| Candlestick Point State Recreation Area | |
|---|---|
 A walking path withCandlestick Park in the background | |
  Candlestick Point  Candlestick Point | |
| Location | San Francisco County, California, US |
| Nearest city | San Francisco, California |
| Coordinates | 37°42′35″N122°22′49″W / 37.7096537°N 122.3802486°W /37.7096537; -122.3802486 |
| Area | 204 acres (83 ha) |
| Established | 1972 |
| Operated by | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Candlestick Point State Recreation Area (or simplyCandlestick Point) is astate park unit ofCalifornia, United States, providing an urbanprotected area onSan Francisco Bay. The park is located at the southeastern tip ofSan Francisco immediately south ofHunters Point and 2 miles (3.2 km) north ofSierra Point in Brisbane. This 170-acre (69 ha)landfilled area was intended to be used duringWorld War II as ashipyard by theUnited 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 theCalifornia State Legislature purchased the land with US$10 million and in 1977 voted to turn this area into aCalifornia 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 forwindsurfing due to strong and regular winds.[1]
Candlestick Park, the former stadium of theSan Francisco Giants andSan 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 8-foot (2.4 m)-tall pinnacle rock once located nearby at the high-tide line.[2][3] Others claim it was named for thelong-billed curlew, which was once plentiful in the area and also known as the candlestick bird.[4] 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.[1]
Candlestick Point was one of the 48California state parks that were proposed for closure in January 2008 by California GovernorArnold Schwarzenegger as part of a deficit reduction effort.[5]
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?] 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.[6]
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