Richmond Roundup

New Plan, New Name for Children's Playground
The area surrounding the historic Children's Playground in Golden Gate Park will be named after the Koret Foundation, which is giving $1.8 million to redesign the playground area. The plan includes the Children's Playground, the 112-year-old carousel, Sharon Arts Building and a nearby picnic area.

The new name for the playground and its surrounding area is the Koret Children's Quarters. The change was approved by the SF Recreation and Park Commission.

The Koret Foundation will donate the money to the Friends of Recreation & Parks, which will oversee the project. The Koret Foundation is a charitable trust that has awarded more than $200 million in grants to support community projects since its creation in 1979.

According to Friends, a "balance between a state-of-the-art, wheelchair-accessible facility and appealing themes will be sought."

According to Donna Bero, executive director at the Friends of Recreation & Parks, new elements at the playground could include water play features, such as a spouting whale, or reinstatement of a small barnyard where animals could occasionally be brought in for presentations. There could also be educational events and private birthday parties.

Elizabeth Goldstein, general manager at the SF Recreation and Park Department, supports the rehabilitation plan.

"We are very excited by (Koret's) contribution to the families of the City and the many visitors who will enjoy this new area," she said.

Friends will host community workshops to get public input concerning the redesign. One workshop is slated for Saturday, March 9, at an unknown time and place as of presstime. For more information, call 750-5105.

Concourse Authority Chooses Preferred Underground Garage
The Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority approved a schematic design Feb. 12 for an underground garage that will serve the museums in Golden Gate Park. The plan will now be included in an ongoing EIR being developed for the project.

The Concourse Authority plan would create an underground "transit center" with a tunnel connecting it to Fulton Street, at 10th Avenue, and Middle Drive East. The plan includes several other options the SF Planning Department is currently looking at for short-term and long-term environmental impacts, including a car-only plan, a car and bus plan and a no-build alternative.

The underground garage, which would be located under the music and museum concourses, would have space for 800 vehicles. It would consist of two two-level garages connected by a tunnel. The removal of 800 surface parking spaces to help improve the park visitor's experience by creating a "pedestrian oasis" in the museum area is currently being studied.

City voters approved Proposition J in 1998, authorizing the creation of the Golden Gate Concourse Authority and giving the green light for the construction of the underground garage, which is being financed with private funds.

Jr. Achievement Banks on Spreading the Word
Jr. Achievement, a non-profit group founded in 1919 to educate and inspire youth to value free enterprise, business and economics to improve their lives, is putting small cardboard banks in businesses throughout the Bay Area to raise money for education programs and to raise the group's visibility.

Each bank holds about $12.50, two banks will provide the $25 it costs to teach each youth why it is important to get an economic education.

One of the driving forces behind the bank campaign is Scott Hauge, founder of Small Business Advocates and a Taraval Street proprietor. Hauge teaches kindergarten students for the Jr. Achievement program. In the San Francisco effort, he is seeking the support of the Council of District Merchants, Small Business Commission, Small Business Advocates and Small Business Network.

For more information, call Jr. Achievement at (650) 737-0370.

Crowd Packs Geary Merchants Luncheon
The Greater Geary Boulevard Merchants Association hosted a luncheon Feb. 19 honoring local merchants who have contributed to the betterment of San Francisco.

About 400 people packed the ballroom at the Cathedral Hill Hotel to recognize the efforts of Julie Lee, co-founder of the SF Neighbors' Association; Ron Miguel, president of the Planning Association for the Richmond; Robert Begley, executive director of the Hotel Council of San Francisco; and Allessandro Barccari, executive director of the Fisherman's Wharf Merchants Association.

Entertainment for the event was provided by SF Supervisor Tony Hall, who sang a song to honor each of the honorees.

Assisting the Geary merchants were several students from the St. John's Orthodox Academy. Others who addressed the crowd were Rick Cormier, from Gateway Computers and Hank Ryan, from the SF Department of the Environment's Power Savers program.

Ryan gave tips on how to save energy costs by replacing inefficient light bulbs.

Student Artists and Writers Honored
Students at the Presidio Middle School submitted 77 original artworks to the National PTA's Annual Reflections Program and Contest. The theme for this year's musical compositions, visual arts, photography and literature is, "I Hold in My Hand ...."

Twenty of the 77 entries will be forwarded to the San Francisco District PTA for judging. Out of hundreds of entries citywide, up to 16 will be selected tobe send to the California PTA. Winning entries will be on display at the state convention in Los Angeles from May 1 to May 4. Exceptional works will then be sent to the National PTA for final judging.

Participants of the district competition will be honored at a Reflections Awards Ceremony at the Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, Saturday, March 9. The public is welcome to view the display of student artwork.

Veterans Affairs Center Wins Health Care Award
The Department of Veterans Affairs San Francisco Medical Center received the VA's highest award for excellence in Health Care in five separate programs. The award recognizes the Outer Richmond District's medical center programs for their quality service, while meeting the highest standards of health care, patient satisfaction, exceptional use of resources and research.

The five Centers of Excellence at the San Francisco facility were for specialty care programs - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Cardiac Care, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Epilepsy and Renal Dialysis.

Youth Summer Camps Available at PresidioThe Crissy Field Center at the Presidio is offering 13 different week-long camps for youth aged eight to 10 and 11 to 13. The camps, which begin June 10, are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Some of the camps offered include "On Location in the Park" (for aspiring filmmakers) and "Green Gizmos" (for inventors and mad scientists).

The camps cost $265 to $395 per week, with some scholarships available. For more information, call 561-7690 or go to the website at www.crissyfield.org.

Donate Your Used Cell Phone
The Cheryl Anderson-Sorensen Childcare Center is a non-profit organization serving the local community. The foundation's "Donate-A-Phone" collection event is currently underway to collect, refurbish and distribute used cell/wireless phones to victims of domestic violence.

All donations are tax-deductible and the phones can be dropped off at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center's Building 8 or its Nursing Home, 4150 Clement St., until April 30. For more information, call 751-8511.

Volunteer to Lead Children on Nature Walks
Volunteer youth guides are needed to lead Discovery Walks for San Francisco school children and summer program participants. The walks are held weekday mornings in Golden Gate Park. Guides must commit to doing five walks a year, attending a volunteer orientation training and completing three or four practice walks with children. No prior experience is necessary. Candidates should have an interest in the park and its potential to inspire children to learn about nature. For more information, call 750-5226.

Electric Vehicles start service
Seven Toyota RAV4 electric vehicles are part of the Presidio Trust's plan to use pollution-free cars. The new RAV4's join an existing fleet of alternatively fueled electric trucks and natural gas powered vehicles, and replace conventionally fueled vehicles in the trust fleet. The new automobiles will be used in a park-wide car-sharing program for residents and tenants who live and work at the Presidio, as well as for routine work.

New website for Conservatory
The campaign to restore the Conservatory of Flowers, headed by the Friends of Recreation and Parks, has raised more than $21 million thus far. Now, with the creation of the conservatory's new website, www.conservatoryofflowers.org, members of the public can get the details of the restoration process. It plans to reopen in 2003.

The site features the plans for the new interior of the building and photos of the 1878 building. Information about upcoming events and the conservatory's history can also be accessed online. Website visitors can also contribute to the restoration process at the website.