SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - Sunday’s forecast for Golden Gate Park calls for sunny skies, temperatures in the 70s, and, to the ire of some park enthusiasts, lots of in-line skaters.

Featuring 300 contestants from North America and Europe, the San Francisco Inline Skate Marathon will comprise a series of in-line skating races on a course that will snake its way down John F. Kennedy Drive from Stanyan Street to Rainbow Falls.

Large swathes of Kennedy Drive will be off-limits to the public from 5 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., according to the event’s organizers — a scenario that has upset some park-goers who say that stretch of road should be open to all, especially on a Sunday, when cars are barred from driving on the street.

David G. Miles Jr., a longtime Golden Gate Park fixture popularly known as the “Godfather of Skating,” said the marathon will take away from thousands of exercise enthusiasts.

“I love skating, and I’m not saying this event shouldn’t happen at all,” Miles said. “It’s just in my experience this has to happen earlier in the day, otherwise you’re just trampling over everyone that wants to use the park.”

Miles also expressed concerns that the race could put pedestrians in the path of in-line skaters traveling 25 mph.

“There will be contestants competing for cash prizes,” Miles said. “Are they going to be able to slow down if they see a woman pushing a stroller across the street? Every media outlet in the Bay Area could be promoting this event, and people would still be unaware it’s happening.”

Chris Duderstadt of the California Outdoor Rollerskating Association, said the event would “make a mess for the thousands of people who will show up to the park on Sunday.”

Lawrence Bisagni, spokesman for The Savant Group, the San Francisco organization sponsoring the event, said more than 500 4-foot-tall bright-orange markers with caution tape will identify the course. In case of an accident, the event has highly trained volunteers to administer aid and an ambulance will be nearby, Bisagni said.

San Francisco Recreation and Park Department spokeswoman Rose Marie Dennis said a permit was granted after The Savant Group agreed to comply with a series of provisions, including providing 30 to 50 volunteers, and signing a document indemnifying The City from any liability.

wreisman@examiner.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

7:06 AM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008 re: "In-line skating event concerns roll forth"

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.

Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

8:47 PM MST on Sun., Apr. 6, 2008 re: "Planting meters may save jobs"

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?

Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

12:19 PM MST on Sat., Apr. 5, 2008 re: "Planting meters may save jobs"

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?

2 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

8:17 AM MST on Sun., Mar. 23, 2008 re: "Car-free Saturdays near"

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.

2 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

12:47 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 21, 2008 re: "Car-free Saturdays near"

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?

3 agree | 2 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

4:14 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008 re: "Alleged embezzlement may cost ex-CFO house"

Examiner Reader said:
is that ALL he may lose??

4 agree | 3 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

6:51 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 7, 2008 re: "Music fest to rock Polo Fields"

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.

5 agree | 7 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

11:38 AM MST on Fri., Mar. 7, 2008 re: "Music fest to rock Polo Fields"

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.

6 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate