TAKE BACK THE PARK The DAILY DIRT TAKE BACK THE PARK
May 19, 2006

A daily report on the happening in Golden Gate Park(ing lot)

NO MUSIC IN THE MUSIC CONCOURSE

Though a total of $250 MILLION has been spent on the deYoung Museum and the privately owned Concourse Garage, the Music Concourse itself will not be able to host performance or public gatherings any time some. Just after the private MCCP took over control of the Music Concourse, as pile drivers were sinking shoring around it, three ‘rosettes’ fell from the overhang of the Bandshell. These concrete blocks weighing about 6.5 lbs fell harmlessly to the steps just to the south of the stage. Shortly afterwords red tape was rapped around the structure and Rec and Park walked away.

Now two years later, as the “Music Concourse Restoration” is to be completed within the month, RPD have finally “commissioned a study” and come up with a cost of $600K to fix the problem or $45K to rap the remaining rosettes in netting. Neither amount is in any current budget. (It must be noted that the study was done by the contractor that worked on it in 1992, after the 89 earthquake shifted it around. Looking at the rosettes closely one can see where this same contractor "patched" the very rosettes which fell.) As the Concourse is now a “Landmark” RPD is applying for a ‘grant’ to fund repairs. Knowing how the system works, this could easily take a year or more.

Equally, ‘unfunded’ are repairing the three fountains in the center of the Concourse. This has been estimated at about $70k to simply patch and re hook up. Though the fountains were functioning when the MCCP took control, they were dismantled with no intent to put back.


As to the status of the rest of the Music Concourse; sod will be laid soon, the now ubiquitous ADA handrails mostly completed, and the historic statues rearranged around the rim. Not to be completed are 28 of the 42 light standards, their footing covered with junctions boxes. The status of the statues is also questionable as important pieces are missing; the plaque on the Spartan Gladiator which was dedicated in 1893 and the bucket for the Apple Press which was stolen and recreated once before.

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Up coming topic: Why there will be no Music in the Music Concourse, or Concourse (public gathering space) for that matter.