Season of Sharing

City parks and playgrounds will soon receive a bounding bounty of basketballs—650 in all—courtesy of the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery, which recently wrapped up an art exhibit featuring the balls in the form of a large pyramid.
Artist David Huffman designed the art piece as part of an exhibit entitled, “SHIFT,” which was intended to spark dialogue about race in America.
The balls were initially donated to the Arts Commission Gallery by local sporting good purveyor Sports Basement.

The balls are earmarked for the Recreation and Park Department’s youth and girls basketball programs and will also be distributed for free play at recreation centers and clubhouses throughout the city. Basketball remains one of the most popular and widely played sports in the city.
 

In this season of sharing, we are truly thankful for this gift from the Arts Commission and Sports Basement. These balls will help support our recreation programs and ensure that every kid in this city has a chance to get out and play.

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On December 8, we celebrated our 82nd annual Holiday Tree Lighting, a tradition that started back in 1929 when "Uncle" John McLaren, our first park superintendent, began lighting a mile-long stretch of trees on Fell Street that ended at McLaren Lodge, his home at the time.

Hundreds of kids and their parents braved the cold to enjoy what has got to be one of Rec and Park's best events.  Carnival rides, arts and crafts, a cookie factory, live entertainment and even sled rides on "real" snow--- it was simply amazing to see all of the happy, smiling faces roaming about.

Mayor Ed Lee joined us to help light the tree, a 131-year-old Monterey cypress that stands over 100-feet tall and sports 29 strands of lights and over 700 bulbs.   Also in attendance were Police Chief Greg Suhr; Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White; Supervisors Sean Elsbernd, Mark Farrell and Scott Wiener; Treasurer Jose Cisneros; and members of the Recreation and Park Commission.

It was a particularly special visit for Chief Hayes-White, who was accompanied by members of Station 26.  Our paint crew, led by Joe Padilla, painted this year's train in honor of the men and women who protect us each and every day.

Hats off to our staff, who once again proved to be the best and hardest working bunch of city workers ever.  From our recreation staff to electricians, tree toppers, heavy equipment crews, park rangers and parks staff-- everyone had a hand in making the event a success.

What a way to officially kick off the holiday season! 

(Photo from Singtaousa.com)