Google's generous $600,000 donation will enable free Wi-Fi access in 31 parks and public spaces in San Francisco.
San Francisco will now have free internet access around 31 parks and public places, thanks to Google's generous donation. Mark Farrell, City Supervisor who headed the negotiations with Google, announced the news Wednesday, July 24. The donation will cover the cost of the equipment, installation and maintenance of the wireless service for two years.
"I'm honored to have lead the charge to continue to help close the digital divide and cement San Francisco's role as a national technology leader!" Farrell wrote in a note on his Facebook page Wednesday.
Google's funding towards free Wi-Fi in public places across cities isn't new. The web giant has previously funded public wireless plans in Mountain View, California, where the company's head office is based, in Chelsea, New York City and also around Boston's South Station.
The new Wi-Fi installation across the city is a major development as many still use dial-up connections, Phil Ginsburg, city Recreation and Park Director said to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Although the new destination for Google's free Wi-Fi project is 35 miles from its headquarters, Veronica Bell, a senior manager for public policy and government relations at Google, said that thousands of employees live, work and commute from the city.
The free Wi-Fi will be available at following destinations across the city:
Alamo Square, Balboa Park, Bernal Heights Recreation Center, Boeddeker Park, Chinese Recreation Center, Civic Center Plaza, Corona Heights, Crocker Amazon Playground, Duboce Park, Eureka Valley Rec Center, Gene Friend Rec Center/Soma, Hamilton Rec Center, Huntington Park, Joseph Lee Recreation Center, Justin Herman Plaza, Margaret Hayward, Marina Green, Minnie & Lovie Ward Rec Center, Mission Dolores Park, Mission Rec Center, Palega Recreation Center, Portsmith Square, Richmond Recreation Center, St Mary's Rec Center, St Mary's Square, Sue Bierman Park, Sunnyside Playground, Sunset Playground, Tenderloin Children's Rec Center, Upper Noe Recreation Center, and Washington Square.
The plan is awaiting official approval from the Planning Department; the Recreation and Parks Commission, the Department of Technology, and the Board of Supervisors. The installation will begin by December and the service will be accessible from next spring, Farrell said.
