New study prompts retry of Saturday Golden Gate Park auto prohibition

Supervisor McGoldrick leads charge

Supervisor Jake McGoldrick (right) led a rally Tuesday on the steps of City Hall calling attention to a new study showing Golden Gate Park usage increases when autos are prohibited. Following the press conference, McGoldrick introduced new legislation to close part of John F. Kennedy Drive to vehicular traffic on a six-month trial basis.
Photo(s) by Luke Thomas

By Tamara Barak, Bay City News Service

February 28, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - In a second attempt to close a section of Golden Gate Park to cars on Saturdays, San Francisco Supervisor Jake McGoldrick Tuesday introduced legislation to close part of John F. Kennedy Drive to traffic on a six-month basis.

The stretch of road in question -- from Kezar Drive to Traverse Drive - has long been closed to traffic on Sundays.

The new legislation is based on a recently-published study showing that neighborhood impacts are virtually the same on Saturdays as they are on Sundays, and that the number of visitors to the de Young Museum is actually higher when the park is closed, said Cassandra Costello, McGoldrick's aide.

On May 15, Mayor Gavin Newsom vetoed identical legislation sponsored by McGoldrick to close the road to vehicles on Saturday, citing concerns over traffic, parking, access to the museums in the park, and access to the park for the disabled.

At the time of his veto, Newsom commissioned a study to measure neighborhood impacts.

That study, released Feb. 15, showed that car-free space in Golden Gate Park doubles visitors' usage of the park and actually increased patronage of local businesses, Costello said.

Costello said McGoldrick was planning to work with the city's Recreation and Parks Department and the Mayor's Office on Disability to address access concerns. The legislation will likely go before the full board in late March, Costello said.

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