BIG CROWDS, EVENTS IN PARK IN APRIL

Poster Pop-up, DogFest, and Movie Night drew big Saturday crowds to Duboce Park in April. Park Alliance’s Heart Your Parks Pop-Up Screen Printing event on April 15 featured a screen printing design exclusive to Duboce Park and was designed by local artist, Orlie K. Attendees printed 1200 posters in the five hours the event was held and the line to make them snaked through the park all day. People waited up to 90 minutes to print their poster.

The 16th Annual DogFest returned to the park on April 22. DogFest is a celebration of dogs, families, community, and spring in San Francisco and is also a charitable event that raises funds for McKinley Elementary School. There were nonstop fun and games. The park was filled with carnival-style games staffed by McKinley students and jumping castles kept the little ones busy on the upper lawn. Dogs were the stars of the event, of course, with a daylong show and contest.

Friends of Duboce Park showed Top Gun: Maverick on the upper lawnon April 29. Although the start of the movie was delayed about 30 minutes because of some difficulties getting and keeping the screen up — a strong gust knocked the screen over before the start — but adding additional guy wires stabilized the screen. The movie attracted hundreds, who came with blankets, picnic baskets, and layers of warm clothing. The refreshment stand provided popcorn and home-baked cookies.

SUMMER CLASS REGIATION MAY 20

Registration for Summer activities, programs, and classes begins on May 20 at 10 a.m.. Rec & Park will not be offering their usual classes this summer at the Harvey Milk Center for the Arts since the facility will be hosting Summer Day camps (see information below). Photo classes continue at the Harvey Milk Photo Center during the summer.

There are lots of classes this summer at other parks and recreation centers around the city. There are courses for all ages: tots; youth; tweens & teens; adults; and, adults 55+. A complete listing with descriptions, times, and costs is available at sfreconline.org or in the 48-page catalogue available at the Rec Center or Photo Center.

Register online at sfrecpark.org/register or call the registration hotline at (628) 652-2900. Rec and Park offer annual Recreation Scholarships to eligible, low-income individuals and families. Call Lillian Bautista, Scholarship Coordinator, at (415) 831-2717 for information on how to qualify.

SUMMER DAY CAMPS AGES 8-12

Summer Day Camp registration is now open. Summer art day camps are being offered at the Harvey Milk Center for the Arts. Four 2-week camps for ages 8-12 are being offered, starting on June 5, June 20, July 10, and July 24.

If your child loves to make art all day long, then this is the camp for them! Rec and Park is offering intensive art making where campers can explore and develop their artistic abilities in visual art, creative writing, storytelling, and movement, led by art specialists. Projects will focus on multi-step processes and challenge fine motor skills.

Young People’s Teen Musical Theater Company (YPMTC) offers three-day camps at Harvey Milk to teenagers 13-17 years old: Writing Camp from June 20-30, Vocal & Acting Camp from July-10-21, and Dance Camp from July 24-August 4.

There are still the old-time favorites at other City parks, like Silver Tree and Pine Lake, but also some new camps. The Ropes Course Experience will challenge campers while teaching teamwork at the McLaren Park Ropes Course, Camp Mania is a new sports camp for tween & teens at Glen Park and Eco Center’s Wetland Explorers will having camper’s exploring nature through hikes and science based activities. There’s also a multitude of sports camps being offered around our City at centers like Kezar Pavilion, Crocker Amazon, and more. Urban Sports at Moscone Rec Center and the All Girls Sports Camps are some awesome choices. For more information or the catalogue of camps, please visit sfreconline.org.

VOLUNTEER IN THE PARK THIS SATURDAY

Our next volunteer day in the park is this Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m.-noon. This month we will be planting 30 Ceanophus in the raised planter bed along the sloped area between the MUNI wall and the stairway. A special thanks to the April volunteers who cleared that area in preparation for this month’s planting.

All gloves and tools are provided and young children are always welcome! Even 30 minutes of your time makes a big difference in the appearance of Duboce Park. Our volunteer day is always the second Saturday of every month. Contact Rose at rose@friendsofdubocepark.org or 415-255-8370 for more information or comments.

Volunteers spent a whopping 400,000 hours in San Francisco parks and programs in the past year, an in-kind donation of more than $144.3 million to Rec and Park. The department hosted 7,2114 one-time and repeat volunteers in San Francisco parks.

PHOTO SHOW “OUT MOTHERS OUTSELVES” ARTIST TALK THIS SATURDAY

Join the Harvey Milk Photo Center (50 Scott Street) for the Second Artist Talk about the current Our Mothers Ourselves show on Saturday, May 30 at 7 p.m.. Curated by Ellen Konar and Adrienne Defendi, the exhibit features 10 artists who explore maternal legacies, sharing perspectives through photo-based images, constructed objects, and audio narratives.

Present or absent, revered or denied, mothers and motherhood are central to families and communities, and a fascination in art throughout the ages. In light of the current battle about who makes decisions about motherhood, a refocus on our own mothers and our maternal legacies is especially timely.

Each photographic series narrates a unique set of relationships and explores how certain individuals continue to shape the lives of those remaining. Guests are encouraged to write or type and post their own thoughts about mothers. For more information, including the full list of artists involved, click here.

LEARN CYANOTYPE AT PHOTO CENTER

Explore cyanotype, one of the oldest photographic processes in the world. This alternative process produces a characteristic blue hued photographic print. In this one-day workshop, participants will use found objects like flowers, plants, or other common items to create unique photograms using the cyanotype process. The class will cover the basics of the process from mixing and applying emulsion to exposure and development. Participants are encouraged to bring their own objects with them on the day. Advice will be provided on suitable objects.

There are lots of other great photography classes being offered at the Harvey Milk Photo Center including: Darkroom Essentials & Processes, Introduction to Ink Jet Printing, Matter & Framing Presenting Your Photos, Scanning & Digitizing Your Negatives & Slides, Cyanotype for the Artist, Getting to Know Your DSLR, Basic BW Film Development, and Cyanotype All. A complete list and description of courses is available here.

PARKS IN THE NEWS

San Francisco’s flowers are blooming from Corona Heights Park to poppies on the Promenade! Check out Rec & Parks’ list of blooming wildflowers, as well as our parks where you can find them at this link. Our natural areas are sensitive habitats that are home to a diverse array of animals, insects, and plants. Rec & Parks reminds visitors to remain on paths and not pick any blooms. The wildflowers are pollinated by insects and leaving blooms behind allows seeds to germinate and result in even more flowers next season.

Outside Lands announced the lineup for its 2023 festival and its 15th year. It will take place from August 11 to 13 and features headliners such as Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, Odesza, Lana Del Rey and more! For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

Live music has returned for its third season at the Golden Gate Park Bandshell stage with another series of free outdoor concerts. The series, Illuminate Live, will bring more than 100 free concerts to the GGP Music Concourse in 2023. The lineup of performers returning to the stage is as diverse and local as it was in its first

two seasons. Shows feature R&B, soul, jazz, funk, reggae, salsa, electronic music/EDM, big band musicians, string ensembles, indie and psychedelic rock bands and many diverse singer-songwriters.

Sundays feature Crucial Reggae from 4:20-7:30 p.m.; Singer/Songwriter Showcases are on Wednesdays; and Fridays will have Happy Hour from 4:30-7. Tomorrow’s Friday Happy Hour is with Asher Belsky (R&B, rock, and jazz) and this Sunday’s Crucial Reggae concert features IOrie Dole and DJ Guid8nce at 4:30 and Pardon the Interruption at 5:30. There are concerts on Thursdays and Saturdays as well. Check goldengatebandshell.org for the complete schedule and times.

MAINTENANCE UPDATE

One of the tot slides in the Children’s Playground was damaged, making it unsafe. As soon as Rec & Park was notified, they removed the slide and placed a word order to fix it. This is frustrating since a slide on the same tot structure was recently replaced after waiting months for a replacement slide.

All of the recent rain has made the some of the worn spots on the lawns look green again but unfortunately, some of that green is actually an invasive weed that is difficult to get rid of. The area shown below is between the light pole and bench on the upper lawn.

JOIN FRIENDS OF DUBOCE PARK

Annual Membership dues for a Supporting Member are $25 per person and entitle you to voting privileges and participation in the governance of the organization. Your dues help cover the few costs we have, such as our website, newsletter, movie nights, and insurance.

Your tax-deductible membership is gratefully accepted and should be sent to Friends of Duboce Park, 71 Scott Street, San Francisco, CA 94117. Friends of Duboce Park are a 501(c)(3) organization. General Membership is still available at no cost but does not carry any voting privileges. Another way to show your support is by getting involved.

Our Mission Statement includes the following: “to organize and represent the collective interests regarding Duboce Park; to beautify and promote safety within Duboce Park; and, to initiate and/or support beneficial neighborhood projects on behalf of Duboce Park.”

MAY-JUNE 2023 CALENDAR

Saturday, May 13, 10 a.m.-noon. Friends of Duboce Park Volunteer Day cancelled. Contact rose@friendsofdubocepark.org.

Saturday, May 20, 10 a.m. Summer Program Registration begins. Visit sfreconline.org.

Wednesday, May 24, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Park Station Community Meeting via Zoom. RSVP to community@sfsafesafe.org.

Tuesday, May 30, 7 p.m. Our Mothers Ourselves: Artist Talk. Harvey Milk Photo Center Exhibit Room. Visit harveymilkphotocenter.org.

Saturday, June 10, 10 a.m.-noon. Friends of Duboce Park Volunteer Day. Contact rose@friendsofdubocepark.org.

Tuesday, June 13, 6:30-8 p.m. Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association General Meeting. Harvey Milk Center. Visit dtna.org.

Wednesday, June 28, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Park Station Community Meeting via Zoom. RSVP to community@sfsafesafe.org.