Gay neighborhoods may be on the decline, but at least group in San Francisco isn’t going down without a fight.
A new leather-themed cruising ground park may soon be coming to the city by the bay.
The proposed park, which is being called the “Eagle Plaza,” would be located in the heart of the city’s SOMA neighborhood, an area known for its gay leather bars and nightclubs, as well as for hosting kinky events like Folsom Street Fair and Dore Alley.
“This would provide an active hub for the LGBTQ community and added green space for the immediate neighborhood,” said project manager Hannah Smith.
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The block-long “active hub” would be built right outside the Eagle bar and would be appropriately decked out in the colors of the leather flag–blue, black, white and red. It would feature spots for food trucks, picnic tables and chairs, benches, planters, and “jungle gyms” (wink, wink.)
“I am super excited about it,” said District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim, whose office participated in the initial talks about the proposed plaza. “I think it is beautiful.”
As an added bonus, across the street, developers hope to build an apartment complex, which would be perfect for voyeurs and leather daddies alike. Between the apartment, the park, and the Eagle bar, they’d never have to leave the neighborhood.
“There is a lack of public space like this in this area,” said Alex Montiel, a co-owner of the Eagle bar. “Something like this is very much needed for anybody who lives around here. There are no parks nearby.”
h/t: Bay Area Reporter
Related stories:
Paradise Lost: How Gay Meccas Are Slowly Disappearing Because Of Rising Rents
Five Reasons Why San Francisco’s Gay Sex Clubs May Soon Be Extinct
Gay Neighborhoods Are Turning Straight… And It Might Not Be A Bad Thing
redcarpet30
A park with Jungle Gym across the street from a leather bar, and paid for by said leather bar? Parent’s are gonna love to take their kids to that! No way it will degenerate into a cruising park, noooo never.
It will probably be exciting during Folsom though.
Bob LaBlah
This would have had a better chance back in the late 1970’s or early 1980’s, the days when people had no idea that biological warfare (AIDS) had been launched against specific groups (the homeless, drug addicts, gays) while the church preached on about the virtues of God.
The only thing this park will do is resurrect the ignorant on both sides. The religious fanatics screaming REPENT, REPENT, REPENT at the top of their lungs and the drugged out “new kids on the block” who have no idea what an mistake this “hollowed ground” to fisting and water sports actually is. I find it sickening enough to see nothing but sex, sex, sex, at ALL of the gay pride parades. But now a park built especially for……………..Ok, ok, it’s time for the old queen to go sit down folks. I take my soap box and now leave.
onthemark
um… ha ha… from the headline, I got this image of something VERY different… a park with leather-upholstered furniture! And maybe a slightly springy carpeting with leather covering, suitable for walking barefoot?
Buddha is supposed to have said, “Some people want to pave the whole world in leather when it’s easier to just wear shoes.”
wagnerwallace
Sometimes I’m ashamed to be gay..
Evji108
Gawd help us, what a suck idea. Leather park for old leathery leather queens. It sounds revolting. Only in SF could an idea this bad get to such an advanced stage. Perhaps they can position slings around the park as playground equipment. Charming.
jwtraveler
Is there a vegan alternative?
CCTR
@wagnerwallace: that’s on you boo, be happy in who you are, every community has its
CCTR
@jwtraveler: LOL!!! PETA
jason smeds
A leather bar? Puh-lease! Imagine how many innocent animals had to die to furnish the vanity of the leather crowd. Spare me.
Perhaps they should also have a scat park for those who are so inclined. They could have benches decorated with jars of scat from different members of the local gay bar. Hard scat, soft scat, black scat, white scat…after all, it’s part of the variety of life, isn’t it?
buildpublic
Thank you for sharing information about our Eagle Plaza project! Our website has the latest information at eagleplaza.org, and if you would like to see this become a reality, you can sign our letter of support: http://www.eagleplaza.org/supportletter.