Taking Action — The Story of Our Inspiring Founder Carol Walker

“I have always loved being on or near the water,” says Carol Walker, founder of the Aquatic Park and Pier Project.  She may have grown up in Berkeley, but she considers herself a San Franciscan.  Like many who call the beautiful Bay Area home, Carol’s heart belongs to the City.  “One of the things I love about San Francisco is that it is always interesting.  There is a beautiful view on every corner and something new to see on every visit.  It’s still a rush to be in San Francisco, whatever the occasion.”

During her early career days in San Francisco, one of Carol’s favorite places was the Maritime Museum.  She would pick up a deli sandwich and sit in the Aquatic Park bleachers to enjoy the views of the Bay. Carol  traveled extensively in the 1960s.  She lived in New Zealand, Wales and both Northern and Southern California, including a summer spent as a fire lookout in Lassen National Park.  In 1973, she returned home to the family’s restaurant business.  Her extensive skills and business acumen helped make Walker’s Pie Shop a local landmark for many years and it is still fondly remembered today in Albany, California.

Once she retired, Carol knew that she wanted to keep busy.  She needed to harness her creativity, passion and love for the City and found that volunteering for City Guides of San Francisco met those goals.  Her first assignment as a City Guides tour leader was in 2012. That tour presents the history of the Fisherman’s Wharf area.  After taking her first walk on the Muni Pier—also called Aquatic Park Pier—Carol was truly dismayed.  She saw just how deteriorated the Pier’s structure had become with its decaying walls, then blocked with plywood.  Now the outside walls are completely fenced off and the Pier may soon have to be closed, even for pedestrians and fishermen.

“Honestly, the shock of the condition of the Pier felt like a body blow.” Carol describes.“ It hurt me personally to see it rotting.  An installation of deteriorated pipe runs along the Pier and it looks awful.  We need to recognize that this is our responsibility.  It’s falling apart and we need to take care of it.” 

“I think it was that exact moment when I saw the pipe that I realized how important restoring this area was to the City,” Carol remembers.  “That’s when it really resonated with me. This Pier is not just mine; it belongs to everyone.  I didn’t want to see this special piece of San Francisco falling apart.  I thought that someone needs to take action and I decided that someone might have to be me!  I contacted the Chronicle and Vivian Ho did an extensive article in 2014.”

In 2015, Carol posted a change.org petition which 500 people signed.  She set up social media accounts and began a letter writing campaign to elected officials and as many local entities she could find.  After several visits to National Park Service (NPS) offices and meetings with then Superintendent Kevin Hendricks, Carol’s efforts resulted in the origins of the Aquatic Park and Pier Project.  With restoration of the Pier no longer feasible due to its state of deterioration, replacement of the landmark Pier would be required.  Tenacious, Carol continued to insist that the project get more attention and warned those that she contacted that she was not giving up!

The newly organized committee of volunteers was introduced to John Tregenza, then head of the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association, and a joint fundraising agreement was prepared allowing collaboration among the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association, the National Park Service, and the volunteer community group.  Brian Hayes, a Pier 39 business owner, organized a breakfast meeting with many local business owners attending.  Supervisor Aaron Peskin agreed to speak.  The meeting resulted in the first cash contributions to the effort.

“We have had good support from the members of the two swim clubs, the Dolphin Club and the South End Rowing Club.  One of their members, Fran Hegeler, stepped up to help and later she convened a forum to increase the base of support.  Soon Supervisor Catherine Stefani became involved.  With the addition of Dan Hodapp to the team, the project began to coalesce and gain more support.  We have had access through our committee to volunteer expertise in areas we needed. We have now progressed to a point where the project is looking more and more possible,” Carol explained.

Carol’s personal dream is to see the round building at the end of the Pier restored to its original purpose: a comfort station and concession stand.  “Other people have reported that you could get hamburgers there once upon a time.  I love the art deco aspect as well.  The round house was intended to be topped with a light feature, colored in the art deco style.  We have an opportunity now to preserve this spectacular place,” stated Carol.  “It is very exciting to imagine bringing this area to its full potential for the pleasure of citizens and tourists alike.  I think the vision study can maximize the Aquatic Park and Pier Project so that it becomes a part of the City for even more people to enjoy.”