McLaren Park: Difference between revisions
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''by Pete Holloran'' | ''by Pete Holloran'' | ||
[[Image:McLaren Park Feb 1 1927 View northeast toward Hunters Point and Yosemite Slough from about Mansell and Visitacion. opensfhistory wnp14.0069.jpg|800px]] | |||
'''McLaren Park, February 1, 1927. View northeast toward Hunter's Point and [[Lost Beach Near Yosemite Creek|Yosemite Slough]] from apx. Mansell and Visitacion.''' | |||
''Photo: OpenSFHistory.org wnp14.0069'' | |||
[[Image:excelvis$mclaren-park-photo-1990s.jpg]] | [[Image:excelvis$mclaren-park-photo-1990s.jpg]] | ||
'''McLaren Park in the mid-1990s''' | '''McLaren Park in the mid-1990s''' | ||
''Photo: Chris Carlsson'' | |||
[[Image:McLaren-Park-view-to-ob-deck 20211201 002409738.jpg]] | |||
'''McLaren Park southeast slope, 2021.''' | |||
''Photo: Chris Carlsson'' | ''Photo: Chris Carlsson'' | ||
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''Photo: Margo Bors'' | ''Photo: Margo Bors'' | ||
It was named after longtime parks superintendent John McLaren who began planting Monterey cypresses and other non-native trees in its extensive grasslands. Park development, golf course construction, and other activities fragmented the grasslands even further, but there are still acres upon acres of wild violets (''Viola pedunculata'') and dozens of other native plant species. | [[Image:Sunset-over-McLaren-Park 20211201 002417781.jpg]] | ||
'''Winter sun sets over flank of nearby [[San Bruno Mountain|San Bruno Mountain]] in December, 2021.''' | |||
It was named after longtime [[The Statue of a Heroic Crusader who Spent his Life Fighting to Keep Statues out of Golden Gate Park.|parks superintendent John McLaren]] who began planting Monterey cypresses and other non-native trees in its extensive grasslands. Park development, golf course construction, and other activities fragmented the grasslands even further, but there are still acres upon acres of wild violets (''Viola pedunculata'') and dozens of other native plant species. | |||
[[Image:Ecology1%24native-plants%24damselfly_itm%24forktail-damselfly.jpg]] | [[Image:Ecology1%24native-plants%24damselfly_itm%24forktail-damselfly.jpg]] | ||
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Grey foxes are still seen in the park, but they may be wandering strays from nearby San Bruno Mountain. | Grey foxes are still seen in the park, but they may be wandering strays from nearby San Bruno Mountain. | ||
Like many other natural areas, [http://www.jennalex.com/projects/fomp/homepage/ McLaren Park] has been adopted by citizens who work closely with the [http://sfnap.org/ Natural Areas Program] of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department to protect and restore its remnant native plants and animals. | Like many other natural areas, [http://www.jennalex.com/projects/fomp/homepage/ McLaren Park] has been adopted by citizens who work closely with the [http://sfnap.org/ Natural Areas Program] of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department to protect and restore its remnant native plants and animals. In recent years a new circumnavigation path was developed and decorated with marble plaques featuring quotes and old photos and maps called [[Philosopher's Way at McLaren Park|Philosopher's Way]]. | ||
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[[BV Community Garden| Prev. Document]] [[McLaren Park views | Next Document]] | [[BV Community Garden| Prev. Document]] [[McLaren Park views | Next Document]] | ||
[[category:Visitacion Valley]] [[category:Parks]] [[category:1990s]] [[category:Species]] [[category:Habitat]] [[category:Ecology]] | [[category:Visitacion Valley]] [[category:Parks]] [category:1920s]] [[category:1990s]] [[category:Species]] [[category:Habitat]] [[category:Ecology]] [[category:2020s]] [[category:Hills]] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:59, 8 January 2025
Historical Essay
by Pete Holloran
McLaren Park, February 1, 1927. View northeast toward Hunter's Point and Yosemite Slough from apx. Mansell and Visitacion.
Photo: OpenSFHistory.org wnp14.0069
McLaren Park in the mid-1990s
Photo: Chris Carlsson
McLaren Park southeast slope, 2021.
Photo: Chris Carlsson
Surrounded by city, this 2007 southerly view from McLaren Park shows Visitacion Valley and San Bruno Mountain looming to the south.
Photo: Chris Carlsson
This rambling 318-acre park was acquired by the city in the 1930s to serve the growing population of southeast San Francisco.
Fennel invades the slopes of McLaren Park, overlooking the Cow Palace below.
Photo: Margo Bors
Winter sun sets over flank of nearby San Bruno Mountain in December, 2021.
It was named after longtime parks superintendent John McLaren who began planting Monterey cypresses and other non-native trees in its extensive grasslands. Park development, golf course construction, and other activities fragmented the grasslands even further, but there are still acres upon acres of wild violets (Viola pedunculata) and dozens of other native plant species.
This forktail damselfly was photographed in Glen Canyon, but still lives along the northern edges of McLaren Park too.
Photo: Margo Bors
The marsh along its northern edge harbors one of the last populations of the San Francisco forktailed damselfly (Ischnura gemina).
Grey foxes are still seen in the park, but they may be wandering strays from nearby San Bruno Mountain.
Like many other natural areas, McLaren Park has been adopted by citizens who work closely with the Natural Areas Program of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department to protect and restore its remnant native plants and animals. In recent years a new circumnavigation path was developed and decorated with marble plaques featuring quotes and old photos and maps called Philosopher's Way.
Prev. Document Next Document [category:1920s]]