Latest news with #SanFranciscoRecreationandParksDepartment
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
SF fountain that divides public opinion to be fenced off
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A controversial fountain along San Francisco's waterfront has been ordered closed off from the public. The Vaillancourt Fountain across from the Ferry Building at Embarcadero Plaza is being fenced off in the interest of public safety, according to city officials. A representative with the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department told that a recent report had made it clear that the fountain, in its current state, is a potential hazard. 'The Vaillancourt Fountain was designed for people to interact with,' an official said. 'This report made it clear that is no longer safe.' Two Bay Area restaurants named among 'world's best' by prestigious global ranking According to a Rec and Parks official, parts of the fountain are 'cracked, corroded, or missing,' including a key support rod in one of the structure's arms. The fountain also contains hazardous materials like lead and asbestos. 'As a result, we are fencing it off,' a parks official said. People will still be able to view the fountain, but not to walk through it or get close to it. Installed in 1971, the Vaillancourt Fountain divides public opinion. Fans of brutalist architecture and preservationists have defended the 710-ton sculpture, which has been inactive as a fountain for the past year due to a pump failure. Recently, plans were unveiled for a $30-million renovation of the Embarcadero Plaza and adjoining Sue Bierman Park. The fountain was not pictured in renderings for the planned renovations. Armand Vaillancourt, the Canadian artist behind the fountain, visited SF last month to try and urge city officials to preserve the structure. Parks officials maintain that the report will have no impact on long-term plans for the future of Vaillancourt Fountain. 'This step is strictly about ensuring public safety,' officials told KRON4. 'It doesn't impact the timeline or scope of the broader Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation Project.' Parks officials maintain that long-term decisions regarding the fountain's future will follow public process established by the San Francisco Arts Commission, including review from the Visual Arts Committee, and will include opportunities for community impact. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
San Francisco's 420 Hippie Hill event not happening for 2nd straight year
The Brief San Francisco's 4/20 Hippie Hill fest is not happening, for the second consecutive year. Instead, a field day will be held at Golden Gate Park's Robin Williams Meadow and Hippie Hill, according to the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. Organizers of the 4/20 fest had to cancel last year's event due to financial reasons. SAN FRANCISCO - For the second straight year, San Francisco's 4/20 Hippie Hill celebration is not happening. What we know Instead, the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department announced that a "Peace, Love, and Volo" field day will take place on April 20 at Golden Gate Park's Robin Williams Meadow and Hippie Hill. The event is hosted by Volo Sports, a social sports club that organized a similar field day at the same location last year after Hippie Hill organizers canceled their event. What they're saying "The sports event's debut in 2024 marked a shift from the traditional cannabis culture celebration that previously took place in the park on that day," the parks and recreation department said. Dig deeper On 4/20, marijuana culture's "high holiday," cannabis enthusiasts typically gathered in large groups to celebrate. San Francisco's Hippie Hill event was one of the largest such gatherings, attracting thousands. Festival organizers, however, canceled last year's event, citing city budget cuts and a lack of sponsorships. "We have been unable to secure enough financial sponsorship to get everything required for a safe, clean, city & state-compliant event," the group on social media at the time, promising to return the following year. That return will not be happening, at least not at Hippie Hill. Organizers have not yet responded to KTVU's request for comment on future plans or whether other 4/20-related events are scheduled this year. The Source The San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department
