Brooks Park Art, Peter Vaernet

Peter Vaernet is an amazing park advocate and volunteer in Brooks Park, located on the south-western most hill in San Francisco at Shields and Ramsell. Included in his 20 years of hard work in Brooks Park was installation of an art series with environmental benefits to the park. Recreation and Park Department officials were surprised one day to find that Brooks Park had been adorned with six new structures, including a large ceramic hand, a giant wind chime and a stone-and-wood bench.

Peter acknowledges that he organized the project in conjunction with art students at San Francisco State University. The only problem was, he never sought permission for the art installation, and RPD is currently planning on removing the works of art.

This brief video captures some of Peter's dedication to improving his neighborhood park as he proudly introduces us to some of it's treasured features, including the controversial art installations. It is hoped that once you have had an opportunity to hear Peter's voice, you will be inspired by his hard work and efforts to create a vibrant and unique neighborhood park experience.

FYI...In 1987, Peter Vaernet and his neighbors decided that Brooks Park had too much potential to be ignored. They formed Friends of Brooks Park, a block club, and organized work parties to clean up years of neglect. The school district was asked to lock the gates of the elementary school behind the park to prevent entrance and escape routes through the school. Neighbors started a massive anti-graffiti effort, and began removal of the glass shards. They confronted people with antisocial behavior and put out word on the community grapevine that Brooks Park was no longer the place for pit bull fights. License plates of dog fighters were recorded and forwarded to Animal Care & Control for follow-up home visits. The gangs, feeling the pressure, began to fight back. Neighborhood houses were shot at but no one was hit. Slowly those responsible for the problems drifted away - into jail, jobs, school or the cemetery.

In 1990, the Friends contacted the Open Space Committee requesting a grant to acquire the hillside's surrounding six acres and enlarge the park to its present size. In 1994, the $1,300,000 grant was approved. The gated entranceway was built in 1990, funded by the San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners, and improvements are an ongoing process. A community garden is being installed, and native plant restoration and teaching from the Native Plant Society continue at the monthly workdays.

"Our vision is to make Brooks Park a beacon for community health with community gardens, Tai Chi and native wild life habitats where the next generation can be taught the value of community, neighbors, exercise and nature," says Peter Vaernet of Friends of Brooks Park.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Brooks
• Park
• Peter
• Vaernet
• Art
• Recreation
• and
• Parks

[silvamarvin58]

I grew up in Oceanview on Randolph st since 1978. Went to Jose Ortega School and we use to hide our coasters in Brooks Park before school. After School we would go collect our coasters and ride all the way down to Randolph st non stop. Brooks park has some of the most beautiful views in all of San Francisco....

[blackberry2u]

I grew up in this neighborhood but don't remember this park. I will seek it out next time I am visiting the old neighborhood. What a wonderful treasure to have in LV/OMI/Ingleside aka the Southwest part of San Francisco :)

[inwawe]

I really enjoyed walking around this park and community garden!

[amberseashell]

Brooks Park is an amazing place! I've been a member of the community garden for over two years now and have gotten tremendous enjoyment from it. It's terrific to see all the ways it's an asset to the neighborhood. If you come up here, Peter will give you the grand tour! It's impressive how much has been done in a relatively small place.

Mange tak, Peter!

[tmcpix]

Very inspiring to hear about the passion and the care that this project cultivates. What if every neighborhood had a place like this? Imagine the community and the connection to the natural world, the joy and celebration in our own backyards.

Love the video thanks for making it.--Mary Jo

[MartinB86]

I grew up on Victoria st and ironically my last name is BROOKS, I'm not kidding, my father used to tell me that this was his park and all the other kids had to ask him first to play there. I started telling my daughter the same story. "The mountain" was the coolest place to play hide and seek when I was a kid, now many other kids can enjoy the cool new activities. 

Thanks for helping to keep a piece of our childhood preserved.

[Vertigo94112]

i grew up on arch st and used to play at "the mountain" all the time!

[MartinB86]

I was raised on Victoria St. I remember how bad this park became and I now tell my daughter that it is "her" park. Our last name is Brooks and my parents started the neighborhood watch program in the late 70's early 80's on Victoria St. Thanks for giving my a place to bring my daughters, I can safely share my childhoos stories and hopefuly let them build thier own in Brooks Park. If you haven't ran down the Ivy on the west side of the mountian, you haven't lived fully in Ingleside.

[hilldolly]

So neat to see this video and I was just there! Thanks for opening up this beautiful piece of land for my memories!

Hillary

[usfdon]

Brooks Park and Peter are SF treasures!!! The new artworks are awesome -- SF needs more community art and there is no better place than parks like Brooks. Keep up the good work Peter.

-shawn