The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is taking over the management of Lake Merced as of July 2008. To meet their responsibilities for this extremely valuable environmental and recreational asset, PUC has initiated a master planning process. Click here to read the planning documents and notes from community presentations.
The contentious issue on the table is the future of the gun-related activities on the lake: the Rod and Gun Club and the police firing range. Other than the noise, a major problem for neighbors and lake users alike, the question is whether these uses are compatible with the unique resources of the lake and how it might be developed to serve the most users and to benefit the natural resources.
Join NPC, San Francisco Beautiful, Nature in the City, Sierra Club, and the Audubon Society in advocating for environmentally-friendly recreation uses and equitable access to the Lake Merced open space for diverse user groups representative of San Francisco's population and their recreation preferences.
It is vital that we all send in our comments on the Lake Merced Watershed Plan by May 9th. Click here to see what you can do.
NPC's Opinion
Neighborhood Parks Council strongly supports the planning process being conducted by the PUC and its consultants and we are pleased to be a part of it. The lake, which we have studied extensively in our Lake Legacy Report, is a unique environmental and recreation resource in San Francisco. It is time to carefully analyze what are the best and most compatible uses of the site given its special assets and the changing recreational needs of San Franciscans.
Longevity of existing uses is not, in our opinion, adequate reason to exclude any current uses at the lake from careful analysis. In addition, the point of planning is to determine a palette of compatible uses given public preference for the site and expressed needs of San Franciscans for recreation activities generally. Everyone would love their favorite recreation to get the best and most extensive space possible, but in such a dense city as ours, we not only have to question how every square inch of parkland is used but also have to consider which activities serve the greatest numbers.
Given the careful process being conducted by the PUC, it is apparent that the gun-oriented uses at Lake Merced do not fit the long-term best uses of the site. RPD and the City should be looking for other sites for these users, such as the National Guard site near the lake or Sharp Park.
What you can do!
It is vital that we all send in our comments on the Lake Merced Watershed Plan ASAP. The deadline for comment is May 9th. As we understand, there are about 25 comments made so far, 23 of which come from Pacific Rod and Gun Club members.
We encourage our network to speak up in support of a plan for Lake Merced that will expand its uses for water-related activities and nature enjoyment, activities that will by far draw more users to the lake than a restrictive use such as a gun club. While they certainly have a right to their preferred recreation, it is not one that requires a lakeside for its conduct and this use precludes the use of many more residents to enjoy other types of recreation.
Please take a moment to send in your comments to Lakemerced@sfwater.org. Please encourage your neighborhood and park groups to do the same.
Click here to read a recent opinion from the Chronicle by Dee Dee Workman, Dan Murphy & Mondy Lariz about Lake Merced.
PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Facilitated Work Group #1
On February 14, 2008 the SFPUC hosted a facilitated work group as a part of the process in developing the Lake Merced Watershed Plan.
The purpose of Work Group Meeting #1 was to review and refine the range of recreational and educational activities considered desirable and appropriate within the Lake Merced watershed as a preliminary step to identifying facilities that need to be considered in the Watershed Plan.
Click here to read materials presented for consideration by the work group, and the responses to comments made by the participants.
Facilitated Work Group #2
A facilitated work group, a meeting to look at the recreational, educational and habitat restoration opportunities at Lake Merced was held on March 18, 2008. Click here for the presentation from that meeting.
Community Meeting #3
On April 22, 2008 the SFPUC hosted a community meeting at the Sunset Recreation Center. This presentation on the Lake Merced Watershed Plan and public comment period was attended by over 140 stakeholders. Click here to learn about the presentation made at the meeting.
