Multiple residents, nonprofit leaders and park users used public comment at the Oct. 16 Recreation and Park Commission meeting to criticize the department's permitting of several weeks of ticketed concerts in Golden Gate Park, saying prolonged closures have disrupted neighborhood life, blocked school programs and strained local parking and traffic.

Speakers cited this year's concert schedule — which included multiple large events — and asked the commission and staff to require earlier community notices, provide impact reports to the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Advisory Committee (ProSAC) and consider alternatives to repeatedly closing the same park areas.

"Stop closing our parks for pay‑to‑go concerts," said a speaker identifying herself as co‑chair of SaveSanFranciscoParks.org, noting that some closures spanned several weeks of barricading and setup. "Golden Gate Park belongs to everyone, not just those who can afford a concert ticket."

Child‑focused nonprofits said closures hindered field trips and school programming. "We want to give kids a great experience, but not at the price of five or 10 weeks of closures," said Chris Jorny, director of Tree Frog Treks, who said instructors had been forced to reroute groups and in one case walk children onto a busy boulevard because paths were blocked.

Several commenters pointed to contract terms between the city and event promoters that call for advanced community meetings. Richard Rothman, speaking as a Richmond District resident and member of a park advisory body, said he reviewed the promoter contract and asked staff to enforce and convene those meetings four months before events.

Commissioners and staff did not commit to immediate policy changes on the floor but acknowledged concerns and said some items — including a request from a commissioner to produce an impact report for ProSAC — would be pursued. Commissioner Wendy Halsey urged staff to bring a list of proposed ticketed concerts, dates, locations and promoters to the commission in advance of major permits.

Phil Ginsburg, the departing general manager, and other staff outlined the department's efforts to balance revenue and community access, noting the financial role large events play in municipal programming and park maintenance. Ginsburg, who said he will depart the department in early December, emphasized that the department is trying to coordinate logistics and thanked neighborhoods for accommodation during large events.

Public commenters requested clearer, earlier community notification, stronger enforcement of contract provisions requiring promoter outreach, and formal commission review of how many weeks per year a given park can be closed for ticketed events.