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Harding, Park, San Francisco

Access Off Skyline Boulevard
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 11:58:26 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #115826_3584BCX
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Across From A Blue Door
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 11:59:12 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #115912_3587BCX
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Regulations Posted
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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:

REGULATIONS
for the enjoyment and preservation of
Lake Merced perimeter pathway

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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 11:59:20 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #115920_3588BCX
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The Roadway In
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 11:59:38 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #115938_3598BCX
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The Middle Of Lake Merced
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:01:40 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #120140_3591BCX
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Lake Access
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:03:42 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #120342_3594BCX
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A Family Fished
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:04:42 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #120442_3596BCX
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Picnic Tables
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:08:02 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #120802_3599BCX
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Disabled Access
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:09:06 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #120906_3601BCX
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A Viewing Platform
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:09:12 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #120912_3602BCX
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Feed Ducks
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A railed path provided access to the lake for feeding ducks and mud hens.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:12:00 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #121200_3605BCX
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Carlos III, King of Spain
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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:

Carlos III, King of Spain

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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:12:18 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #121218_3606BCX
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Seating Under Rolling Hills
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:14:32 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #121432_3611BCX
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A Blackbird Loitered
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:14:44 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #121444_7953TNT
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A Fishing Pier
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:15:38 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #121538_3613BCX
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Practice Dragon Boat
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:16:10 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #121610_3614BCX
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A Housefinch
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One of several different kinds of birds in the park that afternoon was this housefinch.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:17:52 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #121752_7960TNT
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The View West
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:18:54 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #121854_3618BCX
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Boat Rentals
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:21:58 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #122158_3620BCX
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:24:00 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #122400_3621BCX
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A Fisherman
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:26:12 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #122612_3626BCX
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Parking For The Boathouse
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:34:24 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #123424_3636BCX
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Springtime Flowers
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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.


Harding Park inside Lake Merced   •  Harding Road, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Friday 18 June 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:42:36 Sunday 28 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #124236_7968TNT
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