Photo: City-of-San-Francisco

San Francisco to introduce free WiFi in parks

14 August 2013

by Richard Forster

Mayor of San Francisco Ed Lee and Supervisor Mark Farrell have announced a plan to introduce free wireless Internet access to parks and recreation centres across the city. The plan is being made possible because of a gift of US$600,000 from Google, which will cover the costs of the equipment, installation and maintenance of the wireless network for two years.

“San Francisco should be a leader for bringing technology solutions to its residents and improving their quality of life on a day-to-day basis,” said Farrell. “There are so many added benefits – it will help bridge the digital divide, it will empower local residents and community groups who will have access at local parks, and it will help Recreation and Park Department staff sign up kids for camps and recreation programmes with Internet speed many people would be shocked doesn’t already exist.”

It will allow residents to work from Mission Dolores Park, let visitors download information to their mobile devices in Civic Center Plaza and make it easier for parents to sign their children up for recreation programmes at centres from the Excelsior district to Bernal Heights, Chinatown, the Marina and the Sunset District.

Mayor Ed Lee celebrated the plan as a “great example of public-private partnerships that are key to the delivery of better services for our residents”.

A handful of other city properties are wired for free Internet access, including parts of City Hall, San Francisco International Airport and public housing developments. The city is also looking into offering access along the Market Street corridor. But citywide access, which former Mayor Gavin Newsom proposed in 2007, has yet to come to fruition.

Google has enlisted Sf.citi, an association of San Francisco tech companies founded by angel investor Ron Conway, to help administer the programme, including managing equipment installation, system maintenance and community outreach.

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