Camille She: New play structure needed

Editor's note: This is the first in a series of quarterly articles to be written by members of the Planning Association of the Richmond (PAR) about neighborhood activities and projects.

On Sep. 15, community members and library supporters gathered on the front lawn of the Richmond/Senator Milton Marks Branch Library to celebrate a long-awaited event - the official transfer of $5.4 million in state Proposition 14 funds for the renovation of the branch. The state grant, together with city bond funds, will help pay for a $10 million renovation of the historic building, set to begin in early 2006.

Despite this generous public support, two important components remain unfunded: furnishings for the soon-to-be renovated building and the renovation of the much-loved play area just outside the Children's Reading Room. Private money will be needed for both. The fundraising effort to buy furniture is being led by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library. For more information, contact marian.ctaylor@friendssfpl.org.

The Planning Association for the Richmond, meanwhile, is leading community efforts to raise $60,000 for a new play structure, in collaboration with neighbors, parents, library staff and the Neighborhood Parks Council.

The play area, on 10th Avenue between Clement Street and Geary Boulevard, is officially called the 10th Avenue Mini Park. It was built in the '70s as part of a one-time grant program to create miniparks throughout the City on open space owned by city agencies other than the SF Recreation and Park Department. Some of these parcels have since been deeded to the City.

The 10th Avenue parcel, however, is owned by the public library system and is, therefore, not eligible for Recreation and Park funds for upkeep and renovation projects. Preschool groups, parents and young children who use the library feel that the play area is an integral part of the experience of visiting the Children's Reading Room and that it makes the Richmond branch uniquely appealing. The area is also used by children in the neighborhood independent of library activities.

The Sutro Children's Center lead teacher, James Samuel, and Laurel School Headmistress Andrea Montes both said children at their nearby schools frequently use the playground.

"When classes visit the library to check out or return books and videos, the children look forward to playing on the play structure," Samuel said.

The proposed plan calls for moving the play area to the northern side of the lot for better sun exposure. The library has offered to fund the necessary site work, but private funds are needed to pay for safety matting, the play structure and installation costs. Tile artist Paul Burns, who lives in the Richmond District a few blocks from the library, has offered to donate his skills towards making a tiled seating wall, with a theme of creatures from folklore and mythology to celebrate the earliest known stories.

To raise money for the play area, PAR has helped organize a project to have donors sponsor tiles. Donors can "purchase" tiles through PAR for $100 each and, if they wish, can make their own carved tile by attending workshops held throughout the year. Tile donors will be listed around the perimeter of the wall and people who give $1,000 or more will be named on special bas-relief tiles.

The first tile-making workshop will be held Oct. 29 at the Richmond Recreation Center, located on 18th Avenue between Clement and California streets. For more information, call 831-7000.

Camille She is a member of PAR's board of directors. For more information about PAR, visit its Web site at www.sfpar.org. PAR is the largest neighborhood group in the City and seeks to improve the quality of life in the Richmond District. Membership is open to all who live, work or own property in the district. For more information, visit PAR's Web site at www.sfpar.org.