A playground in San Francisco’s Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood is set to undergo $1.8 million in renovations starting sometime in the next two weeks.
Gilman Playground is a community park covering seven acres, centrally located in the Bayview district near Bret Harte Elementary School and the recently demolished Candlestick Park Stadium. It was last renovated in 2000, according to San Francisco Recreation and Parks spokeswoman Connie Chan.
“Currently the play equipment is definitely old and in need of being replaced,” Chan said. “The park needs some care and love.”
The project is funded by the 2012 Clean and Safe Parks Bond, which received 72 percent approval by San Francisco voters according to the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.
Gilman Playground is one of 14 other San Francisco parks that will benefit from the funding proposal.
“We are proud to put our bond dollars to work rebuilding this playground,” San Francisco Recreation and Parks general manager Phil Ginsburg said in a statement. “It is a heavily used and important site for the neighborhood.”
Gilman Playground currently includes a children’s play area, basketball court, baseball field, picnic area, a clubhouse with restrooms, a free-standing restroom building, and storage.
Families and community members can look forward to a brand new play structure, modifications to the clubhouse restroom, increased accessibility for the disabled, lighting and landscaping upgrades, and a new arbor and picnic area, parks officials said.
According to Chan, construction is expected to be completed in early 2016.
“The city aims to really provide a great community hub and recreational area for residents nearby,” Chan said.
Earlier this year on Mar. 19, Gilman Playground experienced a bit of star treatment.
Golden State Warriors and Esurance hosted a “WE G.I.V.E.” volunteer event at Gilman Park where Warriors player Shaun Livingston, Warriors employees, Esurance employees, and over 250 fans removed invasive plant species and shrubs, picked up debris, planted flowers, and painted the benches, play area, and basketball court.
“It was great, Sean Livingston was great with the kids,” Chan said.
Rachel Matsuoka, Bay City News
