San Francisco commissions approve $1.15 million to finish Turk Hyde and Willie Woo Wong park renovations

The San Francisco Planning Commission and the Recreation and Park Commission on Oct. 17 approved a combined $1,150,000 allocation from the Downtown Park Fund to complete renovations at Turk Hyde Mini Park and Willie Woo Wong Park.

City planning staff said the allocation will provide $550,000 toward the Turk Hyde Mini Park project and $600,000 toward the Chinatown playground and clubhouse renovation at Willie Woo Wong. "This item before you today is the allocation of downtown park funds for two of our parks," Stacy Bradley, deputy director of planning at Recreation and Park, told the joint hearing.

Bradley said the Turk Hyde renovation includes playground upgrades, landscaping, irrigation and improved circulation; the project’s current budget is $2,250,000 and staff had provided bridge funding while seeking the Downtown Park Fund allocation. The Willie Woo Wong renovation is a full-site project that includes clubhouses, a new playground and courts; Bradley said the total project budget is $13,500,000 and that $4,000,000 had been allocated previously from the Downtown Park Fund. The requested $600,000 will address unforeseen site conditions and close the remaining budget gap.

Speakers from neighborhood organizations urged approval. "So we hope that you can support this allocation and make sure that this renovation is completed on time and open to the community," Philip Vitale of The Trust for Public Land said, urging the commissions to back the funding to ensure timely reopening. Tan Chao, speaking for the Committee for Better Parks and Recs in Chinatown, asked commissioners to support the $600,000 allocation and stressed the park’s importance to a dense neighborhood with a large share of low-income seniors.

During discussion commissioners asked staff to clarify whether "accessibility" referred to physical ADA compliance or to availability and programming; staff said the playgrounds are public and that community partners will lead much of the programming in the clubhouse at Willie Woo Wong. Commissioner Moore, describing the site as a "visual gateway to Chinatown," said he was "delighted to support it and see it realized as quickly as possible."

On the Planning Commission, Commissioner Johnson moved to approve the allocation and Commissioner Moore seconded. Commissioners Fung, Johnson, Moore and Commission President Milgard voted aye; the motion passed unanimously, 4–0. The Recreation and Park Commission also moved and seconded approval and registered an affirmative voice vote.

With the funding approved, staff said Turk Hyde is expected to reopen by the end of the year; Willie Woo Wong’s larger renovation timeline was described as ongoing, with community hopes that key park elements will be available around the next Chinese New Year. Both commissions concluded the item and adjourned the joint hearing.