be appropriate for the site." Ê

Rader said the group has been led by Cindy Schlichte, who has been the main organizing force for the playground.

Schlichte created a "friends of the playground" Yahoo group and has been spearheading the project, which has also included input from residents Lee Ann Ramsey, Jody Pritchard and Wendi Digerness.

Edward Chin, a landscape architect at the SF Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering, worked closely with the group to determine the overall design plans, which took its inspiration from several other city parks, including Julius Kahn Playground in the Presidio, Lincoln Park Playground and the Moscone Playground in the Marina District.

Part of the discussions focused on what play structures seemed to be working at the newly-refurbished Lincoln Park Playground and at the popular Koret Playground in Golden Gate Park. There were a number of discussions about the size, usage and demographics of the Fulton Playground.

"After a couple of weeks of feedback, questions and very detailed responses by Mr. Chin, the members of the Yahoo group voted on their favorite schematic," Rader recalled.

Although the clubhouse will get a "makeover" during the renovation process, the building is not being rebuilt because it was determined to be a historical resource by the SF Planning Department's Preservation Team.

The major upgrade to the Fulton Playground will be a large, multi-piece structure featuring rope and net bridges that will connect the toddler area to the older kids' play structure.

There will also be a "toddler area" designed for children ages two and under. It will include four bucket swings and a play structure with slides and things to climb.

Elton Pon, a communications representative at Rec. and Park, praised the collaborative effort put forth to renovate the playground.

"The renovation of FultonÊis due, in no small measure, toÊthe generosity of San Francisco voters, who overwhelmingly approved the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond. Our children need and deserve idyllic places to play, learn and explore," Pon said.

Art is required by the City as part of the project. To fulfill that obligation, local artist Moto Ohtake has been commissioned to create a sculpture.

Ohtake's design was chosen for "the kinetic energy and movement in his sculptures." ÊThis will be Ohtake's first sculpture in San Francisco.

The total budget for the 40,586-square-foot park renovation project is $4.2 million, which is completely funded by the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Park Bond.

"Overall, I have found the professionalism of those from the City - in particular Edward Chin and Jennifer Lovvern - and those in our neighborhood impressive and encouraging," Rader said. "I'm optimistic that the Fulton Playground will be quite cool indeed."

For more information, go to the websites at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fulton-playground andÊhttp://parkbonds.sfgov.org.