Esprit Park June Updates

When we got busy, things happened! Time to celebrate!

The Esprit Renovation Project just cleared its first milestones!

On May 4th, the SF Board of Supervisors approved a grant agreement of $4,165,000 between UCSF and Rec & Park to accept grant funding from UCSF, and on May 18th, approved acceptance of UCSF’s grant of $835,000 to cover landscape design. We can’t wait for 2024 to say goodbye to Esprit condition issues; i.e., mud pits in July and a year-round marshy bog in the meadows. The 4 years, many surveys and workshops it took to get here are now in the rearview mirror.

Esprit Park will remain a shared public space, with a formal Dog Play Area (DPA)!

We recognize some of you felt frustrated by the time it took to secure the DPA. Understandable--by 2017, we needed just one additional community meeting to gain approval. But here’s the deal: the SF Parks Commission requires the capital projects team to fold park usage changes, such as a DPA, into a single plan/presentation for their review and approval.

The SF Parks Commissioners heard you! FoEP Park Renovation Design Survey Results February 2021.

Overcoming survey fatigue, 65 members responded to the FoEP Survey - the strongest response of any community group in Dogpatch! 95% wanted both a meadow for people to enjoy with dogs permitted on-leash only and a meadow programmed as a DPA (off-leash).

We avoided dreaded chain-link fencing and astro-turfing half the park. How? We collectively invested countless hours of valuable personal time in years-long active engagement: staying informed, answering surveys, attending meetings and workshops, writing letters and providing public comment. It worked!

A new grocery store is on the way! UCSF knows what you want!

UCSF has a prospective tenant for the grocery store space in the Tidelands (Minnesota & 18th). Once the agreement is signed, UCSF will let us know the business name and additional information.

391 of you answered the FoEP Corner Market Survey; 285 within 48 hours! Is this response a big deal? It’s huge! We shared the results with UCSF as input to their decision-making and conversations. Your profile and priorities include:

76% age 25-54; 63% have a household size of 2 or more; 80% live in Dogpatch.
High quality and value pricing
Fresh hot meals to go, fresh fish and organic produce
Late hours of operation
Supporting local businesses.
Limiting visits to the grocery store and would like a loading zone.
The majority shop at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods (55%+); Gus’s, Rainbow and Mainstay Markey (30%+). Roughly 20% included Reno’s and local specialty shops such as Olivier’s Butchery as go-to neighborhood resources.

VIEW THE FULL RESULTS HERE

*N=391 Data was cleaned of duplicate respondents and those that appeared to be generated by an individual at a marketing automation company.

Survey was live from Oct. 3 to Oct. 15. On Oct. 8, UCSF sent additional communication to its residents. The FoEP Summary Report notes areas of significant differences in priorities.

A Salute to All Our Supporters!

FoEP passed out a bunch of thank you’s in February, and they’re still fresh. Enjoy!

https://www.baywoof.org/featured-article/esprit-park-refresh-one-more-call-to-action-plus-valentines

Check out next month’s newsletter for more info on fun upcoming activities!

Friends of Esprit Park is a neighborhood organization dedicated to supporting Esprit Park as a multi-use, community enriching, open green space.

www.FriendsofEspritPark.org

@FriendsofEspritPark

You are receiving this email because you expressed interest in Esprit Park, the UCSF Corner Market, are a member of Esprit Park Volunteer Gardeners, or are a member of Toes & Paws for Green Space.