Noe Valley Voice June 2001
RETURN TO HOME PAGE
FEEDBACK

Friday Is Beach Blanket Day at Day Street Park

By Heidi Anderson

Although she's not sure whether to call it "The Beach at Upper Noe" or "Day Street Beach," Upper Noe Rec Center Director Chris Borg plans to put on a beach party this summer for the lucky kids who drop by the park at Day and Sanchez streets.

"We'll make a grass hut out of one of the structures, get some hula hoops, bring out the hose, play some music -- it'll be a blast!" Borg laughs.

Formerly known as Sand and Water Adventure (same elements, only without the party atmosphere), this play time is planned for Friday afternoons from 1 to 2:30 p.m. beginning June 11.

Kids between the ages of 1 and 100 are invited to hang out on the "beach," which will be set up in the children's play area off the Day Street entrance. But if you're younger than 1 and really enjoy taste-testing sand, Borg may let you join in the fun.

Upper Noe will also host again this year the city's free lunch program for children up to age 18. Lunches are served Monday through Friday at noon.

In addition, the park will rev up its popular Tiny Tots program, for kids 4 to 6. This program meets three times a week and offers free play, a craft, a snack, and show-and-tell. (Parents are encouraged to sign up for a date to bring a snack for the entire class.) On Fridays, Tiny Tots will take part in the free lunch program.

For the complete scoop on these and other Upper Noe activities this summer, call the park office at 695-5011.

Toddlers Descend on Douglass

Up the hill (excellent workout for stroller-pushers) at Rec and Park's Douglass Playground, Directors Wayne Barry and Ben Price are keeping the schedule light this summer. Price says this is because the playground's new play structure, grass field, and entirely fenced-in park make it very popular with the preschool set, so there's always a crowd.

"It's pretty incredible on sunny days," says Price. "We get as many as 60 toddlers here."

Such a great turnout means Price won't be scheduling any formal classes for the younger kids. But he hints that on Thursday mornings around 10:30 he'll be hauling out sports equipment and running a "beginner sports" class for whoever wants to sign up.

The main event at Douglass for older kids (6 to 12) is the Rec and Park's "latchkey" program, which has adult supervision and runs year-round. From June 18 to Aug. 17, the latchkey program turns into a summer camp, operated from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. This year, Price has organized field trips for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, to such exotic locales as the San Francisco Zoo, the Exploratorium, Great America, and Raging Waters.

The Douglass latchkey program is also popular, and has a waiting list. But Price encourages parents to stop by and talk to either him or Barry about the details. Price says it's important to see if your child and latchkey are a good fit.

"Of course, one of the things we expect is that all the kids treat each other with respect," says Price.

The entrance to Douglass Playground is at 26th and Douglass streets. For more information, call 695-5017.

Upper Noe Recreation Center Summer Schedule

Day Street between Church and Sanchez. Chris Borg, Director.

(Days and times subject to change. Call 695-5011 for signup information.)

TUESDAYS

Kids Gym 1-4 years old 10:30 a.m. - noon

Tiny Tots 4-6 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Tennis Adult 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Junior Giants Baseball 11-13 3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAYS

Girls & Boys Basketball 11 and under 10:00 a.m. - noon

Senior Citizens Club 55+ 11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Auditorium Adventures All ages 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

THURSDAYS

Outing Day 8-16 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Tiny Tots 4-6 10:00 a.m. - noon

Auditorium Adventures All ages 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

FRIDAYS

Tennis Adult 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Girls & Boys Basketball 11 and under 10:00 a.m. - noon

Tiny Tots 4-6 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Beach Party All ages 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Auditorium Adventures All ages 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

SATURDAYS

Kids Gym 1-4 10:30 a.m. - noon

Crafty Kids 8+ 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

PARTY RENTALS

Saturdays and Sundays for ages 1 to 5 between 12:30 and 4:30 p.m.

Please call 415-831-5520 for more information.