Open on
Mondays for Summer
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

See the complete schedule.

Announcements:

There will be no Open Gym hours on Mondays during July and August.

Women’s Indoor Soccer on Friday nights from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. is a great workout.
All levels welcome. Drop-in fee only $5.

Parking at Upper Noe Becoming Scarcer
The Municipal Transportation Agency is proposing to reserve two spaces on the east side of Sanchez Street near 30th Street for car sharing vehicles only. This is part of a broad two-year experiment. As many as 900 public parking spaces are to be affected.  A public hearing is scheduled for July 18 at 10 a.m., Room 416 at City Hall. More info at sfgate.com.

Catch us on Yelp 

Upper Noe Rec Center has received high marks on Yelp, 4.5 out of 5.0. That does not come easily. Volunteers donated more than 1000 hours in the past year to keeping Upper Noe beautiful and lively, safe, well maintained, and litter-free. Thanks go out to all of the folk who show up and pitch in.

Want to get more involved at Upper Noe? Everyone is welcome to participate in Friends of the Noe Valley Recreation Center (Friends) and the Community Recreation Council (CRC). Friends and the CRC meet together on the third Wednesday of each month from 7-8 p.m.. Our next meeting is July 16.

 See our listing on Yelp

Eucalyptus Trees Trimming 

On Friday, June 14, in response to a large fallen branch that landed in the tennis court, RPD promptly deployed a team of arborists to remedy the growing danger from our grove of large eucalyptus trees that stands above the children's playground. Friends and the Upper Noe staff are thrilled with the rapid response time since stories abound in the local media about the shortage of arborist resources and the huge backlog of tree maintenance.
 
Not everyone is thrilled with the severe haircut. The results leave little shade. However, unlike the last trimming, which rendered the trunks completely bare, the arborists kindly left a spritzing of greenery. The results are whimsically reminiscent of Dr. Seuss trees.

For better or worse, these trees grow back fast. It would be nice if there was a safe, attractive, functional steady state for them but unfortunately, the eucalyptus is not a cooperative species for that. The arborists remove as much as possible when they come to ensure that they do not need to return too soon. So for now, step out into the ball field, look west and enjoy the beautiful view of the hills that the sparse trunks offer.

Ladybugs Team Up With Helpful Teens

On Saturday, June 14, Upper Noe gardens received a much-needed makeover. Friends’ Joan Lionberger organized a work party of local volunteers and a contingent of cheerful workers from Lick Wilmerding High School. Rec & Park provided a gardener. Together we tackled weeds and ivy, cleared walkways,  transplanted a small palm tree and carefully trimmed back overgrown iris in the Ladybug Garden. The students were amazing. While they earn public service credits for volunteer activities, they obviously loved the opportunity to work together. Their enthusiasm and diligence are apparent in the accomplishments. The place is beautiful.
 

The Ladybugs appreciate the helping hands.

Left: Job complete.

Right: Anita gets to work.

To get involved,  contact Joan at ladybugs@noevalleyreccenter.com. 

Recent Happenings at Upper Noe

The music at the recent Friends Concert in the Park was a bit edgier than usual. Local teenagers, 12 Stories, brought their electric style tunes to the Upper Noe Playground. While they dialed it back for this event, leaving the big amplifiers and drum kit at home, the tunes retained all of the quality one expects of a rock band. Playing a combination of well-written original songs along with popular covers, they kept it age-appropriate for the young ears in attendance. Well done!

Nina Jo Smith Plays Upper Noe – July 26

This month Friends Concert in the Park welcomes the return of Nina Jo Smith. Nina (rhymes with China) is a folksinger with an array of original and traditional tunes.
See www.ninajosmith.com.

Canine Corner

While the rest of the Bay Area swelters at ninety degrees and above, San Francisco’s famous fog puts the freeze on. High winds this season have meant bundling up for a sit in the sun.

The experimental windbreak installed last year by Friends of Upper Noe Dog Owners Group (F.U.N.D.O.G.) was very effective but not durable enough to withstand the pounding gusts. 

Recently, the tattered remnants were removed. A more permanent installation is being planned.

Volunteers Needed

• Help advise the city on what classes should be offered at the Upper Noe Rec Center. Serve a term on the Upper Noe Recreation Center’s Community Recreation Council and help shape programming at the Center. A teen member is still needed! Please contact Cheryl Woltjen at 970-8061. The form is available on our website and at the center. Please either drop it off or mail it to: Cheryl Woltjen, UNRC, 295 Day Street, SF, 94131.

• Distribute our new Friends of NVRC postcard. This newsletter is distributed to nearly 1,000 “friends.” Make sure interested neighbors know about our group by helping distribute our informational postcard around the neighborhood. Please email molly (at) noevalleyreccenter.com if you know of a good shop or cafe to distribute the postcards. Or you could help put them somewhere frequented by park users.

• Lead a new event. Are you interested in organizing a new event at the Center? Maybe a game night or movie night? Please contact us at info (at) noevalleyreccenter.com.

• Garden at the Park. Help keep the park beautiful by volunteering with the Ladybug Gardeners on the second Saturday of each quarter. The next date in 2014 will be June 14. All ages welcome, no experience necessary, community service hours credited. Even an hour would be a big help! Please email ladybugs (at) noevalleyreccenter.com.

Community Events

At the Rec Center

July 9

Upper Noe Neighbors
7:30 p.m.
S.F. Supervisors David Campos and David Chiu – who face each other in their run for State Assembly District 17


July 16

Community Recreation Council / Friends of the Noe Valley Recreation Center
7:00 p.m.
Recreation Center kitchen
Get involved and help shape programming and events at Upper Noe

July 26
Friends Concert in the Park –  Nina Jo Smith
10:00 a.m. to noon
Playground
Rain moves the concert inside.

Outside the Center

August 5
National Night Out
SF Police Academy
350 Amber Drive, San Francisco, CA 94131 (Diamond Heights)
5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
A free community BBQ / celebration bringing neighbors together in a safe and friendly atmosphere where they can also get to know the law enforcement officers that serve them. 

Contact info@noevalleyreccenter.com if you have an event that you would like to list.

Thanks for your interest and support of your park! Please contact us with any questions or suggestions. Let us know about any community events you are planning at the park so we can promote them.

Please forward this newsletter to your friends and neighbors who use the Noe Valley Recreation Center. We want this newsletter to help build the park community — please help us connect with members of the community.

Enjoy your Park!

Friends of the Noe Valley Recreation Center info@noevalleyreccenter.com www.NoeValleyRecCenter.com