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Harding
Park, San Francisco In the middle 
of Lake Merced
San Francisco
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Harding Park is a narrow park that borders Harding Road. The purpose of Harding Road
is to provide automobile access from Skyline Boulevard to the Harding Golf Course.
What makes Harding Park special is that it features piers, fishing platforms, boat rentals,
as well as the usual rolling grass, barbecues, and statues. A sidewalk around Lake Merced
allows access by walking or bicycle. Also the 18 MUNI bus runs right to the Park's entry.
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Across Skyline Boulevard from the park's entry was a blue
roll-up door which was part of the city's water system. There were
no sidewalks on the other side of Skyline Boulevard, nor was there
a crosswalk at the entry to Harding Park, nor was there any
parking on that stretch of Skyline Boulevard.
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Regulations were posted governing the path around Lake Merced in general.
But the sign was aligned to suggest they were rules governing the park.
The sign read:
PATHWAY USERS stay on right of designated paved or dirt path at all times.
WALKING and JOGGING permitted on dirt path.
DOG-WALKING permitted only on paved path. Keep dogs on
leash (Chap. VI Art 2 Sec. 16 Municipal Code). Dog owners responsible for picking up
their dogs' feces (Health Code Sec. 40).
BICYCLING permitted only on paved path. Safety control speed: 10 mph maximum.
Alert pathway users when passing.
MOTORIZED VEHICLES prohibited.
LITTERING prohibited.
City and County of San Francisco Recreation and Park Dept.
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The roadway into the park was wide with lots of parking along the side
of the road. Compare the width of roadway access to the width of sidewalk
access. Clearly this park is one of the rare parks in San Francisco that
expected more automobile than pedestrian access.
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Harding Park is unusual because it is bordered on both sides by Lake Merced.
This one feature made it scenic and pastoral once the fog fully burned off.
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Multiple points of access to the lake provided ways to cool one's feet,
or to fish, or to watch for birds. Here, steps down allowed access to the water.
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If properly licensed, fishing is allowed on the lake. Fishing piers have
been constructed or, as with this family, rocks could be used.
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Picnic tables and barbecues were scattered around an idyllic setting.
A water faucet provided drinking and cooking water. On Sunday, all
the tables were claimed and occupied.
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One sign indicated that access for the disabled was included
in the park's design. By "beach" this sign really meant access to
the lake's shore.
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A platform set out in the lake could be used for viewing or
fishing. Benches provided seating for the elderly, infirm,
or lazy youth.
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A railed path provided access to the lake for feeding ducks and
mud hens.
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A statue overlooked the picnic area. Bronze sign on the statue's
base was printed in English and Spanish. The English read:
Settler of California, champion of the cause of the American
independence, who directed colonel Don Juan Bautista De Anza
to establish a presidio, a mission and a city in San Francisco
in the Year 1776.
This statue was donated by King Juan Carlos I of Spain on the bicentennial of the City of San Francisco, 1976.
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Paths lead around low rolling hills along side the lake. Here,
one path ended at a bench with a lake view.
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In addition to ducks and mud hens, blackbirds and other birds could be
seen and heard in and around the park.
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A fishing pier jutted out into the lake. From it, one could see the
floating dock used by all the long boats that had been practicing that
afternoon.
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This was one of the practice dragon boats seen on the lake that day.
Two of these boats had circled the lake over and over with the
crews rehearsing for a competition later in the year.
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One of several different kinds of birds in the park that afternoon was this
housefinch.
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An overview shot of the park from its eastern end, looking back toward Skyline
Boulevard in the west. The park may be long and thin, but it is lush and attractive
just the same. Off to the left (out of frame) was the boat house.
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Boats for rent (except on Sundays) included cat-boats (day sailing boats)
rowboats and electric motor boats. Access to the docks was restricted to those
with rental tickets or to members of the clubs in the boathouse.
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The boathouse was rundown but has been scheduled for renewal by the Recreation
and Parks Department. The bottom floor of the boathouse was lined with storage
for use by the various clubs. Boat rentals are managed by a private company.
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A fisherman on a floating dock could be seen just below the
Golf Course building on shore behind the trees. The eastern end of
Harding park was occupied by the Harding Park Golf Course.
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The parking lot for the boathouse. Notice that just beyond the parking lot
was the start of the Harding Park Golf Course.
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Bordering the park in places were the blooming flowers of springtime.
Notice the boat still rehearsing on the lake, and the bird perched on a branch
in the center of the picture.
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