About the Playground Initiative

Building on the accomplishments of our Playground Campaign initiated in 2002 that successfully completed renovations of a number of pilot playground projects, NPC has launched a citywide Playground Initiative.

This playground initiative will focus on upgrading failed playgrounds identified through our 2006 NPC Playground Report Card, to ensure that children can play and exercise safely outside, especially in lower-income neighborhoods where park space is the only outdoor play space. This initiative will help all neighborhoods, regardless of income; to promote healthy exercise among children who are facing an epidemic of health problems related to increased weight and decreased physical activity.

FUNDRAISING
The community groups involved in the current playground initiative have raised a total of $150,000 to date, with an additional $95,000 pending. This has leveraged more than $3 million for the Initiative, raised from a number of capital sources.

Partnership with SolarCity
Now you can support NPC’s Playground Initiative by installing solar energy in your own home! Through a new partnership with SolarCity, NPC will receive $100 for each residential referral that installs a SolarCity power system ($500 for each commercial referral). To inquire about the program or to set up a free consultation, contact npc@solarcity.com.

MISSION
NPC’s Playground Initiative will either renovate selected playgrounds with improved features or replace them entirely. The worst playgrounds will be upgraded to a ‘useable and safe’ level over the course of the Initiative.

The Playground Initiative will build strong partnerships with the community and the Recreation and Parks Department, to ensure playgrounds are valued, protected, and improved to foster safe places for children to play in their own neighborhood.

In 2006, there were 30 failed playgrounds identified in our Playground Survey, of which only three playgrounds made the project list for the February 2008 Park Bond recently passed by the public. Another five playgrounds were renovated by the Recreation and Parks Department, including some of our pilot playground projects. This leaves San Francisco with 22 dilapidated playgrounds identified in 2006, with another assessment scheduled for spring of 2008.

WORK PLANNED
The following ten playgrounds have been selected as the focus of the Initiative for the first twelve months of the program, where each project represents a targeted cross section of the city’s underserved neighborhoods, while also covering a wide geographic area in San Francisco.

• Cayuga Playground
• Crocker Amazon (Geneva)
• Crocker Amazon (Moscow)
• Herz Playground
• Joe DiMaggio North Beach Playground
• Lincoln Park
• Merced Heights Playground
• Silver Terrace Playground
• West Sunset Playground
• Youngblood Coleman Playground