Petition to NOT Rezone Jackson Park: It is Zoned as Athletic Fields for a Reason

To the San Francisco Planning Department, City Officials, and the Potrero Hill Community:

Enough is enough. It's time to end the unabashed sense of entitlement of the dog owners at Jackson Park in Potrero Hill who are petitioning to re-zone the park.

We, the undersigned, are calling to KEEP Jackson Park in Potrero Hill, San Francisco, zoned as an ATHLETIC FIELD, to ensure public spaces are available for community members from all walks of life to exercise & participate in athletic activities.

We specifically note that:

1. Jackson Park is zoned as an Athletic Field so that athletics can occur here. Potrero Hill & SF community members benefit physically and mentally from having well-maintained, large, open spaces for athletic activities. These fields are currently used by paying organized softball leagues, afterschool programs, and community members from around the city for various athletic activities (at no cost).
2. There is a dog park 0.4 miles away, Daggett Park. Despite numerous signs stating dogs are not allowed on Jackson Park fields, owners regularly bring their dogs here.
3. More than likely, dogs are not allowed at these fields because their presence is incompatible with maintaining athletic fields. From my own observations, dog owners at Jackson Park frequently:

• Let their dogs off-leash
• Fail to use verbal commands to keep dogs from ruining balls & harassing athletes, both children and adults
• Leave their dogs' excrement on the fields, and let their dogs urinate on the athletic field grass (this ruins the grass over time, and, inevitably, the city and taxpayers are forced to pay money to fix & maintain it)

Daggett Park is 3 blocks away and well within walking distance. As a neighbor who does not own a dog, I'm glad my taxes help fund that space so that dog owners in the community have a place to go. But please, don't demand that residents of the country's second-most-densely populated city cede any hope of maintaining quality, taxpayer-funded fields designated for athletics, when there is a well-maintained dog park nearby.

Who is Impacted?

Residents of Potrero Hill and the broader San Francisco community are materially harmed by the idea of rezoning to eliminate the athletic field status of Jackson Park. Humans deserve a space to exercise and participate in athletics. In addition to participation in official sports leagues through private entities such as Volo Sports and Live Oak Elementary School, which pay the city for usage of the fields, numerous community members regularly use the fields for other athletic activities, without paying any private entities. This park is for athletic use, plain and simple. Park Rangers are justified in asking dog owners to utilize the nearby dog park, especially given the numerous signs stating dogs are not allowed on these athletic fields. Taxpaying citizens who fund the park’s robust maintenance schedule deserve to exercise on these athletic fields without stepping in dog poop, or in large holes with patches of missing grass where dogs have urinated or started digging.

Dogs and humans alike deserve usage of public space. That is why there is a dog park (Daggett) less than half a mile away, and this park (Jackson) is designated as athletic fields.

What is at Stake?

If Jackson Park gets re-zoned to no longer be an athletic field, the quality of the fields will suffer more than they already have. More than likely, more dog poop will be left on the field, and more dogs will urinate on & play in the field, increasing maintenance costs and needs, and decreasing the fields' quality. Child and adult athletes alike will lack a safe and well-maintained field with which to exercise & participate in athletics. Daggett Park nearby is dog-friendly and less than a half mile away. If community members feel that space is too small, they can petition to improve it, instead of trying to ruin an athletic field.

Why is Now the Time to Act?

Immediate action is necessary given the preposterous demands of other neighbors. Let the city know that they do not unilaterally represent residents of Potrero Hill and the broader San Francisco community.  Jackson Park is not empty during the day (children are in and out of the playground constantly), and the fields should not be ruined by dog usage just because some owners don't actively see sports being played on them 24/7. They are not used exclusively by private users who pay; they are used by many in the community to engage in various athletics & get good exercise. Humans also need exercise to be mentally and physically healthy, and it is not unreasonable to demand a space be maintained & respected specifically for that usage.

Jackson Park is not private property - it is a public facility funded by taxpayers (just like Daggett Park nearby).  The idea that dog owners have more of a right to Jackson Park than other taxpayers is absurd. We must ensure that Jackson Park remains a viable sports & athletics environment for all, young and old. 

By signing this petition, you help ensure that public parks serve the public, providing a purposeful environment for all community members.

Sign this petition to support maintaining the zoning of Jackson Park and creating a truly public space for every person!