• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Glen Park Association

Up-to-the-minute news from Glen Park

  • Home
  • Glen Park Association
    • About the Glen Park Association
    • Join the GPA
    • GPA Board Contacts
    • GPA Meeting Minutes
    • Bylaws
    • Neighborhood boundaries
  • News Stories
    • Glen Park News
    • Editor’s Picks
  • Greenway
    • About
    • Greenway Plan
  • GPA Grants Program
  • Crime & Safety
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Volunteer Sign Ups
    • Event Submission
    • Author Submissions

Mom Writes an Ode to Glen Park Before Moving

September 20, 2018 by Rachel Gordon

Lauren Tilston, her husband Chancey, and their children Xander and Stella.

Lauren Tilston wrote a post on the Glen Park Parents’ online forum that attracted the attention of a lot of readers. She wasn’t looking for a high chair or asking about an after- school program or seeking a nanny share.

The mother of two, ages 6 and 8, was leav- ing the neighborhood and wrote an ode to Glen Park. Her words can serve byas reminders of what makes Glen Rachel Park marvelous. She experienced what so many of us experience but  sometimes take for granted: our downtown offerings, good civic amenities and  friendly neighbors.

And hers is a story like so many others: A San Francisco family packing up to buy a roomier house with a big yard—something she and her husband, who had been renting, could not get here—in a neighborhood that her kids can explore by bike on their own. Her husband also commuted for eight years from Glen Park to the South Bay, and now he’s only 15 minutes from work.

“So commute plus lack of space plus finances are the things that really drove the decision to move,” she said in an interview.

It is clear from her letter to Glen Park that the decision, then, was bittersweet; her written tribute to Glen Park speaks for itself:

Our family has lived in Glen Park for eight wonderful years! In less than two weeks, we will be moving (to San Jose) and we would like to say THANK YOU for being our commu- nity for the last eight years.

Little Artistas, thank you for taking in our children and teaching them to love art and Spanish!

break out of their shells and talk to you!
We have enjoyed the bouncy house and live music at the Glen Park Festival with all of you

Destination Bakery, you brought us to Glen Park, when we used to drive through for a treat on the way to work.

Glen Park Dental, how in the world will we say goodbye? Our closest neighbors, our favorite dentists, our nanny share, smiles in the morning, smiles in the evening, extra treasures for our kids—our friends!

and endured the years of reconstruction at the park and celebrated the return of a (new and improved) playground and rec building.

Canyon Market, you have been a staple, bringing great nutrition and smiles to our entire family each day!

Besides that, the Glen Park community: We have borrowed your muffin tins and your chairs and we have swapped unwanted items—remember when you gave me that bottle of Pisco? We made some great Pisco sours! Remember when you needed a car seat and my kids had outgrown theirs? Thank you for your generosity!

Hooray for Rec and Park and the people in this community who were active in planning for a space that serves the community! We played soccer with you and Coach Shawn!

SFPL Glen Park Branch, what would we do without you? My kids and I LOVE the library, both for the books and the programs!

Chenery Street, we will miss you on Halloween! Thank you for your abundant candy (and wine!) and good times!

Cafe Bello, your coffee is sublime and your “office space” allowed for concentration when the house was full of rambunctious children.

Here I found moms with babes with whom I could enjoy (and commiserate) about mom life, and they grew to be trusted friends
with big kids. Thank goodness for you, mom friends! I also found Leo from UPS when I had a baby and a toddler and no parking and needed diapers and wipes and other house- hold goods that I could not drag from my car, along with the stroller and baby carrier; you delivered them right to my stairs without even judging, always with a smile.

Thank you for being the kind of people who you want to have in your community—people who have got your back and make this life quite a bit more enjoyable! You people are awesome! Sometimes we ask ourselves why we are leaving. (But then we remember the no parking and the stairs! Also, the noise from the bus stop.)

Perch, you are the kings of last-minute and BEAUTIFUL gifts!

Pono, you are my new favorite (and you saved my skin!). Welcome to the neighbor- hood!

If I have forgotten to express any kind- ness or greatness you have shown, please forgive me! I hope you continue to support each other and bring goodness to the people around you! You’ve got a good thing going, Glen Park! I feel so fortunate to have been here and from the bottom of my heart would like to say thank you!

La Corneta, Gialina, Win Garden (and Osha Thai and Chenery Park), thank you for feeding my family when I had no more left to give.

Le P’tit Laurent, your French toast and des- sert wine was our favorite impromptu date night when grandma stayed over with the kids.

Cuppa, my kids will remember you forever, and probably never stop asking me to go there!

And Rhonda, everyone’s favorite crossing guard! Thank you for keeping us safe! And thank you for your persistence! You have known my children since they were babies and it has taken forever for each of them to

You are the best! We’ll miss you!

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Primary Sidebar

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

Upper Noe Neighbors Community Meeting Wednesday, May 21, 7 p.m.
Upper Noe Recreation Center auditorium
295 Day Street
Agenda


San Francisco Department of Public Works logoDPW Love Our City
District 8 Cleanup Day
Saturday, June 7, 9 a.m. to afternoon
Learn more and sign up here


 

Logo Center for Creative Exploration

The Center for Creative Exploration
Explore all the Colors of the Rainbow
one-day workshop
Saturday, June 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
300 Chenery Street
Learn more and link to registration here


Weeding Party
June 21, 10 a.m. to noon
100 block of Arlington at Charles
Join neighbors on the North end of the Cut to keep down the weeds and beautify top to bottom. Tools, lunch and good company provided.


Monthly cleanup on the Greenway
First Saturday of the Month (usually)
Click here to learn more


Friends of Glen Canyon’s
Glen Canyon Habitat Restoration
Every third Saturday 9:30 a.m to noon
Sign up here

Subscribe to this Newsletter

Sign Up for Glen Park Association News Updates:

* indicates required

Check It Out at the Glen Park Library

Click the above button or here to see all upcoming Glen Park Branch Library events. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to get events highlights in your inbox.

Glen Park Rec Center

Glen Canyon Park sign
Click here for latest
Glen Park Rec Center
class schedule


Saturdays 3-4:45 p.m.
Questions? Call 415-239-4007


GP Movie Night Schedule

Renew Your Glen Park Association Membership for 2025

Join the Glen Park Association and help promote our community’s interests. Together, we can secure improvement funds, publicize neighborhood concerns and strive to speak as one voice on neighborhood and city issues.

Membership in the Glen Park Association is only $10 annually and can be purchased online.

Glen Park Association Advertising Sponsors

JE_Digital Small Space Ad
Diamond Heights Digital Ad
GPA Ad- Perez Construction ad 6.27.22 v Glen Park
moroco
Center for Creative Exploration - adult
JE_Digital Small Space Ad
Diamond Heights Digital Ad
GPA Ad- Perez Construction ad 6.27.22 v Glen Park
moroco
Center for Creative Exploration - adult
previous arrow
next arrow
Shadow

Current Weather & Air Quality

Glen Park featured on…

FacebookSF ChronInstagramTwitter

Join the Glen Park Association on Facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
Glen Park Association is at San Francisco Public Library Glen Park Branch.
2 days ago
Glen Park Association

Photos and Fun courtesy of the Glen Park Library!
It was a great turnout at the Glen Park Library Open House on Saturday May 17th!

Thank you to all who attended and a big thank you to Glen Park Branch Library Manager Darren Heiber and his staff for a fantastic day!! 🙌🏽

San Francisco Public Library Arion Press | Artist Books Museum of Craft and Design Rafael Mandelman 🏳️‍🌈 #glenparklibrary #arionpress #museumofcraftanddesign #glenparksf #sanfrancisco #InCommunity
... See MoreSee Less

Photos and Fun courtesy of the Glen Park Library! 
It was a great turnout at the Glen Park Library Open House on Saturday May 17th!

Thank you to all who attended and a big thank you to Glen Park Branch Library Manager Darren Heiber and his staff for a fantastic day!! 🙌🏽

@sfpubliclibrary @arionpress @museumofcraftanddesign @rafaelmandelmand8 #glenparklibrary #arionpress #museumofcraftanddesign #glenparksf #sanfrancisco #incommunity
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Glen Park Association is at Glen Park Recreation Center.
2 days ago
Glen Park Association

Qi Gong & Tai Chi Thursdays at the Glen Park Rec Center!

Thursdays 2:00PM - 2:45PM
Room #1
Led by led by Ashima Sarin

Beginners and All Levels of Mobility Are Welcome! It’s FREE and drop-in!

(There will be no class the second half of June and July)

📍Glen Park Rec Center, 70 Elk Street

QUESTIONS? CALL 415-239-4007
... See MoreSee Less

Qi Gong & Tai Chi Thursdays at the Glen Park Rec Center!

Thursdays  2:00PM - 2:45PM 
Room #1
Led by led by Ashima Sarin

Beginners and All Levels of Mobility Are Welcome! It’s FREE and drop-in! 

(There will be no class the second half of June and July)

📍Glen Park Rec Center, 70 Elk Street 

QUESTIONS? CALL 415-239-4007
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes 4
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Blog Roll

Coyote Yipps
Friends of Upper Noe Recreation Center
Glen Park Neighborhoods History Project
Open SF History
Sunnyside Conservatory
Sunnyside History
Sunnyside Neighborhood Association
Tramps of San Francisco
Upper Noe Neighbors

Copyright © 2025 · Metro Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in