Change my location 
|
|
Article History There are updates to this article.
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - Golden Gate Park kicks off its second summer of car-free Saturdays on April 5, and organizers are hoping for a quieter season compared with the controversy that surrounded the plan’s inception in 2007.
Through Sept. 27, John F. Kennedy Drive will be closed to cars between 10th Avenue and Transverse Drive, as will Middle Drive West from Transverse to Metson Road and Stow Lake Drive between Stow Lake Drive East and JFK. The park is already closed to motor vehicles on Sundays.
Efforts to launch the car-free Saturday plan last year, dubbed Healthy Saturdays, caused major battles between the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Mayor Gavin Newsom and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. A compromise led to the season kicking off a little later, in mid-May 2007.
Those involved also agreed not to debate the issue again for five years, according to Andrew Thornley, program manager with the bicycle coalition.
Newsom’s spokesman said he expected the second year of car-free Saturdays to go smoothly.
“Healthy Saturdays is intended to stimulate park usage, increase recreational opportunities and attract visitors,” said Nathan Ballard, spokesman for Newsom.
 Not ranked |
 EMAIL ME THIS STORY |
ARTICLE HISTORY 
Comments from Examiner Readers
8:17 PM MST on Sun., Jun. 8, 2008 re: "Music festival could sing loud for city coffers"
Report as inappropriate
8:04 PM MST on Fri., Jun. 6, 2008
re: "Music festival could sing loud for city coffers"
Report as inappropriate
1:18 PM MST on Fri., Jun. 6, 2008
re: "Music festival could sing loud for city coffers"
Report as inappropriate
7:06 AM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008
re: "In-line skating event concerns roll forth"
Report as inappropriate
8:47 PM MST on Sun., Apr. 6, 2008
re: "Planting meters may save jobs"
Report as inappropriate
12:19 PM MST on Sat., Apr. 5, 2008
re: "Planting meters may save jobs"
Report as inappropriate
8:17 AM MST on Sun., Mar. 23, 2008
re: "Car-free Saturdays near"
Report as inappropriate
12:47 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 21, 2008
re: "Car-free Saturdays near"
Report as inappropriate
4:14 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008
re: "Alleged embezzlement may cost ex-CFO house"
Report as inappropriate
6:51 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 7, 2008
re: "Music fest to rock Polo Fields"
Report as inappropriate
11:38 AM MST on Fri., Mar. 7, 2008
re: "Music fest to rock Polo Fields"
Report as inappropriate
Examiner Reader said:
This neighbor has yet to see neighborhood notification or request for comment. Already, the largest daytime events are out of control, they are not a "slight disruption." I just tried to post a comment describing just a little of what goes on, and it vaporized: apparently, we're supposed to put up with it, but not allowed to talk about it.
2 agree | 2 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
$1.2M is peanuts. The OT cost for the additional Muni service, OT cost for our overpaid cops, cleanup costs, etc, etc. There'll be papers and plastic flying around for months. The noise and traffic! It's as if the 49ers were playing three consecutive games at old Kezar. The boy mayor and the 11 dingdong progressively worthless stupidvisors could care less about the quality of life for SF residents
4 agree | 2 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
The worst part about this weekend-long concert, are the people that come to San Francisco after spending over $200 on tickets, not prepared with a hotel room and expecting to set up camp right there in the park or the beach or wherever they feel. This city should have set up a temporary campground and charged for it. Let's find ways to make more money from the tourists!
3 agree | 3 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Mr Miles (the founder of the California Outdoor Rollerskating Association) has been into his own self agrandisment for many years, all in the claim of what **HE** does for inline skating. Now his true colors show. A significant event that is not under his control is planned and he is saying how evil it is. If he was running it, there would be press releases (like his usual) extoling the virture of HIS work.
3 agree | 2 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
No meters in the park! Can't we preserve at least one place in SF where time doesn't equal money, where we don't have to watch the clock and can just relax for a while?
4 agree | 4 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
On the Q.T. said:
Regarding Meters in Golden Gate Park: It's predicted that the meters in G.G. Park will generate $250,000. What would be easier? Digging all those holes and nickel and diming families, or cutting $250,000 in the City's wasteful overtime spending?
4 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Those involved also agreed not to debate the issue again for five years, according to Andrew Thornley, program manager with the bicycle coalition. Andy, I assume you have now stopped smoking, or at least while you are enjoy Healthy Saturdays in the park right? Oh wait, smoking is already not allowed in the park...you will have to use a patch if you plan to enjoy your Saturdays riding in GG park.
4 agree | 3 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
This city is heading in the wrong direction when a small vocal group of people can dictate their needs over others. I live near the park and every Sunday I deal with the lack of parking in my neighborhood because of the park closure on Sunday. But that was okay because it only happened on one day of the weekend. It seemed fair. Those wanting to drive into the park with their children, picnic supplies, etc could do so on Saturday. Well I guess that's gone. Thanks for being greedy and assuming your way is the "right" way. And we should all bend to it. Just think about it. Why is one way (closing both days) fair?
5 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
is that ALL he may lose??
6 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I also live across the street from the park, 10 minutes on foot from Speedway Meadow,and I also am hearing for the first time about the concert. Depending on wind direction, persistent noise from events is disturbing, definitely NOT "inaudible." Worse, though, the neighborhood traffic and bad behavior is terrible: exactly as the previous poster describes. If people behave so badly in the day, what are they going to be like at night?!? And parking is a serious issue. If the concerts don't end until 10pm, residents can't even go out for the day to avoid them, because there will be no place to park when we come back. I enjoy events in the park, but the bigger they get, the worse they get.
9 agree | 11 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I live across the street from the park in the vicinity of the Polo Fields and this is the first I've heard of any concert. I certainly was not part of any "outreach" if there was any. When these events take place the people who live nearby are subjected to noise, trash and property destruction. People scream and yell coming and going, throw crap on the street and trample lawns and flowers; after one of these events a newly planted (and expensive) tree was vandalized beyond saving. You can't go anywhere in your car because you will have no place to park upon your return. They will say they contacted neighborhood organizations and got their blessing but the majority of residents on both sides of the park do not belong to them. Is the PAR getting something out of this because the residents of the neighborhood certainly are not.
9 agree | 7 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree