Jake McGoldrick: Update on Park Stables

Beginning with my first months in office, city residents concerned with the future of the Golden Gate Park stables focused my attention on this historic recreational resource.

In response to an outcry from those who love horses and Golden Gate Park, I joined with Supervisor Tony Hall in March 2001 to call for hearings to investigate ways to save the stables from deterioration and disrepair. Since that time, my office has followed this issue closely and worked with the SF Recreation and Park Department to preserve this resource for future generations.

Following hearings in August 2001, Hall and I joined together to call on the Recreation and Park Department to reallocate funds to repair and improve the stables and set up a Golden Gate Park Stables Working Group, made up of citizens, department officials and experts in stable engineering and reconstruction. Despite closing to public use in September 2002, the public stables in Golden Gate Park have not been forgotten. Recreation and Park Department staff spent several months working closely with the Stables Working Group to study the stable's shortcomings and to develop a blueprint for a positive future for the facility. As a result, a thorough report was developed for the SF Recreation and Park Commission dealing with many aspects of the existing facility and what would be the most appropriate path to follow to update it.

During this thorough review, the health and safety of the horses was considered hand-in-hand with the needs and desires of the riding public in all discussions. Great care was taken in arriving at suggestions prior to the presentation of the materials at a public meeting held by the Recreation and Park Commission on May 5, 2003 at the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park. The plans for the future were met with great enthusiasm from the public at this informal drop-in, where members of the Working Group and Rec. and Park staff were present to answer questions and listen to additional suggestions. A formal presentation was given before the Recreation and Park Commission in June 2003.

The focal point for the rejuvenated facility will be a covered and lighted central arena that will enable a new operator to sustain an ongoing instruction program. Funding for the project will be supplied, in part, by California's Proposition 40, the "California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks & Coastal Protection Act of 2003." A resolution accepting and expending $1.4 million in state grant money from Proposition 40 funds for use on the stables is currently before the SF Board of Supervisors for approval.

Members of the Recreation and Park Department and the SF Planning Department have been in communication to consider options for an appropriate review process for the renovation project. This step is particularly important at this time because Golden Gate Park has been nominated, and is currently being considered, for designation as an historic district.

The equestrian center is considered an historic resource of Golden Gate Park and every effort, therefore, must be made to avoid actions that might undermine or stall this nomination process. Steps taken at this juncture are crucial to the success of keeping an equestrian presence in the park for many years to come and my office remains committed to seeing that happen.

Although the reopening of the stables is taking longer than originally anticipated, I am confident that the riding public will be happy with the work done by the department and will find the new facility well worth the wait.

Jake McGoldrick is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 1.