Community to Celebrate Construction of Ingleside Garden

For immediate release: Feb. 23, 2015 

Contact: Mindy Linetzky, Public Works, 415-554-4829

Community to Celebrate Construction of Ingleside Garden 

Undeveloped City land to become new play-to-learn open space

District 7 Supervisor Norman Yee, City Librarian Luis Herrera and public officials from San Francisco Public Works and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission will join with neighbors and children on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015, for a groundbreaking ceremony to welcome a new garden in the Ingleside neighborhood.

By combining the existing Ingleside Branch Library courtyard with the currently undeveloped adjacent San Francisco Public Utilities Commission-owned land, the new Ingleside Garden will provide much-needed public open space in the neighborhood. The garden and play-to-learn space will provide an expanded area for library patrons and the general public to enjoy.

“This neighborhood has a growing number of families, however, there are very few open spaces in the area. After two years of hard work, our office is proud to partner with city agencies to break ground on the Ingleside Garden. This interactive play-to-learn area serves as a model of how we can be innovative in activating existing spaces to serve the families in our community,” states Supervisor Norman Yee.

What: Ingleside Garden groundbreaking ceremony 

When: Tuesday, February 24, 2015, 11 a.m. 

Where: Ingleside Branch Library courtyard, 1298 Ocean Ave. 

Photo opportunities: Ceremonial shovels in the dirt; children from the toddler tales program playing in courtyard; cookies and juice; drawings of new garden

When the new Ingleside Branch Library opened in 2009, the courtyard was designed to accommodate an expansion into the adjacent San Francisco Public Utilities Commission easement.

“We are excited to see this expanded garden space project move forward. We look forward to providing Ingleside Branch Library users and the entire neighborhood with a pleasant place to enjoy books, library programs and community open space,” said City Librarian Luis Herrera.

The expanded garden will have interactive play features to engage the imagination of children, especially preschoolers. There will be little play structures that look like mushrooms; owls carved into poles and seats; fossil digs that kids will discover in planting areas; interactive play panels; and triangular-shaped forms covered with rubber matting for children to safely sit on and climb.

Public Works is designing the space and managing the construction. Renovation elements consist of new concrete, safe surfaces, asphalt paving, planting, irrigation, furnishings, fencing, gates and accessible path-of-travel improvements.

“It will be a delightful place to hold the library’s ongoing children’s programs,” said San Francisco Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru. “It’s exciting that we can take vacant City land and make it into something wonderful for everyone to enjoy.”

“We like exploring new opportunities to maximize the public use of our lands,” said San Francisco Public Utilities Commission General Manager Harlan Kelly. “This project is a great example of a collaborative partnership that will make a positive impact for the entire neighborhood.”

About San Francisco Public Works: The 24/7 City agency cleans and resurfaces streets; plants and nurtures City-maintained street trees; designs, constructs and maintains City-owned facilities; inspects streets and sidewalks; builds curb ramps; eradicates graffiti; partners with neighborhoods; trains people for jobs; greens the right of way; and educates our communities.

About SFPL: The San Francisco Public Library system is dedicated to free and equal access to information, knowledge, independent learning and the joys of reading for our diverse community.

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