An Open House and Landscape Design Presentation took place at the Central Pump Station on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. A goal of the evening was to introduce the neighborhood to a revised landscaping plan for the Central Pump Station/Merced Manor Reservoir area. Thank you to all who attended and provided us feedback on the landscaping plan.

SUMMARY OF COMMENTS RECEIVED IN WRITING, E-MAIL AND PHONE

• 36% of the comments the project team received were opposed to having benches installed as part of the landscaping plans.



• 36% of the comments the project team received were in favor of having some climate appropriate plants. Some suggestions were native perennials, rosemary, lavender, succulents, ground cover and other low plants.



• 36% of the comments the project team received want to see the landscaping restored as it was before construction began at the Central Pump Station and Merced Manor Reservoir.



• 21% of the comments the project team received were in favor of returning the lawn back for recreational use at the north east corner of the area i.e. soccer field.



• 14% of the comments the project team received expressed concern about dog owners and their use of the reservoir area to walk their pets and how it would impact the landscaping.



• 7% of the comments the project team received were in favor of having a walking path around the perimeter of the reservoir “formalized” i.e. made official.



• 7% of the comments the project team received recommended installing signs asking people to clean up after their dogs.



• 7% of the comments the project team received were supportive of a demonstration garden in front of the Central Pump Station area provided that it didn’t create a visual obstruction to the building.

The landscape designs are not yet finalized, and your comments are welcomed. We will make refinements to the design and bring it back out for another community presentation later this fall.

Our commitment is to provide a landscaping plan that helps meet our need to conserve water, our promise to return areas of this site to prior use, our goal to restore and improve the site and our commitment to reflect the best land and water management practices at all of our properties within the City and County of San Francisco. Below are some of the concepts presented at the open house meeting:

Climate appropriate plantings – landscapes using plants that grow well in the Mediterranean micro-climate of the Sunset District. Plants being considered include many lovely flowering varieties, groundcovers, low-water turf, succulents, California Natives, and bunch grasses. We are not in a desert, so a desert landscape would not be entirely appropriate.

Turf alternatives – there are several varieties of turf that require less water than others, some that need to be mowed as little as 3 times per year.

Reservoir Perimeter Path – a gravel path surrounding the reservoir, bordered by plantings to formalize an area already used for dog walking

Field Area – nearest to the corner of Sloat Blvd and 22nd Avenue, a low-water, high durability turf to be planted, and a hedge or other border along Sloat Blvd. to promote safety

Design concepts are attached below 

Please send your questions, comments and feedback to:

Suzanne Gautier
SFPUC Communications
1155 Market St., 11th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
sgautier@sfwater.org