Although the new trails and stairs on the southeast slope of Buena Vista Park have been open for several weeks now, the ribbon-cutting ceremony held on January 23 by the Buena Vista Neighborhood Association and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department officially opened the renovated slope side to the public.

Almost 50 people gathered together at the base of the service road (at the intersection of Buena Vista East and West and Upper Terrace) under a drizzly-grey sky to attend the ceremony, which was followed by a guided stroll around the newly opened areas.

The large new staircase leads from the street level on the southeast side of Buena Vista Park nearly all the ways to the park’s 589 foot summit, with the new plank-lined trails offering spectacular views of the southern and eastern parts of the city.

Other improvements include a new mid-slope trail and new erosion-oriented landscaping and signage.

For more information on the new park renovations visit www.parks.sfgov.org or www.bvnasf.com.

BVNA also organizes a volunteer gardening day in the park on the first Saturday of each month at 9 a.m. For more information, e-mail BVNA@ix.netcom.com.