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Where’s Glen Park Elementary? That’s easy

May 14, 2020 by Bonnee Waldstein

Like many San Franciscans, I’ve been taking the *golden opportunity* presented by the pandemic to do some exploring close to home. A good place to start was Bernal Heights park, which is nearby and which I’d surprisingly never visited before.

Armed with a map and walking tour directions (details below), my husband and I made our way up the Bernal Heights hill and caught the expansive view from 445 feet. As we circumnavigated the crest, I couldn’t help noticing what felt like a constant feature of the landscape when looking west: Glen Park School (aka The Big Blue School).

It seemed to pop out of the landscape with a distracting insistence. Obviously its bright blue color distinguished it, but weren’t there any other structures vying for my attention? Everything else seemed dull and gray from the distance (although golden Dolores Huerta Elementary ran a close second from certain vantage points).

After pondering the why of this visual, I began to appreciate the usefulness of the school in placing the Glen Park neighborhood in context with the surrounding areas, such as Diamond Heights, Twin Peaks and others.

Try finding Glen Park School in the slides below. Guaranteed, it’s there.

(Relevant personal aside: When we moved to Glen Park in the ’80s, the school was actually lavender. Over the years, the color underwent a change and gradually turned blue. When it was repainted, the same blue color was used. If any reader has a recollection of this, please leave a comment — my timeline is pretty vague. In an amazing coincidence, after moving in we painted our house lavender and the same phenomenon occurred. )

Recently on a neighborhood walk, this time on Everson Street, the imposing edifice of Glen Park School again hollered for attention, albeit from much closer in.

Glen Park School — it cannot be ignored.

A recommendation:  Urban Trails – San Francisco, by Alexandra Kenin, Chronicle Books, 2016.  This walking tour, called Bernal Beauty, also included Holly Park and the fascinating and lovely streets of Bernal Heights.

Filed Under: COVID-19, Editor's Pick, Featured, Neighborhood, Schools, Uncategorized Tagged With: Editor's Pick

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IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

2025 Glen Park Night Market poster


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

Glen Park Rec Center

Glen Canyon Park sign
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the latest Glen Park Rec Center 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
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Glen Park Association is in Glen Park.
1 week ago
Glen Park Association

The Glen Park Night Market brought the community together not only on Kern Street but into the Glen Park businesses as well!!
A big thank you to all for supporting local artists and the local small businesses in Glen Park!

Our next Glen Park Night Market is July 19th, Saturday 4PM- 8:30PM

📷: Photos courtesy of Bonnee Waldstein

#glenparknightmarket #glenparksf #sanfrancisco #artwalksf Art Walk SF #CivicJoyFund Civic Joy Fund #glenparkmerchants #supportartists #ShopDineSF
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The Glen Park Night Market brought the community together not only on Kern Street but into the Glen Park businesses as well!! 
 A big thank you to all for supporting local artists and the local small businesses in Glen Park!

Our next Glen Park Night Market is July 19th, Saturday 4PM- 8:30PM

📷: Photos courtesy of Bonnee Waldstein 

#glenparknightmarket #glenparksf #sanfrancisco #artwalksf @artwalksf_ #civicjoyfund @civic_joy_fund  #glenparkmerchants #supportartists #shopdinesf
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Glen Park Association is in Glen Park.
1 week ago
Glen Park Association

Just all kinds of activities and trucks on Diamond Street for the paving project….

📷: Photos courtesy of Bonnee Waldstein

#streetrepair #sfpublicworks #SFMTA #glenparksf Rafael Mandelman 🏳️‍🌈
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Just all kinds of activities and trucks on Diamond Street for the paving project….

📷: Photos courtesy of Bonnee Waldstein 

#streetrepair  #sfpublicworks #sfmta #glenparksf @rafaelmandelmand8
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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

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