Lake Merced Day celebrates natural recreation spot, aids restoration with tours, talks and tree-planting

SAN FRANCISCO, April 23, 2002 -- San Francisco State University will host an afternoon of outdoor activities and performances to raise awareness on the condition of Lake Merced from 12 to 2 p.m., April 26, at the Cesar Chavez Student Center.

The goal is to inform faculty, students and the public about environmental and political issues affecting Lake Merced, which at one time was cited as the nation's best example of a city lake for fishing, boating and recreation.

SFSU has led efforts to restore its backyard lake since 1999 when the University partnered with local nonprofit environmental groups San Francisco Beautiful and Friends of Lake Merced to create the Lake Merced Task Force. The task force coordinated the groups into a "United Nations of Lake Merced," which last year received approval from the Public Utilities Commission to build a boating and recreational center, improve pedestrian walkways and preserve the various ecosystems.

Among the events planned for Friday is an ecology walk, led by Biology Professor Mike Vasey. The walk will depart from Malcolm X Plaza at noon and follow the lake's northern edge as Vasey discusses the natural history, potential future and current status of the lake.

Representatives from the Neighborhood Parks Council, Public Utilities Commission, the city's Recreation and Parks Department and more than a dozen other groups as well as City Supervisor Tony Hall will be at Malcolm X Plaza to provide information on the issues surrounding Lake Merced.

The California Dragon Boat Association, which holds races on Lake Merced in colorful 50-foot rowboats, will show a video presentation and offer opportunities for the public to join a team. A dance performance by the Indian Students Association will close the event.

In addition, a Lake Merced restoration project will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Participants interested in planting trees and cleaning up the area around the lake should meet at 1 p.m. at the penguin statue on Lake Merced Blvd. near Brotherhood Way.

For questions or further information, please contact Marsha Adler at 415-338-6879, or mnadler@sfsu.edu. SFSU is located at 1600 Holloway at the corner of 19th Avenue at the southwest end of San Francisco.

Student writer Anastasia Thrift contributed to this press release.