What’s Happening at Fort Funston?
The National
Park Service is proposing to close 12 additional acres at Fort Funston and
is soliciting your input before October 6th regarding this proposed closure.
The 12 acres proposed for closure are along the bluffs and are some of the
most picturesque and popular at Fort Funston.
San Francisco Supervisor Leland
Yee, concerned about the loss of a recreational haven for City residents,
called for an investigation by the City Attorney and for input from park
users.
Look At the Facts:
Nearly
30 percent of Fort Funston is being closed to all recreational use through
closures, which began in 1991. They continue this year with the proposed closure
of 12 additional acres (10 of which have been illegally fenced already).
San
Francisco acquired Fort Funston in 1961 to be used as open recreational space.
When
GGNRA was created in 1972, Congress’ first mandate was that the GGNRA parks
be maintained for “needed recreational open space.”
The
deed which transferred Fort Funston to the Park Service, requires the Park
Service to use the land for “recreation or park purposes” forever. If the Park Service fails to do so, the City
of San Francisco may take the park back.
Closing
off nearly 30 percent of Fort Funston and completely changing the vegetation
on the closed lands violates an Agreement with the City.
The
California Department of Fish & Game has advised that closure of only
the cliff face and the top of the cliffs is necessary to protect the bank
swallows.
Closure
of the proposed 12 acres is not necessary to protect bank swallows.
The
bank swallow population at Fort Funston has declined dramatically since the
1995 closures. Those closures have
not benefited the bank swallows.
Dog
walkers are by far the predominant users of Fort Funston.
The
Fort Funston Dog Walkers organization takes very good care of Fort Funston
by supplying litterbags and conducting monthly cleanups of Fort Funston.
There
are no scientific studies justifying the proposed or prior closures.
Why Should You Act?
We are losing Fort Funston
acre by acre. How much more are we willing to give up before we challenge
the GGNRA?
Fort Funston is the only recreational
area in San Francisco where you can stroll along the coast, while children
play in the dunes and dogs frolic freely. At the same time, bird watchers can enjoy watching the numerous
species that visit Fort Funston while hang gliders dance in the sky. The GGNRA
and the city of San Francisco MUST hear from you if we are to keep this
valuable recreational space.
On the reverse side we have
provided addresses for your letters.
For More Information:
Check
www.fortfunstonforum.com
for more information, including the complete text of the court decision addressing
the improper closure, the closure proposal and photographs.
Time Is Running
Out!
Have you sent your letter opposing the permanent closure
of 12 acres of picturesque coastal recreational land here at Ft. Funston?
The deadline is October 6th
for your letters to be received by the GGNRA and San Francisco City Hall.
Your letters will make a difference!
Write from the
heart!
Does a visit to Fort Funston - wandering the paths, enjoying the vistas,
greeting other visitors - brighten your day and lift your spirits? If so, please convey the personal sense of
inner peace, relaxation, renewal and community that the park and your fellow
park users give to you.
Convey your individual relationship with Fort Funston in your letters
to the Park Service and to City officials.
Also, explain any ways in which the most recent closures, including
the related fences and tensions, diminish your daily visit. Your story is important!
For your convenience, form letters with space for your
personal comments are attached.
Send Your Letters To:
Superintendent Brian O’Neill
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Building 201, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
----------------------------------------
Supervisor Leland Yee
City Hall
1 Dr. Goodlett Place, Room 244
San Francisco, CA 94102-4689
Leland_Yee@ci.sf.ca.us
Fax#: (415) 554-7751
Supervisor Tom Ammiano
City Hall
1 Dr. Goodlett Place, Room 244
San Francisco, CA 94102-4689
Tom_Ammiano@ci.sf.ca.us
Fax#: (415) 554-7751
Supervisor Sue Bierman
City Hall
1 Dr. Goodlett Place, Room 244
San Francisco, CA 94102-4689
Sue_Bierman@ci.sf.ca.us
Fax#: (415) 554-7751
Send Copies To:
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Member U.S. House of Representatives
450 Golden Gate Ave., Suite 14380
San Francisco, CA 94102
----------------------------------------
Honorable Tom Lantos
Member U.S. House of Representatives
400 South El Camino Real, Suite 410
San Mateo, CA 94402
----------------------------------------
Honorable Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
525 Market Street, suite 3670
San Francisco CA 94105
----------------------------------------
The Honorable Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 240
San
Francisco, CA 94111
----------------------------------------
Fort
Funston Dog Walkers
FAX:
(978) 477-7757
Checks payable to Fort Funston Dog Walkers (SFDOG dues will be forwarded) TOTAL $_________
Name __________________________________________________ Dogs’ Names__________________
Mailing Address ______________________________________________________________________
No. (or P. O. Box) Street Apt. #
City State Zip
Telephone
Email
___________________________________
Superintendent
Brian O’Neill
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Bay and Franklin Streets
Building 201, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Dear Mr. O’Neill:
I am writing to protest the closure of l2 acres of Fort Funston, as well as the closures which occurred in 1991 and 1995. San Francisco gave Fort Funston to the National Park Service for recreational use, and in the legislation creating the GGNRA, Congress specified urban recreation as a priority. With the new, proposed closure, nearly 30% of Fort Funston (and almost 100% of the ocean bluffs) will be closed to all recreational use.
By far the majority of visitors to Fort Funston come for relief from the pressures of daily living and to enjoy its decades-long tradition of off-leash free play, canine socialization and.
In one of the most densely populated cities in the country, such space is vital to all of us who live in this society, especially to the 38% of us who keep dogs, love the land, and contribute to its maintenance.
Sincerely,
(Please print your name and address below:)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
Supervisor
Leland Yee
City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 244
San Francisco, CA 94102-4689
Dear Supervisor Yee:
I am writing to protest the closure of l2 acres of Fort Funston, as well as the closures which occurred in 1991 and 1995. San Francisco gave Fort Funston to the National Park Service for recreational use, and in the legislation creating the GGNRA, Congress specified urban recreation as a priority. With the new, proposed closure, nearly 30% of Fort Funston (and almost 100% of the ocean bluffs) will be closed to all recreational use.
By far the majority of visitors to Fort Funston come for relief from the pressures of daily living and to enjoy its decades-long tradition of off-leash free play and canine socialization.
In one of the most densely populated cities in the country, such space is vital to all of us who live in this society, especially to the 38% of us who keep dogs, love the land, and contribute to its maintenance.
Sincerely,
(Please print your name and address below:)
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
To First Section of Fort Funston Forum