The public debate over whether to extend the SkyStar Observation Wheel in Golden Gate Park for four more years went round and round like the big wheel itself, at the meeting of the city’s Historic Preservation Commission Wednesday afternoon. At the end of three hours, the commissioners decided let it go round and round some more, as the issue was continued, by a unanimous 6-0 vote, to its next regular meeting on March 3.
And it may all start back up again Thursday when the Recreation and Park Commission jumps aboard to address the same issue. Both government agencies must approve the request by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department to extend the contract for four more years so that the private operator of the attraction may recoup its investment and so that the wheel, which costs $18 a ride for adults and $12 for seniors and children, might serve as an engine of economic growth as the city comes out of the pandemic.
Rec and Park had pressed for a decision so that it might start making improvements to the SkyStar, which is powered by a generator that some citizens describe as too noisy, and under lights that some describe as too bright. The power has been kept on even though the attraction has only operated for 39 days, having been shut down twice by COVID-19 restrictions, which delayed its original opening from April 4, 2020 to Oct. 21.
Some members of the Historic Preservation Commission were willing to grant a six week extension to allow further study, and even that was shelved in favor of a continuation, at the request of Supervisors Connie Chan, Dean Preston and Aaron Peskin.
“I don’t know where this went sideways,” said an exasperated Phil Ginsburg, general manager of the Rec and Park Department. “We’ve asked for four years. We don’t know when it will have a chance to run at full capacity. Six weeks won’t cut it.”
Leading up to the meeting, the commission had received hundreds of emails, two thirds of them opposed to the extension and even that might have been understating it.
“It is much greater than the vocal minority that is opposed to this,” said commission president Aaron Hyland.
But Dana Ketcham, Director of Property Management and Permits for the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department said 1,200 individuals had expressed support for the wheel. An advocacy group called Grow the Richmond claimed to have 1,040 signatures on a petition to save the SkyStar.
People against the wheel questioned the economic benefit to the city and questioned whether the park should be in the business of providing economic benefit to begin with, and specifically to an out-of-state amusement operator.
“San Francisco doesn’t owe this business a thing,” said Tes Welborn, a board member for the Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council.“We have lots of fun in Golden Gate Park but this commercial use must be stopped.”
But economic recovery was the small picture. The big picture was spiritual recovery.
“That Ferris wheel makes people happy at a time when people need to be made happy,” said roller skating guru David Miles.
Regardless of the outcome, the SkyStar will make no one happy until the city advances out of the most restrictive purple tier of COVID-19 restrictions. Until then it will remain closed.
Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com
February 18, 2021 at 09:06AM
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Debate-over-keeping-SkyStar-Observation-Wheel-in-15958697.php
Debate over keeping SkyStar Observation Wheel in Golden Gate Park goes round and round - San Francisco Chronicle
https://news.google.com/search?q=Wheel&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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