Michele Stratton: Groups Oppose Saturday Closures

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 7-4 on April 25 to close the eastern end of JFK Drive to vehicles on Saturdays on a trial basis for six months.

The Planning Association for the Richmond (PAR) spoke out against the ordinance, along with the North Park Neighbors Association and the Richmond Community Association, citing the unfairness to 2,000 Inner Richmond District residents living near Golden Gate Park who bear the brunt of Sunday closure.

These groups asked - why close the same road on Saturdays that already is closed on Sundays, and impact the same people and businesses? They pointed to 15 miles of roads in Golden Gate Park as alternatives, many of which are much nearer to the park's recreation features that families enjoy, such as picnic areas and lakes.

They agreed with the idea of closing a road for Saturday recreation, but not the selection of eastern JFK Drive. In opposing JFK Saturday closure, the neighborhood organizations joined the Conservatory of Flowers and Botanical Gardens, which also fear the effects of Saturday closure on their facilities and programs, duplicating their experience on Sundays. Conservatory representatives say their building would become more difficult to reach for mobility-impaired volunteers and visitors if cars are barred from JFK Drive.

Increased traffic congestion on other park roads and the loss of on-street parking discourages volunteers and visitors to the Botanical Gardens (formerly the Arboretum).

The closure measure also drew criticism from neighborhood groups across the City and organizations representing the disabled, saying that many people who want or need to drive and park to enjoy the park's attractions cannot do so on Sundays.

Ron Miguel, president of PAR, questioned the so-called "six-month trial" described in the ordinance because no accurate assessment of the effects of Saturday closure can be made until the Academy of Sciences re-opens in late 2008.

Moreover, without standards and funding, any evaluation of the test will be subjective. He also notes there is no way to study how many people will avoid the park on Saturday because of a lack of access, no street parking, fees at the Concourse Garage, or confusion and traffic congestion.

To placate some critics, Supervisor Jake McGoldrick, the measure's sponsor, added amendments to provide for a preliminary review of closure after three months and to institute a shuttle to transport people with disabilities from designated parking areas to closed parts of the park.

The closure measure is in the hands of Mayor Gavin Newsom, who has the opportunity to veto it. The measure was opposed by Supervisors Sean Elsbernd, Fiona Ma, Michele Alioto-Pier and Bevan Dufty, providing enough votes to sustain a veto by the mayor.

Michele Stratton is a member of PAR's board of directors. PAR is the largest neighborhood group in the City and seeks to improve the quality of life in the Richmond District. For more information about PAR, visit its Web site at www.sfpar.org.