John McLaren’s original vision for Dolores Park

Looks about right. It’d be wild if the slopes were more rigidly terraced like that though, right?

In any case, Dolores Parks Works says Rec and Park’s recent release of the Historic Resource Evaluation Report (which includes this historic sketch) might gum up the works with the forthcoming Dolores Park renovation:

The key historical period for Dolores Park is 1905 to 1966 ending when the Mexican Liberty Bell and the statue of Miguel Hidalgo were added. There is a wealth of original elements in the park dating from this period and the plan for Dolores Park drawn by John McLaren, the master gardener of Golden Gate Park is still evident. Therefore, Page & Turnbull conclude, Dolores Park has kept her historic integrity and “any projects which contemplate alterations to the park are therefore subject to review by the San Francisco Planning Department, and should be carried out in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties…”

Read on.

9 Responses to “John McLaren’s original vision for Dolores Park”

  1. Lyle Lanley says:

    I’d love to see that pond in the southwest corner, but mostly, it’s missing a monorail.

    • iknowstuff says:

      The pond was there — the pond was filled with sand and turned into the (now old) playground and gave it the wavy shape it had. That’s the reason why the playground filled with water after long periods of rain.

  2. MrEricSir says:

    I still don’t understand the point of renovating a successful, well-used park. (Aside from “we have some money for the project.”)

  3. Holly H says:

    What’s happening to the gravesites?
    http://foundsf.org/index.php?title=Jewish_Cemetary

  4. MissionMom says:

    It’s a ***Draft *** HRE. Like much of history, the history of Dolores Park is open to interpretation. What’s important? Whose interpretation?