Council urged to review letter claiming Golden Gate Park motor‑vehicle ban excludes people with mobility disabilities

Deputy Director Debbie Kaplan told the Mayor’s Disability Council that the panel had received a lengthy letter from Howard Chapman outlining concerns about the motor-vehicle ban on the eastern half of JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park and its effects on people who rely on private vehicles for mobility.

Kaplan summarized that the letter traces the issue’s history, outlines where major decisions occurred and analyzes why current accessibility features (the parking lot near the band shell, the parking garage, and shuttle services) are ineffective for some people with mobility disabilities. She said the council should read the letter for full detail and consider spending time on the topic.

Council member Patricia Arac urged that Howard Chapman's letter be placed on the MDC executive meeting agenda and framed the issue severely: "I feel that the disabled community has been banished from Golden Gate Park," Arac said, calling for action to address exclusionary effects.

Why it matters: public‑space access and park rules directly affect mobility, recreation and wellbeing for residents with disabilities. The correspondence asks the council to re‑examine prior decisions and assess how mitigation measures (parking, shuttles) function in practice.

Next steps: ODA recommended council members read the letter; council members proposed placing it on an upcoming executive agenda for fuller consideration and follow up with relevant departments (Rec & Park, MTA) to assess accessibility remedies.