Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced the second annual Chinatown Sunday Streets and Chinatown Ping Pong Tournament this Sunday, August 26th. The event is the second Sunday Streets along Grant Avenue, and a reprise of portions of the inaugural Sunday Streets route in 2008 that connected Chinatown to the Embarcadero along Washington Street.

“San Francisco is proud to have Sunday Streets back in Chinatown showcasing our City’s commitment to sustainability, innovation and the health of our residents,” said Mayor Lee. “I’m excited to take part in the annual Ping Pong Tournament as we continue this creative initiative that transforms public space and brings our communities together.”

“San Francisco residents, merchants and visitors have enthusiastically embraced Sunday Streets and are consistently asking us for more of these kinds of programs,” said SFMTA Director of Transportation Edward D. Reiskin. “These events are a great way to explore areas of the city by foot, bike and transit.”

Community leaders are organizing the second annual Chinatown Ping Pong Tournament to celebrate this iconic sport and provide opportunities for Sunday Streets visitors to watch champions compete and participate in free play following the tournament in Portsmouth Square.

“Community Youth Center is excited to have the opportunity to be involved with the Second Annual Chinatown Ping Pong Tournament,” said Community Youth Center Executive Director Sarah Wan. “Our participation last year was a highlight for our youth volunteers who were able to see ping pong players compete and demonstrate their skills. It was also a chance for the youth to show pride in a sport that is deeply rooted in their culture and history, and to see how San Francisco and the world has embraced it as a sport as well.”

In a departure from last year’s “Walking Street” version of Sunday Streets, bicycles and people-powered wheels of all kinds are welcomed and encouraged. The route travels east from Grant Avenue along historic Jackson Street and Washington Avenue to reach the Embarcadero where participants can access the Embarcadero bikeway along the picturesque San Francisco Bay to reach the northern waterfront where the America’s Cup World Series Final races will be concluding.

The August 26th Chinatown event is the eighth of ten planned Sunday Street events in the 2012 season. Event hours are 11AM to 4PM. The Ping Pong Tournament at Portsmouth Square starts at 8AM and will conclude by 12:30PM, when free play in Portsmouth Square will be open until 2PM for anyone that would like to play.

Other activities along the route:
· Ping Pong tournament by Chinatown Community Development Center, Community Youth Center, and Lawton Ping Pong Club
· Tai Chi Classes by Chinese Shaolin Center
· Children’s activities by Kai Ming Head Start, Chinatown YMCA and St. Mary’s Chinese Day School
· Art activities, face painting and sidewalk chalk by Nexus ArtReach Art Collective and Girls on the Run
· Children’s bike safety rodeo presented by Wheel Kids
· Project Vega Soccer
· Live music by Rin Tin Tiger and Against Leo
· Circus Center
· Kids Cooking For Life
· “Freedom From Training Wheels” by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
· An Exploratorium interactive display previewing their 2013 grand opening at Pier 15
· Free bicycle rentals from ParkWide LLC
· Zumba dance workout

Sunday Streets is a program of Livable City and presented by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. The 2012 season is co-presented by Bank of America. Additional support is provided by AT&T, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Blue Shield of California, Kaiser Permanente, Mike’s Bikes, Recology, REI, Shape Up SF, Sports Basement, United Healthcare Workers West and the University of California at San Francisco.

Major resources and support for Sunday Streets comes from the City & County of San Francisco, the Mayor’s Office, the San Francisco Police Department, the Department of Public Works, the Department of Public Health, the Recreation and Parks Department, the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter and City CarShare. Free bike rentals are provided by Parkwide LLC and Recology waste management services. Media sponsors include the San Francisco Examiner and Clear Channel Radio. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition manages Sunday Streets’ volunteer program.

Final Sunday Streets events of the 2012 season will include the Western Addition/N. Panhandle/Alamo Square on September 9th and the Outer Mission/Excelsior, a new neighborhood and route, on October 21st.

For more information on this signature San Francisco event which draws thousands into the streets for car-free recreation, go to www.SundayStreetsSF.com. To volunteer, go to www.sundaystreetssf.com/volunteer. For information on Muni routes and vehicle access, call 311 or go to www.sfgov.org/311.