San Francisco officials on Saturday opened a newly upgraded recreation center in Chinatown named in honor of flight attendant killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The Betty Ann Ong Chinese Recreation Center, a $21 million, 24,234 square foot facility, replaces a 22,000 square foot center built in 1951. The heavily used, aging facility was one of those targeted for upgrades in the Clean and Safe neighborhood Park Bond approved by voters in 2008.
The facility provides improved accessibility and a partially replaced, fully renovated recreation center, indoor gym, repairs and renovation of the basketball court and children’s play area, restoration of pathways and upgrades to infrastructure.
Officials buried a time capsule in the project in September 2011.
Betty Ann Ong grew up in Chinatown, attended San Francisco public schools and played at the Chinatown Recreation Center. She was a flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston bound for Los Angeles, and was one of the first people to call to report the highjackings of Sept. 11, 2001.
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