UPDATE: SFPUC Declares Emergency Days After Ruptured Water Main Floods Stern Grove
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN/CBS SF) -- The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission issued an emergency declaration Friday, days after a ruptured water main caused catastrophic flooding at Stern Grove, forcing organizers to cancel this Sunday's fundraising concert.
The water main rupture happened Monday afternoon along a pipe near Sloat Boulevard and 22nd Avenue and resulted in flooding in the area. KPIX 5 reporter Andria Borba posted video on Twitter of the geyser of water produced by the break on Sloat. At the time, she guessed it was from a damaged hydrant.
The city's Recreation and Park Department was forced to close Stern Grove and nearby Pine Lake until further notice.
The emergency declaration comes after both Rec and Park and SFPUC officials inspected the site this week. The declaration will allow for the contracts to be approved faster so that the repair, cleanup and restoration of Stern Grove can begin.
"This incident underscores why consistent investments in our infrastructure are so critical," SFPUC's Acting Manager Michael Carlin said in a statement.
"It is unfortunate that this main break occurred, and we appreciate and regret the impacts this has had on many. This is why we took immediate action to approve the emergency declaration," the statement continued. "It is also why we have been working in partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department on next steps since earlier this week, when we learned of the damage."
Some of the work to be performed at Stern Grove includes hazard tree removal, slope repair and restoration and debris removal.
Stern Grove Festival and Parks and Rec officials said the site in its current condition is unsafe for events of any kind in the immediate future.
Photos and video provided by festival organizers showed the extent of the damage. Mud and water had flowed across the lawn in front of the stage and across the paved footpath above the main seating area as well as through the backstage area.
The flooding and damage it caused prompted the cancellation of this Sunday's final performance of this Stern Grove Festival Sunday. The concert and fundraiser featuring iconic Oakland acts Tower of Power and Too $hort would have closed this year's season that had been a rousing success, despite the challenges presented by the pandemic.
Earlier this week, festival executive director Bob Fiedler said that although the show was highly anticipated, the damage to the park was "too severe to move forward safely at this time."
"Stern Grove is a special, beloved place. We know the temporary closure of its east end and the cancellation of the final concert of the Stern Grove Festival is disappointing, especially during a time when we all need nature and connection," SF Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg said. "Parks aren't luxuries. They're essential infrastructure, critical to our mental and physical health, and we're grateful the restoration is a top priority."
Organizers of the Stern Grove Festival, which dates back more than 80 years, said people who would like to help rebuild the venue and park can help by donating at SternGrove.org or texting "sterngrove" to 56512.
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