SAN FRANCISCO—A San Francisco couple and local comedians led a movement to rename a patch of Golden Gate Park after the late actor Robin Williams.
Williams lived in the Bay Area for decades, and shot some of his most popular films in the region. He frequently popped in to local venues.
Will and Debi Durst are taking steps to ensure that a piece of San Francisco keeps his memory alive by renaming Sharon Meadow in his honor.
Williams would regularly perform at the Comedy Day festival in Sharon Meadow (near Hippie Hill). He gave generous donations to keep the gig going and even financed the entire budget for 1 year, ABC7 reported.
The Dursts have the approval of the Williams’ family and San Francisco’s Park and Recreation Department. They are now seeking political and financial support. The couple would need to get approval from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and raise over $100,000 to cover the cost of changing the signs in the park.
Those interested in the fundraising efforts can donate by texting “Robin” on their cellphone or go to text.gives/robin. The campaign has raised about $980.
The Waldo Tunnel on Highway 101 north, just outside the city, was renamed to honor Williams earlier this year – due in part to the tunnel’s rainbow design, which emulates that of the rainbow suspenders on Williams’ first major television character, Mork, on the series “Mork and Mindy.”
San Francisco News reached out to San Francisco’s Park and Recreation Department, but did not receive a comment before print.
