Plus: The Friday fire that caused anxiety and fear along the Oakland Hills has been mostly contained, and “Brat Summer” finally made its way to San Francisco.
No San Franciscan is more than about a ten-minute walk from a City greenspace. Let’s not forget, as well: SF’s Golden Gate Park is roughly 174 acres larger than New York City’s Central Park — the latter of which is usually perceived as the pinnacle of urban greenspaces in America … nevermind that Golden Gate Park shares a similar rectangular shape, holds more microclimates and endemic wildlife, offers up exotic landscapes, and shows a clear path to the Pacific Ocean.
We’ll always take the former. Granted, we’re a bit biased.
Over the weekend, a fenced-off area at 900 Innes Avenue was revealed to the public — the inaugural 2.5-acre section of what will ultimately develop into the 65-acre India Basin Waterfront Park’s total land size.
SF’s newest (and the most expensive park in recent memory) was more than a decade in the making. For years, the area existed as a somber, dilapidated, entropic excuse of City-owned land; on more than one occasion, it was described as a “decaying section of shoreline.”
Now, new life is being breathed into the area, with the San Francisco Parks Alliance, the nonprofit associated with SF’s beloved outdoor cinema series and with keeping our parks beguiling, helping see everything from a makers shop and food pavilion to viewing decks and a restored shipwreck cottage into fruition. Admittedly, some of those perks (and more) will take years to be realized. But Saturday allowed a captivated group of grand opening attendees to get a first taste of the park — one that represents a multi-million-dollar asset to the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood.
“The $200 million environmental justice investment connects Bayview-Hunters Point residents to a healthy shoreline, providing waterfront access for the first time in generations, transforming a former brownfield into a thriving public space,” writes SF Recreation and Parks on Instagram, later describing how the project will help nearby residents have close access to a naturespace.
“This project is environmental justice in action, building a park that is both spectacular and crucial to the health of San Francisco’s southeast communities while emphasizing public access, social equity, waterfront recreation, resiliency to sea level rise, and habitat restoration.”
For more information on India Basin Waterfront Park, including future projects and events, visit ibwaterfrontparks.com.
What else transpired over the weekend? Let’s take a look.
- At long last, “Brat Summer” finally made its way to San Francisco. Troye Sivan and Charli XCX’s collaborative Sweat Tour made its Bay Area stop at the Chase Center last night to chronically online humans wearing all manner of bright-green attire; “You don’t want to be like that guy on the internet!” XCX yelled to the crowd Sunday night during the Apple Dance break, referring to a well-known internet being thrown out of frame by a senior People’s writer at an L.A. show last Friday. More info.
- The Keller Fire is now over 90% contained. The fire was first reported Friday afternoon near Keller Avenue and I-580 in Oakland, forcing residents of the Oakland Hills neighborhood to evacuate their homes; all residents were allowed back home Sunday evening. More info.
- A reminder to stop checking the polls. Just stop; we all know it’s a coin flip; go for a walk.
