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- People of the Promenade
People of the Promenade
People of the Promenade is a series of short stories, based on conversations with parkgoers we’ve met along car-free JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park.

Savanna and Roman

Dustin

John

Claudio

Kristina
Kristina biked more than 30 minutes from the city’s eastside to visit Golden Gate Park. What she didn’t expect to find was a piano in the middle of the JFK Promenade. “There’s nothing like having a piano in the middle of the park,” she said.
Kristina, who teaches music to kids, is a firm believer in music as therapy. “It sounds so natural, and it makes the trees happy too!” she said.
Another quality about Kristina: even though she plays like a pro, she still manages to stay modest. “It’s surprising to me that I’m just fooling around on the piano, I look up, and there’s people listening to me,” she laughed.
Crissie, Shae and Asiana
October 28's Halloween Haunt on JFK was a smash, bringing thousands of people out to the JFK Promenade, dressed in costumes ranging from kooky, to creepy, to downright cute! Take Crissie (left), her daughter Shae (center), and sister Asiana (right). The trio had a thrilling time at the big outdoor party.
"We’re loving it!” said Crissie, a Richmond District resident. “We’re neighbors to the park, and it’s just a perfect place to gather for families,” she said.
When they’re not dressed in costumes, Crissie and her family enjoy coming to the park to stay active, with sports like tennis, pickleball, and volleyball among their top choices.

Clara and Lilah
Mini
After taking a 30-year hiatus from roller skating, Mini recently decided to get back into the groove of things, taking up practice at Golden Gate Park.
“For the last couple of months, I’ve been looking for places to skate and it’s been really challenging. The Skatin’ Place at the park is amazing but it’s a little intimidating for me as a newbie,” she said. “The challenge is finding a smooth place to skate in the city.”
Mini’s favorite practice spot at the moment is along the JFK Promenade, over the new ground murals and colorful new entrances, which allow to her glide effortlessly.
“I’m really loving these,” she said. “I’m blown away and I’m really excited. This is such an unexpected surprise!”
Max, Ben and Ian

Paul, Sophia and Pepper
Drew and Daughter Normani
Normani might only be 7 months old, but it’s pretty apparent that her preferred park is Golden Gate Park, according to her dad Drew. He said they frequent the JFK Promenade almost daily.
“She’s absolutely growing up in the parks. Living near so many, we’re always at them. Her favorite is probably Golden Gate,” Drew said of the tot. “She likes when I turn her stroller around outfacing so she can see everything. She honestly really likes when we walk by the tennis courts, watching people play tennis and watching the ball bounce.”
He added, “Before becoming car-free, JFK was inviting, but it wasn’t the same. Now, I see so many kids, people with strollers, and it’s just something that I appreciate having and I can’t imagine the JFK Promenade not being here.”
Claire
And thanks to the temporary art installations going on up along the JFK Promenade, Claire and her family are at the park even more now. Calvin, who is about to turn 2 years old, seems to be fascinated by the whimsical Doggie Diner heads. “We’re loving all the new artwork, so it’s a bit of an excuse for us to walk JFK a little bit more,” Claire said.
Bill
Ruth
Ruth has worked as a nurse for over 30 years. Even though she finds her career rewarding, sometimes she likes to slip away for a quick walk along the JFK Promenade to clear her mind. “I come here on my breaks to take a little walk, or I’ll just sit and watch the birds or the flowers. The park is so beautiful,” she said. “There’s no cars now, so it’s good. It’s safer to walk or bike now. I don’t know how to bike but I’ve been wanting a scooter. One of these days,” she laughs.
Whether on wheels or on foot, one thing is certain: being outdoors is a mood-changer. “We have such stressful jobs. It’s good to even just take a 15-minute or 20-minute walk. You go back to work and it’s like you’re refreshed and have more strength for the rest of the day,” Ruth said.
Jean-Michel
Famed Parisian artist Jean-Michel Othoniel stopped by Golden Gate Park last week for a dedication ceremony for his La Rose des Vents sculpture—a now permanent feature just outside the SF Conservatory of Flowers and very visible from the JFK Promenade. Othoniel, who maintains a permanent commission in the historical gardens of the Palace of Versailles, was inspired to create La Rose des Vents during a visit to the Conservatory, years ago. “I wanted to make this piece like a rose, to bring light to this site,” he said. “It’s a very hopeful work, and when the sun touches it, you’ll see it’s very flamboyant like the architecture itself.” Othoniel added that car-free JFK has created a more “joyful” atmosphere. “In Paris, we have so many cars. Once a week, they’ll stop the traffic, but it’s not all week.”

Sharaya
The mural, titled “We are on Native Land” by artist Rachel Znerold, is part of Paint the Promenade, which will see several murals being painted along JFK over the coming weeks. “We really wanted to do something that highlights Ramaytush Ohlone land,” she said. “It’s not just about native land, it’s also about honoring the animals that are here. We have conversations about the park and accessibility, but there are very few places in San Francisco that are non-developed where the coyotes go, where the hawks go.” She added, “There’s a collective responsibility that we as people have to these plants, to these animals, to protecting parks, and to protecting these areas that people utilize every day.”
Park Rangers Fung and Totten
But, while biking on JFK Drive is one of the more fun parts of their job, the bikes are also useful for trekking dirt trails and footpaths deep inside the park. “Sometimes, there are issues in the park that are within these really tight trails and you can’t take even take an ATV through it. It’s basically like a pedestrian foot trail, so having a bicycle really helps me better perform my job,” Fung said.
Esteban
Although the JFK Promenade isn’t a skate park, Esteban said the serene—yet sometimes bustling—community space it’s become makes it a great place for a novice skater. “A lot of my friends who are learning to skateboard, we come to this space for them to find their footing, and have all this flat, open space to practice. It’s car-free, so that’s a huge plus,” he said.
Cody
Never shy about his love for San Francisco, you can oftentimes catch Cody biking in his signature San Francisco Wheelmen shirt—an homage to the historical club that once dominated the local cycling scene.
Tomi
Tomi, a dance enthusiast, comes to Golden Gate Park at least twice a week. She’s either biking along the Promenade with her teenage daughter, or she’s performing outdoor personal dance pieces throughout the park. “Cars don’t really disturb my dancing, but I think making car-free streets is great,” Tomi says.
She and her daughter pedal down JFK to Hellman Hollow, where they join a regular gathering of dancers. Even though Tomi is all about movement, today she was resting her feet along a quieter section of the JFK Promenade, just near the Rose Garden—enjoying the natural setting and cool fog as she contemplated her next dance piece. “It is really nice to just sit here and not have cars coming by,” she said.

Alex and Anna
Even though Anna and Alex are naturally outdoorsy, the JFK Promenade encourages them to step out more often. “It’s so inspiring seeing people do their thing out here; bikers, rollerbladers, people playing volleyball. It’s just really inviting, and I feel like that’s pushed us more to be outside every day,” Anna said.
Next on their to-do list: skateboarding along the Promenade and rolling around Skatin’ Place!
Billy
Billy has lived near Golden Gate Park since the psychedelic 1960s. In his time, he’s watched icons like Janis Joplin and The Doors perform at the park. Of Joplin, he said, “To hear the sound of her voice just makes me shiver, you know what I mean? She was something else. She will always be my favorite.”
Having witnessed the evolution of Haight Street and Golden Gate Park over the decades, he laments, “It’s not the same anymore.” But Billy doesn’t mind the recent car-free changes, because now he can cruise the Promenade with ease as he listens to blues music on his speaker.
Nadine and Kelsey
It’s not a stretch to say that Nadine (right) and her best friend Kelsey (left)—both Washington High School cheerleaders—enjoy practicing their moves along the Promenade. “I love it because it’s a really open space and you can do just about anything and not have to worry about whether cars are coming or not. You can just be free!” said Kelsey.
On top of cheering, the two besties also enjoy the park in other ways: roller-skating, picnicking, holidays, birthday parties—you name it.
Alfonzo
Alfonzo’s hobby includes cars—tiny ones to be exact. He comes to the Promenade on his days off to fulfill his need for speed with his remote-controlled cars.
The mini machines are fast, but he’s always watching out for bicyclists and pedestrians. “These things can dodge just about anything,” Alfonzo said.
And while he’s all about his cars, he also likes the tranquility of the Promenade. “We come whenever we have a chance. JFK has calmed down a lot and allows more people to see what’s going on.”
Nicky and Joy
If you ask Nicky (top), the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers is the best spot in Golden Gate Park. But today he opted to join Joy (below) and try out her electric skateboard along the JFK Promenade.
“It’s pretty sweet because now we have free reign to do this. I wouldn’t feel safe doing this if cars were here,” Nicky said.
“This is our practice area,” Joy said. “I feel safer riding here than the streets.”
The board, which is controlled by a small handheld device, can go as fast as 30 mph. For now, however, the pair is playing it safe.
“This is my very first time,” Nicky—an avid snowboarder—said. “I’m just scared of the concrete. If I fall on snow, it’s perfectly fine because it’s very forgiving. So, I’m trying not to fall.”
Arnie
100-year-old Arnie has witnessed San Francisco make some big changes since he first moved to the city in 1957. One place that continues evolving for the better is Golden Gate Park, he says. The JFK Promenade is a 3-minute stroll from his second home--the San Francisco Lawn Bowling Club. He’s been coming here for the past 32 years.
“I came one day to try it and I liked it, and I’ve been stuck on it ever since,” he said. “I enjoy the open air, and all the good people that are around. I really enjoy everything about it. It’s really a community… and this is about the cheapest thing you can find compared to other sports.”
And if you’re wondering what's Arnie’s secret to longevity, it’s simple: outdoor activity!
“When I was about 90 years old, I figured ‘I’m going to pass out and whither in a couple years. What’s the sense of going?’ But then, I just kept on going and now I’m 100 years old.”
On his most recent birthday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors declared July 26, 2022, Arnie Barros Day.