The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department is planning a new bond measure for the November 2012 ballot, and is looking for ideas from residents at a meeting Wednesday night.

The meeting is set for 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 18 at the County Fair building in Golden Gate Park near 9th Avenue and Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. It is an opportunity for residents of the Richmond District, Sunset District, Parkside and Lakeshore areas to learn about existing ideas for how to spend the $185 million in proposed bond funding on upgrades, renovations and improvements to city parks. It’s also a chance to tell officials which ideas are the best, and what’s missing from existing proposals.

The proposed bond measure, if approved by voters, would authorize the issuance of general-obligation bonds, which would be repaid by San Francisco taxpayers. The Rec-Park Department states that the measure will not increase San Francisco’s debt or the burden on taxpayers because bonds will be issued only as already existing bonds are paid off, keeping the tax rate approximately the same as today.

The 2012 San Francisco Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond would fund six types of projects:

• $97 million for Neighborhood Parks, selected based on community feedback, their physical condition, the variety of amenities offered, seismic safety risk, and neighborhood density
• $35 million for Waterfront Open Spaces
• $15 million for Failing Playgrounds
• $10 million for the Community Opportunity Fund
• $15 million for Golden Gate Park, Lake Merced, and McLaren Park
• $13 million for forestry, trails, and water conservation

Projects are proposed for several parks and open spaces in Board of Supervisors Districts 1, 4 and 7:

• Angelo J. Rossi Pool and Park
• Richmond Playground
• West Sunset Playground
• Golden Gate Park
• Lake Merced

People from Districts 1, 4 and 7 who want a say in what the bonds would fund but who can’t make Wednesday’s meeting can also attend a Recreation and Park Commission meeting Thursday at 10 a.m. at City Hall, Room 416 or email their feedback.

View the presentations for District 1, District 4 and District 7 (PDF files).

More information about the proposed 2012 San Francisco parks bond is available at the Recreation and Park Department website.