*** Exciting News for McLaren Park Kids !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *** In 2006 my wife wondered why there wasnt a playground at the group picnic area on Shelley Drive in McLaren Park. There was seating for over 300 people there. Huge BBQs and even a sink but why was the playground removed? (just a cement pit left as a reminder) After calling and writing politicians and park employees the answers were unpleasant to say the least. Hence, in 2007 Help McLaren Park was formed, the year my son was born, and we fought to try and get this amenity returned to McLaren Park but were told a playground of that size would take decades to fundraise for. We were asked by our sponsor to try to take on a smaller playground first, which we did. Thus, the Peru St. Playground was eventually created after several grants, dozens of fundraising events, long petitions and countless meetings. While we waited, we piled on the community service hours by taking on the Gambier Street Park entrance, honestly just to prove to myself that we really can make a difference with some hard work and sweat equity and it can be done rather quickly if we were allowed to work outside of the red tape that comes along with so many large projects in this city. The Plaza stands today as statement to all that McLaren is, and can be anything you allow it to be, if you are determined.... and we certainly were! Where is all this going you might be asking? Through successful lobbying by Help McLaren Park and the McLaren Park Collaborative and through the success of not only a huge 2012 parks bond but also winning over a playground task force at city hall, McLaren Parks group picnic area playground is fully funded and under a quick strike order to be replaced without using any McLaren Park bond dollars. I wish I can say it will be completed in 2015 but I honestly dont know for sure... but it will be done faster than any of the other playgrounds that were just as eager and also on the list fighting for funding. If I were to guess, just maybe, construction may begin by winter 2015....just a guess folks, but IT IS COMING! : ) I cant thank the members of Help McLaren Park enough for all their dedication and generosity throughout the years. I cant thank enough the members of the McLaren Park Collaborative who fought with me instead of against me on this long awaited dream . Thank you to so many that work in city hall as well... commissioners, supervisors, aides, our representatives in the Park, Recreation and Open Space Advisory Committee as well as Rec and Park staff who never gave up on the notion that it can be done. We really started with nothing in 2007 but look where we are today. McLaren has a bright future ahead of itself... thanks to all of you!!! Sincerely, Chuck & Trilce Farrugia Ps. I cant believe I forgot to mention Julia Brashires & Steve Schweigerdt, our SF Parks Alliance representatives. They were instrumental as well in many ways. We couldnt even get the playground graded because it was not there! Not only did we have to prove it was needed and should be graded a F because theres nothing there to use, but we had to prove it once was really there and could be viable once again !!!! Thanks SF Parks Alliance for listening to our pleas !!!
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 23:27:58 +0000
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