News Archive
2.20.98: Mc Laren Proposal Withdrawn
The following is the letter Ross Hammond sent to the department of parks and recreation withdrawing our proposal for a disc golf course in John Mc Laren Park.TO: S.F. Recreation and Parks Department
Dear Marvin,
I am writing to let the Department know that the San Francisco Disc Golf Club, at its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on March 2nd, voted to withdraw its proposal for a disc golf course at John McLaren Park, effective immediately.
Last August the Club approached the Department about whether the idea of a disc golf course in McLaren was feasible and was informed about the proposal process. Over the next few months, we met with community groups and physical education instructors and addressed a community safety meeting concerning McLaren Park. During our time in the park designing the proposed course we also spoke with a number of regular park users. Based on the responses we received over these several months, which ranged from neutral to extremely positive, the next step in the process was to present the proposal to the community-at-large. The first community meeting in December was mainly positive except for the sentiment that public outreach had been woefully inadequate. Accordingly, another meeting was scheduled for February 8th, preceded by a series of course walk-throughs.
We (the Club) were under the impression that the purpose of the second meeting was to receive more feedback from the community on our proposal. We assumed that there would be many questions about the game and the specifics of our proposal and that we would then come back at a later time with a revised proposal which incorporated the community's concerns and suggestions. However, it was apparent as soon as the meeting started that a significant number of people in attendance thought the course was going to be railroaded through without their involvement or input. We saw disc golf suddenly transformed from an inexpensive game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages into a lightning rod for the frustration and distrust felt by some of the residents in McLaren's immediate neighborhood. They believe that the City has systematically neglected the park and has failed to follow through on its commitments to repair and maintain the park in a manner befitting its unique beauty and importance as San Francisco's second largest park. They also felt that the City does not adequately consult with them over changes to the park which will most affect them as the park's closest neighbors.
The Feb. 8th meeting was so disruptive, and dialogue so impossible, that a substantive discussion of the proposal could not be achieved. There were significant misconceptions about both the game and the
specifics of our proposal which we were unable to address given the volatile nature of the meeting. Major elements of our proposal never got mentioned or, if they did, got lost in all of the anger. We had hoped to explain that a disc golf course would not interfere with dog walking or other park uses and that any final layout would have safety and environmental protection as its primary concerns. We attempted to point out that, out of respect for the other priorities of the park, we were willing to raise the bulk of the project costs for this very inexpensive recreational investment. In response to suggestions from members of the community, we had wanted to emphasize that a course could not be installed until problems with the park's bathrooms were fixed, that tee pads would be made of wood-chips rather than concrete or asphalt, and that additional trash cans would be placed along the course.
We were also rather stunned by some of the misinformation concerning what a disc golf course involves and would have liked an opportunity to address that as well. Some of the more incredible notions included that golf discs are made of metal, that the fairways would be paved, that dog walking would be restricted or banned, that there would be 1,000 additional cars in the park every day, that property values would plummet, that tournaments would draw 15,000 people, and that trees would be destroyed. Meanwhile, the signed letters of support from PE teachers and community groups, and the written testimony of many other parks departments (all of whom have had extremely positive experiences with disc golf courses), did not seem to matter. Nor did the report from the Department's Natural Areas Director stating that the course would have minimal environmental impact on McLaren's natural areas. It was as if two completely different meetings on two completely different topics were taking place.
In the future, we hope that the Parks Department will implement as quickly as possible those park improvements that have been approved and budgeted for. The park -- and the neighborhood -- deserve no less. Should other viable proposals for McLaren Park be brought forward in the future, we would also ask that Rec. and Parks make it a point to clearly explain the purpose and process of community meetings so that residents do not perceive that they are simply being asked to rubber-stamp projects that have already been approved. In the meantime, the Club will continue to work with those organizations and individuals in the community committed to protecting the park and organizing positive activities for young people.
The members of the San Francisco Disc Golf Club remain as committed to disc golf today as the day in August when we first contacted the Department. We know that disc golf is a fun, inexpensive, healthy and environmentally friendly game that can be enjoyed by City residents of all ages, abilities, and incomes. We will continue to share our enthusiasm for this great game with physical education instructors, youth centers, and other interested individuals and organizations throughout the city.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or Greg Quiroga, the Club's President. Thank you very much.