Rossi Playground Design Chosen

By Carol Dimmick

After carefully considering three options for remodeling Rossi Playground, Richmond District residents picked a design that features natural shapes for the new playground's theme.

Constructed in 1984, the playground is due for a $1.4 million facelift within the next 20 months. The renovation is a joint project of the SF Recreation and Park Department and the Neighborhood Parks Council, which works with neighborhood residents to raise funds for playground equipment.

About 20 neighbors attended a community meeting Feb. 26 at the University of San Francisco's Koret Center, where landscape architect Jessica Green unveiled three diverse concepts for renovating the popular playground, located at Arguello Boulevard and Anza Street.

After two hours of discussion, a consensus developed for what Green called her "natural" design.

Green's concept features natural materials and shapes within integrated spaces, such as a climbing wall for older children and boulders and a wood teeter-tot for younger children. A boardwalk weaves throughout the playground, connecting the individual play areas and providing cohesion for the overall design scheme.

Green described a second concept as an "urban" design. Its most identifiable features were loud colors on concrete and metal components. This was the least popular design with the residents.

Green's third scheme was based on popular places in San Francisco. It incorporated a mini version of the Filbert Street Steps, a cable car turnaround and a Victorian play structure into the play areas. Although residents liked some of the elements, the overall consensus was to go with the more natural design scheme.

Green, who was brought on board after Peterson Architects pulled out of the project because of an insurance problem, based her designs on information gathered from a Community Design Day held in March 2003, where neighbors were encouraged to voice their ideas.

Residents will continue to play an active role in developing the design for the playground and at least one more public session is expected before the design is finalized.

In addition to working with the architect, neighbors have raised more than $16,000 for the playground equipment through the sale of bricks and tiles.