"Our people need this breathing space"
This area was once home to small
bands of Ohlone and Miwok peoples. Around a century ago, small
“truck farms” provided food for restaurants and markets, from root
crops to fruit to eggs and chickens. San Francisco’s burgeoning
population in the early 1920’s sent development further to the
southern edge of the City, and the Excelsior, Portola, Visitacion
Valley, and other districts replaced the open farmland and scattered
homesteads. At one point, there were plans drawn up to make the
entire area a suburban housing development.
Ranching in McLaren Park area, 1920s
Source: San Francisco Public Library
San Francisco History Collection.
In response, a popular movement developed to reserve some local
parkland aside for recreation, restoration, and the general
enjoyment of future generations. The campaign’s slogan was “Our
People Need This Breathing Space.” The hard-fought measure failed
by a few hundred votes, but the Board of Supervisors decided to
acquire land piecemeal for the park. The park was dedicated in 1927
by John McLaren himself, who wished that it would be a place of
“unspoiled alpine joy in the City”. Boy Scouts planted trees, and
WPA crews built trails, installed picnic areas, and added the first
basic infrastructure.
There were quite a few disputes over the various land
acquisitions for the new park. The historical record includes
letters from land owners to the mayor and vice-versa in curt tones
concerning the unfairness or necessity of it all. Some of this land
was in legal limbo for decades as lawsuits and political wrangling
slowly unfolded, until the park was finally consolidated into what
we have today.
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A video from Friends of McLaren Park
McLaren Park is one of the
largest urban parks in San Francisco, but remains largely
undiscovered by residents. Franco Mancini shows the history and
highlights of the park. Grapefruit Ed provides the music during
Jerry Day at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater.
Originally broadcast as part
of "City In Focus" on SFGTV. Produced by Greg Burk, video by Rich
Bartlebaugh.
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