You can become a part of San Francisco’s North Beach history and help create its future!
Read on to find out how.
Although San Francisco had parks prior to the 1906 earthquake and fire, for the most part they were for sitting or strolling and not for recreational activities. In 1910, two open air swimming pools (one for boys and one for girls) were built at the location of the current Joe DiMaggio playground and pool. At that time, the play area was called the North Beach playground where at least three of the DiMaggio children, Dom, Joe, and Vince, grew up playing in the original play area during the 1920s.
Several changes were made in the 1950s when the pool was enclosed and the wooden clubhouse was refaced. In 1981, the playground was renamed for Joe DiMaggio. Now, in 2014, this 104 year old playground will be renovated with the project scheduled to begin at the end of 2014 reopening in early 2016.
The face-lift will include reconfigurations of the park, including moving the children’s area to the center, new tennis courts, revamped bocce courts, and an olive grove will shade a new picnic area. More than 50 trees and plenty of plant areas will be added along with more seating and more shade.
Most of the funding needed to build the new park is in place. Friends of Joe DiMaggio Playground is partnering with other neighborhood groups to help raise $300,000 needed to make sure the playground can be used by neighbors of all ages, and is ready for the next 100 years. These funds will provide the finishing touches that make the park really lovely and special. Donor tiles will ring the park seat wall and we’d love to see your family’s or business’s name there. A commemorative wall around the renovated Joe DiMaggio Playground will honor the successive generations of families, individuals and institutions that have sustained North Beach over the years. Individuals will be donating tiles with the names of their parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren, their businesses and civic organizations.
This band of commemorative tiles, handmade in California by Fireclay Tile, will encircle the Joe DiMaggio Playground on the perimeter wall along Greenwich, Powell and Lombard streets. Donation levels are $300 (for a 4” x 8” tile) and $500 (for an 8” x 8” tile). The Friends of Joe DiMaggio Playground are working with their fiscal sponsor, the San Francisco Parks Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and tile donations are tax deductible. The number of tiles is limited and donations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
As a bonus, proceeds from the tiles will top off the renovation budget for the playground and will help to provide much anticipated improvements including those 50 new trees, peaceful planted zones, play area, recreational courts, more seating and shade. The long-overdue renovation will provide open space and fresh air, greenery and beauty, and a place for gathering and recreation for all ages in one of the city’s densest and most ethnically diverse districts — and one of its most visited.
Here is an opportunity to become a part of North Beach history while supporting a historic neighborhood park. Details about the tiles and how to order them can be found on the Friends of Joe DiMaggio Playground website at http://wwwDiMaggio Playground.org.
And there’s more! Here’s a way to get ready for your new North Beach neighborhood park in style. Save the date, Wednesday, January 14, for the event of the year at Bimbo’s 365 Club located at 1025 Columbus Avenue in San Francisco. From 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., the only-in-North-Beach event will take place where timers can mix with the techie newcomers, where the young families mingle with the old families.
In the meantime, don’t forget the 7th Annual Halloween Extravaganza at the playground on Sunday, October 26, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Every year this free event has grown, and it is now anticipated as “the neighborhood event” of the season – attracting scores of local families, as well as other families from all over the City. This year there will be a Trick or Trunk for all the kids (hooray for safe trick or treating) along with a real circus.
For more details on both these upcoming events, go to the Joe DiMaggio Playground website at http://dimaggioplayground.org/events/ for more details.
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