Rec & Parks updates HPC on temporary SkyStar wheel; neighbors and preservationists press for removal or stricter conditions

The Historic Preservation Commission received an informational update from the Recreation and Parks Department on June 1 about the temporary SkyStar observation wheel installed in the Music Concourse of Golden Gate Park. Monica Giacomucci introduced the item and George Ridgely, the department’s manager of permits and reservations, described compliance with the commission’s prior conditions of approval and recent operational measures.

Ridgely reported that a new 500‑kilowatt entertainment generator was installed and measured about 68 decibels at a 23‑foot distance, which he described as roughly 4 decibels quieter than the original unit. He said a temporary 450‑kilowatt generator had been used while a replacement turbo part was delayed; that unit registers about 74 decibels and was run at reduced capacity (75%) and fitted with acoustic barriers. Ridgely said the original generator part had arrived and the original unit was being reinstalled the day of the presentation, and that acoustic barriers would remain in place.

Ridgely described screening and fencing installed in 2021 (faux‑greenery panels and a vinyl wrap on the generator), a prohibition on white light in the last hour of operation (a programming error briefly allowed white light but was corrected), and permit limits on ambient music at the loading deck with operator controls and amplifier limits in place.

The department also reviewed attendance and community‑benefit ticketing: the presentation included a ticket‑sales figure in the transcript that appears as "03/6800" (unclear in the record) and said the operator provides 500 complimentary tickets per month for underserved communities; staff reported that more than 7,300 community tickets had been distributed since March (transcript phrasing). Ridgely also said Rec & Parks partners with nearly 60 community benefit organizations and plans to distribute another 2,500 community tickets over the coming summer.

During public comment, preservation advocates and nearby residents urged the commission to resist normalizing a permanent observation wheel in the Music Concourse. Catherine Howard of San Franciscans for Urban Nature said the wheel lacks historic basis in the concourse, harms the park’s historic character and poses environmental concerns; she requested the commission consider removing the wheel before its extension expires in 2025. Another commenter alleged the city receives only "$1 for every $18 ticket sold" and urged renegotiation of revenue terms; Rec & Parks staff did not confirm the contract share during the informational update.

Commissioners thanked staff for a thorough update and emphasized the informational nature of the presentation; no action was taken at the meeting. The commission noted it had read public comments and would take them into account in future deliberations.