Keebler elves harassed by San Francisco Rec & Parks workers

Danny Tse · April 2013

http://blog.sfgate.com/cityinsider/2013/04/04/tiny-tree-door-in-golden-gate-park-must-go-says-rec-and-parks/

It appeared one day in early March: A tiny wood door with tinier hinges and the tiniest doorknob, snugly fit into the base of a tree on the concourse of Golden Gate Park outside the de Young.

The humble home delighted locals, who left little offerings behind the door, including notes in childs scrawl asking if the tooth fairy is real and if elves can predict the future.

But on Tuesday, the door was gone. The culprit? Rec and Parks workers, who are required to remove anything thats bolted into the tree.

After brief but intense outcry from door fans, Rec and Parks officials say the door was re-installed Wednesday afternoon.

But it cant stay.

Our well-intended and professional staff removed the door, as it is our policy to remove anything bolted to trees, Rec and Parks spokeswoman Sarah Ballard said in a statement. As this whimsical addition to Golden Gate Park has captured the publics imagination, the door will remain up until the elves find a more permanent home.

That last phrase, officials explained, means the door cant stay and will be taken down again, though they couldnt give an estimate as to when.

The doors bolts damage the tree and hurt its chances of healthy growth in the future, just as would anything else nailed into a public tree. Even cute vandalism is vandalism, apparently.

Lets hope Rec and Parks has a plan to deal with a family of angry homeless elves.

scottyboy76 · April 2013

The bolts do not necessarily hurt the tree.

In fact bolt and cable is a far preferred method of supporting limbs or newly planted trees because the "cambium", the membrane that brings nutrients and moisture from the roots to the leaves and photosynthesized elements back into the tree via the zylum and phloem capillary like tubing are much more likely to be damaged by tying something around a tree, bolts interrupt a small point in the surface of these structures, much like a needle inserted in your neck, far less likely to cause damage than a string drawn tightly around your neck.

So there.

Now, i understand they cant have people just popping anything into public park trees.