NAP has designated 60 of the 68.8 acres in Glen Canyon Park as a Natural Area.

Current recreational use of Glen Canyon is high. Recreational facilities in

Glen Canyon Park include the Silver Tree Day Camp, a community recreation center, ball fields, playgrounds, a ropes course, and formal and informal trails.

Recently, efforts have been made to restore areas of Glen Canyon Park. These efforts include the removal of invasive species, erosion control projects, stream restoration, trail improvements, and the installation of native plants.  In November of 2004, over 21 eucalyptus trees were removed from along Islais Creek and the area revegetated with native riparian plants as part of a creek restoration project. This project, as well as cape ivy management, creek and erosion control, and trail rehabilitation were conducted as part of a Natural Areas Capital Improvement project.

 According to the NAP proposal, the following is anticipated in the future:

·        Eliminate 3700 feet of the social trails commonly utilized by people and dogs.

·        Visitors to the park will be restricted to the trails NAP has designated, by fencing if NAP deems it necessary.

·        120 additional eucalyptus trees will be removed.  Beyond that, destruction of non-native saplings and seedlings (these are by common definition trees) in areas designated by NAP shall be in total.  NAP officials do not believe they need to be accountable to the public for the number of seedlings or saplings they remove.  Please see Wayne’s World Item #4 for further explanation.

·        Destruction of willow trees, non-native plants and shrubs at NAP discretion.

·        Reduction in “predation pressure”.  This would refer to the killing of feral cats and any other wildlife NAP deems unacceptable.

·        Prohibit rock climbing at Northwest outcropping and utilize barriers to block access if required.

·        Implement erosion control as required.

·        Dogs will be required to be on-leash and on-trail only, no water access will be allowed.

There are no plant, bird or animal species in the Glen Canyon Park property that are listed as endangered or threatened by the State or Federal government.  NAP intends to justify the 60 acres of “natural area” by claiming they must protect a number of “sensitive” plant and bird species.  This designation of “sensitive” was made by a few local California Native Plant Society and Golden Gate Audubon Society members.  NAP plans to augment the “sensitive” plant species, as well as reintroduce “sensitive” plant species so as to further justify their declaration of the 60 acres as a natural area.  By declaring these 60 acres a “natural area” NAP feels justified in severely limiting recreational activity in this highly utilized park.

This park has been the site of hotly contested competition for usage.  There have been arguments about allowing parents to drive into the park to deliver children to recreational and daycare facilities.  There has been loud protest over the intentional planting of poison oak by volunteers merely because it is native.  Click here to view Ken Garcia's article entitled "Poison Oak Activists Restrained". The adversary in both cases is the “Friends of Glen Canyon Park”.  These are the volunteers from the community who have assisted SFRPD/NAP officials in their quest to push recreation out and native plants into this park.