Jackson Playground
17th and Arkansas
Potrero
One of three park reservations made by the Van Ness Ordinances of 1855 in working class Potrero Nuevo, the site was originally known as Jackson Square. Undeveloped and virtually ignored for more than 75 years, Jackson Square was made into a playground in the twentieth century. A 1930 map shows a simply landscaped park with a small building, possibly a clubhouse, on the Mariposa Street side. The same map shows what was probably an oval cinder running track occupying much of the park. Very little on it appears in the city records.
It was run down and overrun for years and the aging playground could no longer meet the needs of neighborhood families.
The Potrero Hill Parents Association (PHPA), a cooperative formed by concerned and active parents came to the rescue. In 1993 they submitted a $335,000 proposal to Rec. and Park’s Open Space Fund. That first year, they were awarded $50,000, the next year, they got $100,000, and in 1995 they received the remaining $205,000. With the full funding in place, a detailed design plan had to be approved by the Recreation and Park Department before any ground could be broken.
The design and planning process took over a year. Working with Department of Public Works landscape architect John Thomas, PHPA came up with a striking new plan for the 10,500 ft. space. It laid out separate play areas — one for toddlers, the other for kids 5 to 12 and up — and separated them by a low, gracefully curving wall, comfortable for seating and incorporating art in the design. Other features included tables, benches, new trees and ground cover.
Neighborhood artist Josh Sarantitis supplied the art. Chosen by the San Francisco Art Commission to conduct a tile-decorating workshop for kids, he taught some 125 young artists how to paint and glaze tiles. Their 150 hand-painted creations are installed atop the seat wall. Josh did the colorful mosaics along its sides.
Joshua Sarantitis has been creating monumental professional work in public spaces for over 20 years. His 40 commissioned works include glass installations and mosaic murals located regionally and abroad. He has a BA in Fine Arts from Oberlin College, and studied at the Arts Students League of New York under Gustav Rehberger, Marshall Glasier and Michael Burban.
How great that he worked with the kids to create this art for their playground — the results are lovely! But a two month old artist? Unlikely.
That is some great tile work. Adds a great bit of color to the playgrounds.
It’s great what a grass root movement can do.