Why this project should NOT be built in Golden Gate Park And Why it can and should be built Elsewhere “Destroy a public building and it can be rebuilt in a year; destroy a city woodland park and all the people living at the time will have passed away before its restoration can be effected.“ William Hammond Hall, Surveyor First Superintendent of Golden Gate Park. 1872 Save Golden Gate Park www.sfoceanedge.org

This is all about Location, location, location…. The park meets the ocean at Beach Chalet … Aerial photo: © 2000, Robert Campbell

Located just a few feet from the magnificent California Coast Save Golden Gate Park www.sfoceanedge.org

Located within a park treasured by generations for its naturalistic beauty

Star Party at Lands’ End, Courtesy of SF Amateur Astronomers Located near a premiere Dark Sky area – in what other City can you take a bus to the stars? Star Party at Lands’ End, Courtesy of SF Amateur Astronomers

Located next to a beach that is as popular during the evening as during the day .. . Fire rings at Ocean Beach – from the Ocean Beach Vision Plan, SPUR, 2012

Since the location is so beautiful, so beloved and so naturalistic, And since the proposed project would destroy that beauty and naturalism, What if we just Changed The Location!

Beach Chalet fields Just a few blocks to the southeast, there is a playing field area that is ONLY used for recreation and will be renovated with real grass. What if we could swap the materials – kept real grass at Beach Chalet and put a non-toxic artificial turf at that field? West Sunset Playground

What about West Sunset Playground?

West Sunset Playground has: GRASS! 9.2 acres of athletic fields Sports lights at the basketball and tennis courts and softball field Lots of parking at Sunset Blvd. Bleachers Restrooms A locker room A children’s playground Schools nearby that would benefit from more hours of play! Bond money to fix up everything but the artificial turf – which is being paid by a private foundation at Beach Chalet, so why not West Sunset?!

PRO soccer players prefer real grass PRO soccer players prefer real grass! There are no great grass soccer fields in San Francisco. Beach Chalet could be a great GRASS SOCCER field if we: Installed sub-surface drainage Improved the soil Add state-of-the-art irrigation Laid down new sod And of course, gopher controls!

Since we are swapping materials between Beach Chalet and West Sunset, maintenance costs would be about the same! MAINTENANCE COSTS IF MATERIALS ARE SWAPPED BETWEEN WEST SUNSET AND BEACH CHALET $ = $

What about water usage? Rec and Park claims water savings with artificial turf, but is this true? No! Because - - - Irrigation water for Beach Chalet comes from the aquifer under Golden Gate Park and percolates back to that same aquifer. The SFPUC is worried about toxics in the artificial turf. Rainwater that falls on any artificial turf at Beach Chalet will be drained off to the Westside Sewage Treatment Plant. The aquifer will LOSE all of that rainwater – about 4 million gallons a year. Artificial turf has to be washed - on-line sites recommend once a week. Actual water usage at Beach Chalet is 1.5 million gallons, not the 5.7 million gallons claimed. = LITTLE OR NO WATER SAVINGS WITH ARTIFICIAL TURF AT BEACH CHALET

Artificial Turf and SBR rubber infill in the Park and near the Beach – why is this a bad idea? Potential toxicity of SBR rubber: Location over the aquifer Location near the Ocean - SBR rubber is toxic to aquatic life Tracking of rubber granules all over the park and beach Potential for flooding - fields are located in a flood zone

Beach Chalet as grass can work Beach Chalet as grass can work! The fields can get even more hours of play by: Removing the old construction yard next door and putting in a new grass field.

Beach Chalet fields can get even more hours of play by: Adding a new grass field to the current area, and rotating the goals for more hours of play.

Let’s be creative! What other fields in the City might benefit from artificial turf, that are NOT a major habitat area, that are NOT naturalistic, and that are NOT in the Coastal Zone? How about Boxer Stadium? It is an actual STADIUM with bleachers. It is near a new playground, a pool, a police station, major transportation hubs and San Francisco City College. And closer to more kids! And - it is GRASS!

THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES! Let’s work together to find a way to make the alternatives work! Let’s give the kids playtime without destroying their heritage of Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach!

“All of the gains are temporary, Ocean Beach Vision Plan, 2012 “All of the gains are temporary, while all of the losses are permanent.” Amy Meyer, Founder, GGNRA 40th Anniversary Party for GGNRA, October 27, 2012 Speech on the importance of protecting open spaces for future generations.