UPDATE: 11 Million Dollar Dolores Park Renovations Face Last Minute Appeal

UPDATE: 11 Million Dollar Dolores Park Renovations Face Last Minute AppealDog Play Area
Waiyde Palmer
Published on April 09, 2013
r-DOLORES-PARK-REDESIGN-large570Our pals over at the blog Uptown Almanac report local Dolores Park neighbor, Dr. Claudia Praetel, MD, Ph.D, has filed an appeal halting the already way-behind remodel of the popular Park. Dr. Praetel believes too much of the redesigns open space is given to dog play areas and not enough was set aside for the children. Without this extra play space in Dolores Park she believes that childhood obesity will run rampant in the neighborhood and threaten to engulf us all. If you're sensing a certain level of snark on my part within this post you are both observant and right on the money. Her appeal filed with City last week, states in part, the planned two off-leash dog play areas "are by no means acceptable to many families with school-aged children who are using this park." She further states;
Serious concern for loss of open space for children: Dolores Park is adjacent to 2 schools and has more than 8 other schools near by - desperate need for open space for children to run and play in order to stem childhood obesity pandemic. The Mission has a very high to higher density of children aged 6-12 per net acre, a large park with open space is paramount to their healthy development in an inner city setting, were other parks may not be accessible to them.  
Really? Really, really?!
Dog Play Area Photo: Uptown Almanac
Dog Play Area Photo: Uptown Almanac
As anyone whose been following our posts about the upheaval, debate, remodel, rebuild, refurbish, replant of our beloved Dolores Park which lies at the edge of the Castro you know the process to get $11+ million bucks set aside for this two decade in the making, two year debated, long-awaited change has been excruciating. Plans have been mangled, remade, rewritten, debated, and met on by the community at large ad-infinitum. The good doctor has had ample time to put up the roadblocks for a long time. One wonders why now? She managed to get this appeal in right under the wire before the deadline to object expired according to City planners. As the Uptown Almanac noted: "This loner appellant could effectively derail the community-driven consensus redesign process; one that involved dozens--if not hundreds--of park users over the course of two years, specifically to avoid leaving anyone out." Community groups and organizations who've worked on this final Dolores Park remodel design will be, no doubt, very disappointed. So, this once done deal is on hold. We'll keep our ears to the ground since there's obviously more to come.