As Renovations Begin, Half of Dolores Park to Close in March

Following months of delays and a long and often ridiculous community process (remember the astroturf proposal? Complaints of fresh grass causing childhood obesity??), the city's Department of Recreation and Park is finally ready to break ground on Dolores Park Rehabilitation Project.  Just in time for non-winter!

According Dolores Park Works' latest newsletter, the entire northern half of the park between 18th and 19th streets, including the tennis courts and Tallboy Terrace, are expected to close “around March 1” and remain closed throughout the year.  Once the northern section's portion of the project is completed, the southern half (with the exception of the playground) will close.

Jake Gilchrist of Rec. and Park says the entire project is expected to last until the Spring of 2015.

Dolores Park Works reports the entire project is slated to be $4m over budget because of delays, complications in keeping half the park open at all times, and the costs of construction rising since the project was approved in the depressed economy.

With that, you should plan in getting your Dolores Park fix over the coming weeks.  And once our preferred patch of grass gets ripped up, might we recommend slouching in Precita or Potrero del Sol?  While lacking the stunning views and frenzy Dolores provides, both are host to grass, clear skies, and nearby bodegas.  But if that's not enough, there's always Frat Mason.

Comments (11)

Why is the dude in the red jumper wearing his little sister’s jeans?

He’s wearing her sweater, too.

Precita is a family park, not really at all similar. Potrero del Sol however, I’ve engaged in some interesting activities there.

Yeah, everyone stay away from Precita. No one go there. Stay away.

Dolores Park used to be a “family park” too back in the late 90s

Hey, everybody! We haven’t even started yet and we’re already $4 million over budget!
No wonder these idiots are so desperate to pave every park and turn it into a starbucks strip mall.
Thanks Phil Ginsburg!
Thanks Billionaire Mark Buell!

OH FUCK EVERYONE GO TO DOLORES PARK NOW BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

I love Precita Park, in fact, I often prefer it to Dolores, but the problem is that not only does it lack bathrooms, but it lacks even a bushy, nearby area where you could strategically squat for some organic, artisanal, old-fashioned urination. It’s really irritating. Maybe the city could at least move some of the Dolores port-a-potties over there?

Don’t you live in Glen Park? They have bathrooms in the canyon.

I wonder if the “experts” over at Wreck’n Parks are going to rip out all the old, light green grass that actually grows and thrives in this climate, and replace it with that new, dark green kind that ends up being half dirt. They ruined Mission Playground Park with that crap. Luckily, natural selection is smarter than the city, and the light green grass is starting to take back over.

Hike up there and catch a trout.