Project News
Project Background
For nearly a century San Franciscans have enjoyed the 13.7-acres of recreational opportunities provided by Mission Dolores Park. To help keep up with the use of the park and make much-needed infrastructure improvements, San Francisco voters approved the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond, a $163 million general obligation bond that includes $13.2 million to improve Mission Dolores Park.
Every day a wide variety of people visit and enjoy Mission Dolores Park. From local Mission residents to visitors from nearby neighborhoods such as Noe Valley and the Castro, many San Franciscans consider Dolores Park to be the City's front yard. Add to that the many events hosted at the park throughout the year, and it's easy to see why so many people, San Francisco residents and visitors alike, cherish Dolores Park.
The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department shares the community's passion for Dolores Park and hopes to capture ideas for the park as we plan and implement the park's improvements. We are at the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Mission Dolores Park and hope to work with you to create a new Mission Dolores Park; one with vastly improved facilities, a new play area, and an infrastructure that maintains the familiar and comforting identity while also allowing our staff the infrastructure to keep the park clean, safe, and fun!
A Park In Need
The well-loved amenities of Dolores Park are in need of significant renovation. From mostly invisible infrastructure such as irrigation and drainage improvements to the more apparent needs for improved tennis courts and playground, across the board there improvement needs. Some of the changes will have a direct impact on how we use the park, while other improvements will support our maintenance staff to enable them to maintain the park more efficiently and effectively.
These changes can't happen without conversation with the community of Mission Dolores Park users. With our help, this park will soon be as good as new. Over the past couple years, the Friends of Dolores Park Playground have co-hosted a series of design meetings with RPD and the design for the playground is well under way. For the rest of the park, the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department will soon begin scheduling a series of community meetings to discuss the park-wide improvements and ensure that the improvement plan makes addresses the diverse needs of the parks and its users.
The Park Project
Beyond the playground improvement project, RPD will focus on improvements to park facilities, sports areas, and the general infrastructure. While we are now in the initial stages of the project, we envision improvements to the clubhouse, lawn areas, and athletic courts; roads and pathways; and lighting and irrigation. Additionally, the improvements will pay special attention to address ADA compliance and accessibility needs for the park. In the end, Mission Dolores Park will be transformed into the world-class class park that San Franciscans deserve.
FAQa
When will we have our next meeting to talk about the design?
The current schedule is for public design meetings to begin in April 2011. We are working diligently to finalize the selection of a design team for the project.
I keep hearing that there are multiple projects happening in the park but that doesn't seem to make sense. How many projects are actually happening?
First, a word about why there are two projects.
RPD included Mission Dolores Park in the 2008 Bond Program and $13.2 Million were allocated toward improvements to the park. Around the same time, an ambitious and wonderful group of Mission Dolores parents and neighbors convened and began fundraising around a full-scale renovation of the playground. The playground group received a large financial gift from the Helen Diller Foundation and plans to complete their project sooner than when the bond schedule would allow the overall Mission Dolores Park improvement project to begin. For this reason, the playground project moved ahead and is currently running about 18 months ahead of the larger project.
There will be two design and construction project happening concurrently at Mission Dolores Park. The first is the playground improvement project. That project started in 2007 and has been lead by the Friends of Dolores Park Playground with help from the Neighborhood Parks Council. The design for playground is near completion and the current schedule is for the project to go out to bid in February 2011.
For more info about the playground project, contact RPD Project Manager Jake Gilchrist and visit:
www.friendsofdolorespark.org/renovation
What is the project schedule for the overall improvement project?
The current schedule is:
| Phase |
Target Start |
Target Finish |
Duration |
| Community Planning / Design |
June 2011 |
September 2011 |
4 Months |
| Design Development |
October 2011 |
January 2012 |
4 Months |
| Contract Documents |
January 2012 |
June 2012 |
6 Months |
| Bid / Award |
July 2012 |
September 2012 |
4 Months |
| Construction |
October 2012 |
January 2014 |
16 Months |
| Closeout |
February 2014 |
April 2014 |
3 Months |
There are a number of variables that may still impact this schedule but this is the general outline of our process and we intend to stick to it as closely as possible.
Is it true that RPD is closing Dolores Park for 2 years?
No. We do have a nearly 2-year construction schedule shown above, but this is for the completion of all improvements. We intend to close areas of the park as needed for construction. Part of the reason the schedule appears to be so long is that the clubhouse/restroom building renovation will take longer than the general landscape/park improvements. As we develop the improvement plan with the community, we will be able to fully articulate the phased closure and improvement plan.
You said there was $13.2 Million allocated for Mission Dolores Park in the bond, but the reports and all other information refers to an $11.7 Million project. Where did the other $1.5 Million go?
$1.5 Million of the $13.2 Million from the bond budget was allocated to the playground during the bond planning process. When the Friend of Dolores Park Playground agreed to partner with RPD to improve the playground, RPD determined that the $1.5 Million should still be dedicated to the playground. This funding is included in the $3.75 Million budget for the playground project.
Disability Questions
