Panhandle Update: Benches, Bike Racks, Playground Planning Meeting

Panhandle Update: Benches, Bike Racks, Playground Planning MeetingPhotos: Camden Avery/Hoodline
Camden Avery
Published on May 29, 2017

It's been a long and road of incremental improvements for the Panhandle over the last few years, and a while since your last full Hoodline update.

You may have noticed some changes to the park in recent weeks: here's what's done, and what still lies ahead.

Past Milestones: 

Jobs already funded and completed include updated LED lighting (completed in August 2015), repaired pedestrian crossings and ramps at crosswalks (begun partially in 2012 in conjunction with the garden upgrade at Ashbury), improved signage for traffic, and new basketball courts.

Recent Work:

Work currently underway and wrapped up over the last week includes the installation of new trash receptacles, bicycle racks, and replacing benches along the northern, mixed-use Panhandle path.

Bike racks have been installed along the park and near benches. | photo: camden avery/hoodline

"So far, we’ve installed 16 of the 28 trash cans," said Rec and Park spokesperson Joey Kahn. "We’ve also installed three bike racks. We laid asphalt in certain problem areas as well. We expect this phase of the Panhandle Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project to wrap up in the next month."

Upcoming Work:

Next on the books is a meeting on Wednesday 31 at Park Branch Library to source community input on Panhandle Playground improvements. The playground hasn't seen a substantial overhaul in 19 years, and Rec and Park has finally secured funding for an upgrade by way of the LetsPlaySF! initiative.

Also, there's finally a fix on the horizon for the southern pedestrian path, which has long been studded with potholes and tree roots.

Kahn said of the southern path, "We expect to begin construction in the next month."