On February 15, the full Commission of the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department (SFRPD) unanimously approved the Golden Gate Park Tennis Center renovation project. The week prior, the Commission’s Capital Committee reviewed the project and recommended it for approval to the full Commission.
At both meetings, dozens of people attended and spoke passionately about their support of the project, including Supervisor Ahsha Safai (District 11), USTA NorCal Executive Director Steve Leube, former SFRPD general manager Elizabeth Goldstein, RPD’s Tennis and Learning Center staff and students, Tennis Coalition SF board members and many players.
Emily Bello, lead architect for EHDD, the firm designing the renovated GGPTC, presented the design planning process to the Commissioners. Referring to the several meetings held since 2016 to solicit feedback from the community, she said “the input has truly shaped the design and I think we are better for it.”
After hearing an overwhelming number of comments in support, the five commissioners in attendance unanimously and enthusiastically approved the project.
Said Commissioner Gloria Bonilla, who told a story about how she played at GGPTC when she was a student at USF, “This project is long overdue and I am looking forward to seeing a lot of diverse communities [at the Golden Gate Park Tennis Center]. I am very supportive of this project.”
Commission approval is a critical step in the progress of the project. The next step is a presentation to the Board of Supervisors sometime in the next few months.
The Tennis Coalition is deeply grateful to all the donors who have helped us raise nearly 80% of the $26.3 million project budget. Our goal for 2018 is to complete fundraising for an on-time groundbreaking in early 2019. The construction phase is expected to last approximately 16 to 18 months.