Museums urge more city support as park access changes reshape visitor patterns

City cultural institutions and agencies told the Public Safety & Neighborhood Services Committee on July 14 that they need more support as the city’s visitor patterns shift and the Golden Gate Park Safe & Access Program changes access to the Music Concourse area.

Thomas Campbell, director and CEO of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, said the combined institution spent about $76.5 million last year (city and corporation expenditures) and that “city support represents 25% of that expenditure.” He asked the Board to consider increased funding for art insurance, more city security staff and additional capital funding for aging buildings. Campbell said a multi‑year study shows remediation for corrosion at the De Young’s tower will “cost about $30,000,000.”

Jay Xu, director and CEO of the Asian Art Museum, and Jason Seifer, CFO of the Fine Arts Museums, described steep attendance declines during the pandemic and ongoing staff shortages. Xu said the Asian Art Museum reduced security positions (from 38 to 33) and has been forced to reduce open days; he urged restoration of frozen positions and additional operating support.

Representatives from the California Academy of Sciences and the Gardens of Golden Gate Park described programmatic responses, expanded free and low‑cost access for residents and efforts to use data to guide outreach.

Rec & Park and SFMTA staff reported progress on the Golden Gate Park Safety & Access Program: a newly redone Bandshell ADA parking lot with roughly 20 accessible spaces, shuttle improvements (new contract for low‑floor vehicles and plans for automated ridership data in October), wayfinding and taxi‑stand relocations at the Music Concourse and near‑term engineering work at the Eighth Street entrance to be implemented within weeks. Cameron Beck (SFMTA) said delineation efforts for JFK Drive will continue through the fall and “we're hoping to have some decisions made on the delineation of JFK space early, 2023.”

Supervisors pressed for measurable data and clearer timelines. Rec & Park acknowledged supply‑chain and timeline constraints for colored lane paint and said some changes will require community workshops; staff committed to quarterly reports to the committee on implementation progress.

Public comment included a mix of praise for recent accessibility steps — shuttle improvements, the new ADA lot, and taxi stands — and criticism that road closures have shifted traffic and reduced access for some residents. Several accessibility and neighborhood groups urged the city to deliver promised wayfinding and subsidized parking options for low‑income residents and people with disabilities. Advocates for the museums asked the Board to prioritize insurance, security and capital funding to protect collections and restore full museum services.

Next steps: The committee continued the hearing to the call of the chair and required quarterly implementation reports; the committee also asked departments for specific ridership and accessibility metrics.