Stairways are Heaven
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Stairways are Heaven

Greenways up to McLaren South

5/24/2013

4 Comments

 
A leisurely walk uphill from the first through sixth Visitacion Valley Greenways and up into McLaren Park was a pleasant one not done in a while. 

Last time I did this, was rather put off by a drunk-acting dude on the T-metro who (without paying his fare) proceeded to sit on the floor by the door (and near me) yelling random offensive epithets, including the N-word, armed with a spray container of whipped cream and a banana. Though some other passengers thought this quite funny, I felt the conductor (at the other end of the car) should've called the cops to get the guy ejected as he was loudly aggressive, obviously far from sober, and you can't be certain someone like this is gonna be harmless. So this turned me off that particular route for a while. Sure, I complained on MUNI's website but got no response.

The Sunnydale is the last stop for the T-line, a few blocks walk to the neighborhood shopping street, Leland, and the first of six delightful Greenways that stairstep up the hill. 

The first of these miniparks opens off the main street at Leland and Peabody, up to Raymond, with more people just hangin' here than in the higher Greenways. First pic: just outside the first one. 

The second, completed in 2008, is the Community Garden Greenway, Raymond to Arleta. The garden is fenced and locked but easily viewed (second pic). 



Walk alongside the garden to the third, my favorite, the Herb Garden Greenway (Arleta to Teddy) with its tiered planters and short stairway (pics 3, 4, 5). 

The fourth is the Children's Garden Greenway, Teddy to Campbell, a small playground at the foot and a short stairway and benches at the top (pics 6, 7, 8). 

The fifth is the Agriculture Lot Greenway, Campbell to Tucker. This garden is also kept locked but easy to admire through the fence (pic 9). 

From Tucker to Tioga is the Native Plant Garden Greenway, the sixth and highest. My second favorite, it's has beautiful curving walkways (pics 10, 11, 12, 13). 

Continuing to McLaren Park, turned left on Tioga a half block or so to Delta. Up Delta to Wilde, and left on Wilde to Ervine, a few blocks.  

The trail into the park curls up from Ervine. The stairway (57 steps, pic 14) doesn't start until partway up the winding trail so you can't see it from the trailhead. At the top are some benches, two of the Philosopher's Way musing station plaques (15th pic), and a view across the valley to San Bruno Mountain. 

This area has picnic tables (south side of Mansell) and parking space just off Visitacion Ave. To walk back down into Vis Valley, the top of the park's longest stairway (16th pic) can be accessed a little way downhill on Visitacion, out to the west dead-end of Campbell (195 steps).

About the musing stations:

http://www.savemclarenpark.org/SMP4_philosophers.html

I think I've seen all of 'em. Wish more parks had stuff like this (and that somehow the artwork could be protected from vandalism).

Did a few trails north of Mansell (pics 17, 18), enjoying the grasses rippling in the breeze, over to the John F. Shelley stop for the #29 Sunset bus (taken down through the Excelsior neighborhood to the Balboa Park BART). 

Picture
1. On Leland outside the first Greenway
Picture
2. Entering Greenway 2, the Community Garden
Picture
3. Herb Garden Greenway
Picture
4. Herb Garden Greenway
Picture
5. Greenway 3, Herb Garden
Picture
6. Children's Garden, Greenway 4
Picture
7. Greenway 4, Children's Garden
Picture
8. Top of Greenway 4
Picture
9. Agriculture Lot Greenway, 5
Picture
10. Greenway 6, Native Plant Garden
Picture
11. Native Plant Garden Greenway 6
Picture
12. Greenway 6, Native Plant Garden
Picture
13. Top of Native Plant Garden, sixth Greenway
Picture
14. Stairway and Trail from Ervine into McLaren Park
Picture
15. Musing Stations at top of Trail up from Ervine
Picture
16. 195 steps from Visitacion Ave. to Campbell
Picture
17. Trail just north of Mansell, McLaren Park
Picture
18. Trail near Mansell & John F. Shelley, Bernal Heights in distance.
4 Comments
Nathaniel Paluga link
5/29/2013 01:27:34 am

Great photos.

Reply
Tony link
5/29/2013 01:40:58 am

Thank you!

Reply
Julian Michelucci link
7/28/2013 09:16:24 pm

For the greenways, how big are they, and are they all 6 close to each other?

Reply
Anne Seeman
11/16/2013 09:01:23 am

Thank you so much for visiting our Greenway! I just want to mention that the Agriculture lot, now known as the Ornamedibles Garden, is open every Tuesday, 9 am-noon, for free gardening workshops. We run this lot communally with neighborhood volunteers, and are also open every Sunday, 10:30 am-12:30 pm. We also host school groups. To the above question, the lots are all close to each other - they run consecutively for 6 blocks. It's an old water department right-of-way, but with those pipes no longer used, we were able to open the land up for community use (not without a struggle, but maybe that's enough info for one post).

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I like meandering around on San Francisco's park trails and public stairways, sometimes taking photos, and enjoying nature and the outdoors.

    Archives

    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011


    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.