Linda Litehiser has spent years advocating for McLaren Park and its iconic Jerry Garcia Amphitheater. Read her interview below to learn how her involvement with Friends of the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater has led to major park improvements and built community within this previously overlooked space.
“The inspiration for this project began in 2000. We were trying to get people to notice the amphitheatre in McLaren Park. The space had been grand in the 70s, but had since been largely abandoned.
I think we were the first group of people to recognize that McLaren is a regional park. It’s in 3 supervisor districts and surrounded by 5 distinct neighborhoods – so we knew that we should maximize our political and neighborhood connections. We created a subcommittee through Friends of McLaren Park called ‘Friends of Jerry Garcia Amphitheater.’ The name came about organically because Jerry grew up right on the edge of the park.
We held our first formal event in 2003. My son read that there were Jerry Garcia birthday parties all over the world and said, ‘let’s hold a birthday party for Jerry!’ From there, we created a template for events here. We did that successfully for years and on a shoestring budget – but that only works if you have a really vigorous volunteer group. That was a big challenge, but it was also one of our greatest successes.”
“We’ve merged a neighborhood into this park. Building community has been a huge part of our success.”
“Over the years, our relationship with SF Parks Alliance has been one defined by true partnership. Being a park partner has meant that we can have another voice in the room to advocate for our space. It’s been a real collaborative effort. Now, we have something happening in our Amphitheater. We brought knowledge of this facility to other parts of the neighborhood.
To those looking to get started on their own project: get to know your park staff and share your vision widely. Make sure that folks are well aware of what you’re trying to do. When you improve a park, you’re bringing an asset to the entire neighborhood.
Our city is so fluid with people moving in and out. New folks see a park and go, ‘Hey, this is cool. Is anybody working out there?’ Often, there is!”