San Francisco officially opens popular Golden Gate Park spot named after famous former American comedian

Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-17 07:59:24|Editor: mmm
Video PlayerClose

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- San Francisco Park authorities Sunday officially opened to public the popular grassy spot named after famous late American comedy legend Robin Williams, who was also a native of the San Francisco Bay Area.

The spot on the east end of Golden Gate Park, which was previously called Sharon Meadow, was officially named Robin Williams Meadow to honor the late comic after the sign bearing Williams' name was up and unveiled on the inauguration day of the 38th Annual Comedy Day held in the park.

The meadow, which was used as an emergency hospital during the 1906 earthquake and fire, now serves as the site for events including the Easter Eggstravaganza and Comedy Day.

The free event, which began in 1981 at Golden Gate Park's Music Concourse, has since been moved to the meadow next to the Sharon Building in the park.

Williams was a supporter and frequent performer at Comedy Day, and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission voted last December to rename the wide, grassy lawn in Golden Gate Park to Robin Williams Meadow in his honor.

The Williams grassy spot is home to the biggest single-day comedy event of the year in San Francisco, which opened Sunday noon for the annual five-hour free comedy show featuring more than 40 local comedians.

"Celebration of all that is right in parks, community, and laughter and joy, and there's not enough of it in the world, so this is a really really good thing to do," Phil Ginsburg, general manager of San Francisco Creation and Park Commission told local KRON4 TV news outlet.

Williams, who has been known for his high-energy oddball standup routines and various roles in TV shows and movies, committed suicide in August 2014 at the age of 63.

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011100001374730051