Candlestick Point State Recreation Area

{{Short description|State park unit of California, United States}} {{Infobox park | name = Candlestick Point<br/> State Recreation Area | image = Candlestick Point Park5.jpg | image_size = 256 | image_caption = A walking path with Candlestick Park in the background | map = United States San Francisco Bayview-Hunters Point#San Francisco County | map_label =Candlestick Point | location = San Francisco County, California, US | nearest_city = San Francisco, California | coordinates = {{coord|37.7096537|N|122.3802486|W|region:US-CA|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | area = {{convert|204|acre|ha}} | established = 1972 | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | operator = California Department of Parks and Recreation }}

'''Candlestick Point State Recreation Area''' (or simply '''Candlestick Point''') is a state park unit of California, United States, providing an urban protected area on San Francisco Bay. The park is located at the southeastern tip of San Francisco immediately south of Hunters Point and {{convert|2|mi|km}} north of Sierra Point in Brisbane. This {{convert|170|acre|ha|adj=on}} landfilled area was intended to be used during World War II as a shipyard by the United States Navy. However it was abandoned as the war ended. Without government controls, the area was used by nearby residences as a garbage dump. In 1973 the California State Legislature purchased the land with US$10 million and in 1977 voted to turn this area into a California State Park. After the designation Candlestick became the first urban recreation area in the state. To this day Candlestick remains as a major recreation area in San Francisco, offering a wide view of the bay. The park features various picnic areas, two fishing piers, fitness courses as well as hiking trails. This park is also a popular area for windsurfing due to strong and regular winds.<ref name="csp">{{cite web | title = Candlestick Point SRA | url = http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=519 | publisher = California State Parks | access-date = 2013-12-23}}</ref>

Candlestick Park, the former stadium of the San Francisco Giants and San Francisco 49ers, was also located next to Candlestick Point.

There are several competing theories for the origin of the point's name. Several sources claim it was named for Candlestick Rock, an {{convert|8|ft|adj=on}}-tall pinnacle rock once located nearby at the high-tide line.<ref>A Companion to California: Newly Revised and Expanded with Illustrations. Hart, James David. [https://books.google.com/books?id=nQpvbaeJQCYC&dq=%22candlestick+point%22+rock+francisco&pg=PA80 p. 80]. University of California Press, 1987.</ref><ref>1500 California place names: their origin and meaning. Bright, William and Gudde, Erwin Gustav. [https://books.google.com/books?id=CET4QodMZysC&dq=%22candlestick+rock%22+francisco&pg=PA33 p. 33]. University of California Press, Nov 30, 1998.</ref> Others claim it was named for the long-billed curlew, which was once plentiful in the area and also known as the candlestick bird.<ref>Candlestick Park. Atlas, Ted. [https://books.google.com/books?id=abT_ryfiGA0C&dq=%22candlestick+point%22+bird&pg=PA13 p. 13]. Arcadia Publishing, Dec 1, 2010.</ref> Still others claim the name derives from the 19th-century practice of burning abandoned sailing ships in the bay; as they sunk their flaming masts resembled lighted candlesticks.<ref name="csp" />

==Proposed park closures reversed== Candlestick Point was one of the 48 California state parks that were proposed for closure in January 2008 by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as part of a deficit reduction effort.<ref>[http://cbs5.com/local/California.parks.budget.2.627476.html CBS5.com: List Of Calif. Parks To Close In Budget Proposal] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223141631/http://cbs5.com/local/California.parks.budget.2.627476.html |date=February 23, 2008 }}</ref>

In May 2008, the governor unveiled his revised proposal that would reverse a proposal made in January to dismiss employees and close 48 parks and beaches, including nine in the Bay Area. The plan now{{when?|date=November 2023}} is to cut $1.5 million out of the parks budget and make that up by raising entrance fees a maximum of $2. Revenue also could be raised through cabin rentals and fees at new campgrounds.<ref>[https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Reversal-on-parks-cuts-3283997.php San Francisco Chronicle:Reversal on park cuts]</ref>

==See also== {{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area}} * List of California state parks * San Francisco Crosstown Trail

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Candlestick Point State Recreation Area}} *[http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=519 Candlestick Point State Recreation Area]

Category:California State Recreation Areas Category:Parks in San Francisco Category:Parks in the San Francisco Bay Area Category:Protected areas established in 1972 Category:Hills of San Francisco Category:Headlands of San Francisco Category:San Francisco Bay Trail Category:Bayview–Hunters Point, San Francisco