August 16, 2005

Starr King Open Space: 3.5 Acres to Enjoy

By Alison Fromme
Special to the Neighborhood Newswire

Three and a half acres of open land stretch across the southeastern side of Potrero Hill, at the corner of Carolina and 23rd Streets. During dry summer months, passersby meander through crisscrossing paths on the brown parched property and stop to enjoy the views of Twin Peaks and the city. Some even set up lawn chairs and stay for the sunset.

Virtually no litter mars the land, clear evidence that the area is carefully tended. The space is not bordered by a fence, it has no identifying signs, and, without benches or picnic tables, it doesn’t obviously appear to be park. That’s because it isn’t. The property was set aside as a land trust in the 1980s when a company built Parkview Heights, a nearby high-density housing development. The parcel is officially known as Starr King Open Space, and is managed by a Board of Directors elected by Potrero Hill residents.

The Board works to keep the land clean of debris and invasive plants, and encourages the revival of native flora, such as purple needle grass and soap plant. Susanne Shields, Board secretary, says volunteers have removed thousands of invasives over the past three years: 15,000 fennel and 9,000 star thistle plants, and counting.

Despite the Open Space’s low profile, the Board welcomes community involvement, according to Shields. Last fall, a small group of volunteers spanning in age from four to 70 planted native trees that thrive on Potrero Hill’s serpentine soil, provide nectar for butterflies and moths, and shelter birds. Shields recruits volunteers by posting notices surrounding the park, on craigslist.com, and in the Potrero View.

“Neighborhood volunteers regularly work according to their own schedules and availability,” Shields said. “We have had hundreds of students needing to fulfill community service requirements and AmeriCorp youth and adult service groups work on the land. We hold a workday every month on the third Saturday from nine to one and we provide tools, gloves, wheelbarrows, and water.” People can also pitch in by calling 415-28-CLEAN (415-282-5326) to report illegal dumping.

Potrero Hill residents can run for the Board by mailing proof of residency (such as a photocopy of a drivers’ license) and a candidate statement to PO Box 880293, San Francisco, CA 94188-0293 at least two weeks before elections.

“The next annual meeting and election will be April 2006, but interested persons should make their interest known because when there are vacancies on the Board, the bylaws allow for appointments between elections,” Shields said. “The Board is all-volunteer, and most of the Open Space's needs have to do with the land. Candidates are encouraged to volunteer so that they can become known and find out if it’s really something they want to do.” With proof of residency, community members can vote in Board member elections, which are usually held at the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House.

Recently, former Board member Dale Fletter began a website and discussion group about the open space when he learned that the Board owed a small amount of back Unified School District taxes. He worried that the city could acquire the land, and wrote a letter to the Board about the matter and other questions he had about their operations, such as whether Internal Revenue Service requirements had been correctly followed. Fletter’s discussion group lists about 30 members, although only six users have posted messages.

“Starr King Park is immediately behind my house. So you can see that I have the most basic desire to see it remain as open space since even a vacant lot is nicer than another house,” Fletter said.

On August 12, Shields obtained a letter from the California Secretary of State and the Franchise Tax Board stating that the organization was in good standing. About the Unified School District Tax issue, Shields said, “We were billed in error; mistakes happen. I corrected it, end of discussion,” adding that since the property is a public land trust it can never be developed. “Dale has not been a member of the Board for almost four years and is not a spokesperson in any way for the Open Space nor is the information on his chat group or his website timely or accurate.”

For more information about volunteering to work on the Starr King Open Space land, call Ralph Hunter at 415 293-3080. For information regarding other Starr King projects volunteer opportunities, call Susanne Shields at 415 810-4900.