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- Golden Gate Park - Middle Lake Rehabilitation/
Golden Gate Park - Middle Lake Rehabilitation
Completed and Open to the Public August 2024!
Scope of Work
The rehabilitation project for Middle Lake included replacing the clay liner lake bottom and increasing the water depth, clearing the pipes connecting Middle Lake to South and North Lakes, and rehabilitating the rock cascade from the Fly Casting Pools. In addition, the project included removing invasive vegetation from within and around the lake and replacing it with appropriate landscape species, and improving the pathways to increase visibility and accessibility to the lake area for park users.
Background
Middle Lake is a freshwater lake located within Golden Gate Park and is bounded by John F. Kennedy Drive to the north, Chain of Lakes Drive to the west, and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to the south. The Lake and surrounding vegetation and trails comprise approximately 14-acres. Middle lake is one in a series of three lakes called the Chain of Lakes, which flow from south to north from South Lake Middle Lake to North Lake.
The primary source of water inflow to Middle Lake is South Lake, which is located 500 feet to the south. Middle Lake also receives water from rainfall and surface runoff. Before the construction of Golden Gate Park, this area was originally sand dunes with several seasonal ponds. In 1898, the Chain of Lakes was designed to sit on top of the sand dunes with a clay liner to hold water. Over time the clay liners developed leaks and the water levels were maintained by pumping water from the local aquifer. When this project was undertaken, a major overhaul of the facility was necessary.
Funding
- 2012 Park Bond (City Wide Fund)
- General Fund
- 2020 Health and Recovery Bond
- Open Space Fund
The construction contract award for this project was approved by Recreation and Parks Commission on October 20, 2022 ( PDF ); Recreation and Parks Commission approved a contract amendment on February 1, 2023 ( PDF ). This construction contract award obtained and complies with all city, state, and federal regulatory approvals, including any that are specific to this project’s funding sources.
Project Schedule
Phase | Timeline |
|---|---|
Planning | Summer 2018 |
Design | Spring 2020 |
Construction contract awarded | October 2022 |
Construction begins | Winter 2022 |
Open to the public | August 2024 |
Project Updates
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Get Out and Play!
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Project Update
Golden Gate Park - Middle Lake | Construction is complete!
Middle Lake is now open! Thank you for your support throughout construction. This will be our last blog update for this project. Be sure to check out our two brand-new audio tours of Middle Lake which provide interesting historical and ecological context Read on…
Golden Gate Park - Middle Lake | Environmental Restoration Creates Hub for Wildlife & People
San Francisco Recreation and Park Department officials this week celebrated new improvements completed at Golden Gate Park’s Middle Lake, resulting in nearly 2 acres of glistening water where a dry lakebed and invasive species stood for decades. Read on…
Golden Gate Park - Middle Lake | Construction update, June 2024
The project is almost finished – Paving work is nearly complete, and we are taking steps to help ensure that all our newly planted plants become healthy and well-established. Construction fences will remain up around the project perimeter until the Read on…
Golden Gate Park - Middle Lake | Construction update, May 2024
The taps at Middle Lake are now open and the cascade is flowing! If you’ve been by the lake recently, you may have noticed that the lake is now full, receiving water from Read on…
Golden Gate Park - Middle Lake | Construction update March 2024
We are excited to announce that we are scheduled to begin filling Middle Lake on Tuesday, March 19. Over the next days and weeks, the lake will gradually be filled to the top. The water to fill the lake will enter from the Read on…
Golden Gate Park - Middle Lake | Construction update January 2024
We have some exciting progress to report since our last update at the end of November. Due to the rains, the lake has begun to refill with water. This has given us the opportunity to observe the new lake liner in action. The lake liner is Read on…
Golden Gate Park - Middle Lake | Construction update Nov-Dec 2023
Construction is moving swiftly at Middle Lake. Much of the soils are prepped and the contractor has begun laying out planting. You will start to see Read on…
Golden Gate Park - Middle Lake | Construction update October 2023
Both lake islands have been constructed and the lake grading and clay liner are now almost complete! Our contractor also recently completed a pipe repair and pipe extension at the south end of Read on…
Golden Gate Park - Middle Lake | Construction update, August 30, 2023
Construction at Middle Lake in Golden Gate Park took a brief break during August to make room for Outside Lands but the project is now back up and running! Next steps are Read on…
Golden Gate Park - Middle Lake | Project update July 2023
In preparation for Outside Lands, the contractor will be demobilizing and taking a break for three weeks starting next Monday, July 31. Construction will be in full swing again by September. Read on…
Golden Gate Park - Middle Lake | Project update June 2023
The rehabilitation work at Middle Lake continues. The scope of this project includes recontouring the lake bottom, installing a clay Read on…
Golden Gate Park - Middle Lake | Project update May 2023
Middle Lake Rehabilitation is moving along quickly! Rough grading of the lake and cascade is nearly complete Read on…
Middle Lake Rehabilitation Project Update October 2022!
The rehabilitation project received a low bid from Bauman Landscape and Construction Inc. . . . Read on…
Middle Lake Rehabilitation Project Update September 2022!
The rehabilitation project was advertised for bids last month and, because of the complexity of the project, the bid due date was extended to today, 9/7/2022. . . Read on…
Golden Gate Park Middle Lake Rehab Project Update April 2022
Middle Lake Rehabilitation is on track to go out to bid in April or May 2022 Read on…
Middle Lake Rehabilitation Project Update 11/22!
The Middle Lake Rehabilitation project is moving forward and 90% design documents are nearly complete. . . Read on…
Documents and Materials
Commission Materials
- Rec Park Commission, Golden Gate Park Middle Lake Rehabilitation – Contract Amendment, August 15, 2024 (PDF)
- Rec Park Commission, Golden Gate Park Middle Lake Rehabilitation – Contract Amendment, February 1, 2023 (PDF)
- Rec Park Commission, Golden Gate Park Middle Lake Rehabilitation – Contract Award, October 20, 2022 (PDF)
- Rec Park Commission, Middle Lake Restoration - Concept Approval, January 16, 2020 (PDF)
- Rec Park Commission, presentation, Middle Lake Restoration concept plan, January 16, 2020 (PDF)
Community Meetings - Notes and Presentations
Additional Project Documents
- N/A