Renewed Calls To Close Golden Gate Park Overnight
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- San Francisco officials are again looking into the possibility of closing Golden Gate Park during overnight hours after vandalism and a recent string of attacks on transients.
KCBS' Chris Filippi Reports:
Within just the past two weeks, three men have been attacked in the park during the overnight hours, including one who was so badly beaten that he could not remember what happened.
Vandalism has also been a problem, with the latest incident discovered Monday morning when park officials came across six young trees that had been cut down in Doughboy Meadow. Also, a picnic table was also sawed in half.
Safety concerns have San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee backing a nighttime shutdown of the park, which is a proposal that came before supervisors in December.
City Recreation and Parks Dept. General Manager Phil Ginsburg said that nothing good happens in the park after dark.
"This can help SFPD and our park patrol keep the park safe before something bad happens," said Ginsburg.
Still, some wonder how an evening curfew would be enforced.
"We don't have the staffing to do so," said San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi. "But if the city finds good reason to put a curfew, if they think that would be helpful even if it's not well enforced, then I'm open to hearing what those reasons are."
Before he left office, Mayor Gavin Newsom proposed closing Golden Gate and McLaren Parks between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
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