Join us for the graduation of our 2019 Greenagers class as we celebrate their accomplishments in the community over the past year! The program offers teens from San Francisco a chance to play an important role in the community by improving our city’s green spaces and raising awareness. The event takes place on Saturday, January 25 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Lake Merced Boathouse (1 Harding Road). The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow. To RSVP, click here.

Interested in giving back this New Year? Volunteer with us and the Northern California Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Foundation in celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and day of service at our park sites! See the list below:

1/16/20: Dolores Park from 10 a.m. to noon.

1/18/20: Bayview Playground/MLK Pool from 9 a.m. to noon.

1/18/20: La Grande Community Garden with the Mission Continues from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

1/18/20: Visitacion Valley Greenway from 10 a.m. to noon.

To volunteer or for more information, please contact our volunteer division at recparkvolunteer@sfgov.org or by phone at (415) 831-6884.

Join SF Recreation & Park along with other City agencies (SF Department of Human Resources, SF Airport (City ad non-City Airport jobs), Sheriff’s Department, Controllers’ Office, SF Fire, SF Police, Library, MUNI, Public Health, PUC, Human Services’ JOBS Now, SF Unified School District, and with local community organizations.) to find out about job opportunities in the City. We can help participants register in the City’s application system.
We will also have the nearby Community Based Organizations providing job training information and their own job opportunities. If you have any questions, please email RPD_recruitment@sfgov.org or (415)831-2726.
Information is also available on Eventbrite
Saturday, 10 am to 1 pm

City Job Fairs 2020 QR Code

Joseph Lee Recreation Center January 4, 2020
1395 Mendell Street (Entrance also on Oakdale)

Hamilton Recreation Center January 18, 2020
1900 Geary Boulevard (Cross street Steiner)

County Fair Building January 25, 2020
1199 9th Avenue (entrance to Golden Gate Park)

The City and County of San Francisco is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

SAN FRANCISCO – Joy and neighborhood pride flowed in Boeddeker Park this evening as city leaders joined residents and community groups at the 2^nd Annual Tenderloin People’s Holiday Tree Lighting.

State Senator Scott Wiener, Mayor London N. Breed, and District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney led the countdown to the tree lighting at the event, which featured a visit by Santa and performances by collaborative arts ensemble Skywatchers; carolers from Glide Memorial Church known as the Glidettes;  Tenderloin Filipino Community Association dancers; and the Tenderloin Chinese Rights Association Choir. Ornaments crafted by neighborhood seniors and children adorned the tree, representing the many faiths of the Tenderloin.

“It was a privilege to join the Tenderloin People’s Holiday Tree Lighting,” said Senator Wiener. “This is one of my favorite events of the year, where the Tenderloin community comes together for the holidays at Boeddeker Park. It’s great to see everyone celebrating together in the neighborhood.”

“For the past two years, this tree lighting celebration has been a symbol of the Tenderloin’s strength, resilience, and cultural vibrancy,” said Mayor Breed. “Boeddeker Park is a cornerstone of the Tenderloin and provides a safe space for people to get outside, get to know their neighbors, and host great community-building events like tonight’s tree lighting. I want to thank all the organizations and residents who made this event possible, and who advocate for their community all year long.”

The tradition started as an item in the Tenderloin People’s Congress Vision 2020 plan, which detailed Tenderloin residents’ priorities for neighborhood improvements. Today, the Tenderloin People’s Congress leads the joint community event with partners the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, Z Zoul Café, the Tenderloin Community Benefit District, Hospitality House, the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation, the Boys and Girls Club, and the YMCA.

“The Tenderloin is without a doubt the heart of San Francisco, and the Tenderloin Holiday Tree Ceremony event speaks to the incredible passion, strength, and diversity of all the people who make this neighborhood so special,” said Supervisor Haney. “I am incredibly proud to be a resident of the Tenderloin, and grateful to all the community partners who have worked so hard to make this event a success; making sure that everyone in the Tenderloin has a place to celebrate the holidays.”

The ceremony is held at the nearly 1-acre Boeddeker Park, a community hub and green oasis in the city’s densest neighborhood. The park, named after a beloved neighborhood pastor, reopened in 2014 after a $9.3 renovation that included a 4,300 square foot clubhouse, play areas for children and toddlers, a full sized basketball court, fitness equipment, a walking path, outdoor plaza, and performance area.  The park and its clubhouse offer youth programming through the Boys and Girls Club and YMCA, as well as programs such as parenting classes, peer wellness, art therapy and senior activities.

Boedekker was named among the most well-maintained parks in San Francisco by a Controller’s Office report released this week.

“The renovation of Boeddeker Park has been nothing short of transformational,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “It is incredible to see the space flourishing and neighbors coming together to celebrate the season. Parks make communities safer, healthier, and happier.”

In the Tenderloin, where not everyone has money for a tree or space to keep one, Boeddeker Park’s tree belongs to everyone.

“This holiday tree and celebration is just an outward symbol of what folks from the Tenderloin already know.  There is a really connected community of diverse, vibrant and active people living and working together in our neighborhood.  People in the TL tend to know each other and look out for each other and when we come together, things like the Tenderloin People’s Holiday Tree are the result.  And this tree brings such light and joy to everyone and is meant to be a gift to the entire neighborhood,” said Tenderloin resident and Co-Chair of the Tenderloin People’s Congress Curtis Bradford.

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SAN FRANCISCO –San Francisco’s parks were better maintained across the city over the past fiscal year, with less disparity between neighborhoods and continued improvements to formerly lower scoring properties, according to a Controller’s Office report released today.

Overall, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department met 92 percent of its park maintenance standards in fiscal year 2018-2019, the latest Park Maintenance Standards Annual Report found. The score represents a three point increase from the previous two years and a six point increase over four years. It also exceeds its target, which was set by the City at 90 percent.

The report also showed continued dramatic improvements in the conditions of formerly low scoring parks.  In 2015, the lowest scoring park was 60 percent. In 2019, that score climbed 17 percentage points to 77 percent.

“All San Franciscans deserve clean, safe and well maintained public spaces. It’s key to San Francisco remaining a livable city and essential to the health of its residents,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “While there is always more to do, I’m very pleased that our high standards and commitment to equity are resulting in better parks for everyone each year.”

Parks in “equity zones” neighborhoods, defined by the State of California as having the highest concentration of residents exhibiting one or more vulnerable population characteristics, also continued to improve. Overall, equity zone parks received an average of 91 percent, a three point rise from the previous year.  Over 61 percent of Rec and Parks’ capital dollars are invested in equity zones, which comprise 20 percent of the city’s park acreage.

The city’s top-ranking 10 properties in this year’s report, with 98 to 99 percent scores, include Boeddeker Park in the Tenderloin; Betty Ann Ong Chinese Recreation Center in Chinatown; Cottage Row Mini Park in Japantown; Maritime Plaza in the Financial District; Argonne Playground, Fulton Playground and Dupont Courts in the Richmond District, Hyde-Vallejo Minipark in Nob Hill; Michelangelo Playground in Russian Hill; and Lafayette Park in Pacific Heights.

The highest ranking park features across the board were trees, outdoor courts, and ornamental beds, with overall maintenance rankings of 93 percent. Restrooms received a 92 percent score.

The condition of many of the top ranking and most improved parks has been partly due to an infusion of bond and open space money. In 2008, voters approved a $185 million Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond to improve park restrooms and replace dilapidated playfields. In 2012, voters again passed a $195 million general obligation bond to improve infrastructure in neighborhood parks. In 2016, voters approved Proposition B, a charter amendment that extended the city’s Open Space Fund to bring in an estimated $1 billion over 30 years for city parks.

This is the 14^th Park Maintenance Standards Annual Report. Under an amendment passed by voters in 2003, the City Charter requires the Controller’s Office to work with Rec and Parks to establish objective and measurable park maintenance standards and assess them annually. The goal is to reveal how park conditions change from year to year and to uncover the main drivers of change in park conditions to inform Rec and Parks’ operational decisions.

To view the full report, click here. To explore individual properties by year or neighborhood, go to the new public parks maintenance dashboard.

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San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed today announced an illuminated 150-foot observation wheel is among the attractions being planned for Golden Gate Park’s 150^th anniversary in 2020. The wheel will provide riders with sweeping views from the ocean to downtown San Francisco.

The observation wheel will launch on April 4^th, 2020 and operate through March 1^st, 2021. It is planned for Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse, the outdoor plaza near the de Young Museum, the California Academy of Sciences, and the Japanese Tea Garden. The wheel features 36 fully enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas that each seat six passengers. It was previously installed in Louisville, Kentucky’s Waterfront Park; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Norfolk, Virginia. For an image of the wheel, please visit: www.GGP150presskit.com.

“Golden Gate Park is a San Francisco treasure and a place where everybody can enjoy the best that the City has to offer,” said Mayor Breed.  “We want to celebrate the Park and give people a new way to appreciate the beauty of our City during this 150^th anniversary celebration. This observation wheel is just the first of many exciting announcements we will be sharing in the comings months as we get ready for the coming year-long celebration.”

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission is expected to approve an agreement between the Recreation and Park Department and the attraction’s operator, SkyStar Wheel, LLC.  This will be the first time an observation wheel of this scale has operated in San Francisco since Golden Gate Park hosted the Midwinter International Exposition of 1894, where the Firth Wheel was a major attraction, standing at 120 feet and carrying ten people per carriage.

“This 150^th celebration provides an amazing opportunity to tell the story of Golden Gate Park—its past, present and future—and share all our park has to offer,” said Phil Ginsburg, General Manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. “The storied Music Concourse with its spectacular observation wheel will be the center of a yearlong party that connects yesteryear with tomorrow.”

The celebration of “Everybody’s Park” is being organized by the Recreation and Park Department and the San Francisco Parks Alliance. The anniversary events will bring together more than 150 cultural institutions and community groups to pay tribute to Golden Gate Park.

“This celebration will bring San Francisco communities together to be a part of an amazing tribute to Golden Gate Park and celebrate the many attractions within its 1,017 acres that are available to everybody young and old,” said Drew Becher, CEO of San Francisco Parks Alliance.

The yearlong celebration will include major events and attractions, including a free park-wide community celebration on April 4^th—exactly 150 years after the California Legislature created Golden Gate Park. The celebration will bring together thousands of San Franciscans and visitors to experience Everybody’s Park and all that it has to offer for people of all ages and interests.

Mayor Breed will chair the Golden Gate Park 150 Honorary Committee with the Honorable Willie L. Brown Jr., Charlotte Shultz, Nancy Bechtle, Mark Buell and Rodney Fong serving as co-chairs. Institutional partners include the Conservatory of Flowers, de Young Museum, Japanese Tea Garden, National AIDS Memorial, San Francisco Public Library, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco Botanical Garden, San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco Travel, and SPUR. Presenting sponsors include Kaiser Permanente, Paul Simon and Another Planet Entertainment. Additional partners and supporters will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We are eagerly anticipating Golden Gate Park’s celebration, coinciding with our own 125^th  anniversary,” said Thomas Campbell, Director and CEO of the Fine Art Museums of San Francisco. “The park has been an incredible home to the de Young museum for the past 125 years and we eagerly await the opportunity to see it from new heights when the observation wheel opens in 2020. Most importantly, we are proud to continue to offer free admission to all Bay Area residents every Saturday giving visitors to Golden Gate Park the opportunity to enjoy art from around the globe, here in their own backyard.”

The wheel is roughly as tall as the de Young Museum’s observation deck. The 12-minute ride will be $18, or $12 for seniors and children under 13. Rides will be free during the April 4th parkwide celebration.

“At the Academy, we’re committed to connecting people to nature and inspiring a deeper appreciation for our natural world,” said Dr. Scott Sampson, Executive Director of the California Academy of Sciences. “We’re thrilled to celebrate this exciting moment in the history of Golden Gate Park and we hope that San Francisco residents and visitors alike will come explore all that this incredible park has to offer in 2020 and beyond.”

A Golden Gate Park 150 website has been created at www.goldengatepark150.com that provides a guide to the special events, programming, exhibitions, history, amazing stories and the many things to do in the park. Information about the observation wheel in the Music Concourse, along with other events, will be announced in January as part of an official launch event.

In 1870, an act of the State Legislature created the boundaries of Golden Gate Park in western San Francisco. Skeptics said that that park could never be built, but a determined engineer teamed up with a skilled horticulturalist to make the sand dunes bloom, displaying the creativity and can-do spirit that has always been a part of San Francisco. Since that time, it has stood with a growing city as a haven from urban life and a place where San Franciscans have always come together. Today, Golden Gate Park’s 1,017 acres boast 24 million visits each year by those who come from across the city, the nation, and the world to visit its historic institutions, attend concerts, participate in races, and enjoy activities from soccer and lawn bowling to hiking and fly-casting.

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SAN FRANCISCO – Following a countdown led by Mayor London Breed, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department turned on the holiday cheer this evening, along with 550 dancing lights illuminating the city’s official holiday tree.

The 90^th annual Holiday Tree Lighting, a celebration with free activities and live entertainment for San Francisco families, took place at McLaren Lodge, located at the east entrance of Golden Gate Park. Children and their families turned out to decorate cookies, visit with Santa, enjoy food trucks from Off-The-Grid, and dance along to live music.

The lit-up tree, surrounded by a decorative children’s train, is a Monterrey Cypress planted over a century ago by the city’s first park superintendent, John McLaren. Around it, families gathered in Santa’s Workshop for arts and crafts, played interactive games in Imagination Playground, and reveled in the holiday spirit with free carnival games, hockey, and a rock-climbing wall.

A variety of local artists and organizations shared the stage with performances by the Young People’s Teen Musical Theater Company, Project Level, and Youngblood Coleman Dancers. San Francisco Mayor London Breed joined the onstage festivities, along with California Assemblymember Phil Ting, Supervisor Vallie Brown, SFUSD Board President Stevon Cook, San Francisco Recreation and Park Commissioners, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott, San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg, and other city officials.

“For generations, San Francisco families have gathered together under the McLaren Lodge tree in celebration of the winter holidays,” said Mayor Breed. “This 90-year tradition, along with our year-round recreation programming and wonderful parks, is part of what makes raising children in San Francisco so special.”

McLaren, affectionately known as “Uncle John,” was the grandfather of San Francisco’s park system.

“In 1929, John McLaren began the tradition of lighting trees along a mile-long stretch of the Panhandle leading to the tree in front of his home at McLaren Lodge,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Parks General Manager. “Every year we are proud to continue this illuminating family tradition and kick off the holiday season with our fellow San Franciscans.”

Also leading the holiday festivities was Dionne Miller, chief operating officer of Kaiser Permanente San Francisco. Citing shared values and a commitment to healthful living, Kaiser Permanente continues to support the SF Rec and Park through seasonal events and volunteer efforts.

“Kaiser Permanente San Francisco is proud to support San Francisco’s Recreation and Park Department and its 90th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting at McLaren Lodge,” said Miller. “We are strong supporters of the environment and public and private efforts to preserve San Francisco’s natural and urban resources. Kaiser Permanente shares the mission of the department and recognizes the value that open spaces have for the local community in providing a place to gather, play, learn, and thrive.”

The 90th annual Holiday Tree Lighting is part of SF Rec and Parks’ efforts to serve the diverse families in San Francisco. By hosting seasonal citywide family events such as Eggstravaganza in spring, Play Day on the Green in summer, Scaregrove in fall, and Holiday Tree Lighting in winter, SF Rec and Parks makes San Francisco a friendlier place for children and families. For more information about SF Rec and Parks, please visit sfrecpark.org .

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SAN FRANCISCO – Lifetime Activities, a company that runs municipal tennis centers in five Bay Area cities, has been chosen to operate the Golden Gate Park Tennis Center when it opens next year.

San Francisco Recreation and Park commissioners voted unanimously today to authorize the 26-year-old company to enter into an agreement with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department to offer tennis programs for up to eight years at the center, which is currently under construction.

Lifetime Activities runs municipal tennis centers in Cupertino, Pleasanton, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Walnut Creek. It was chosen by a selection committee comprised of experts in public projects, urban recreation, tennis programming and finance.

“The new Golden Gate Park Tennis Center will be one of the best public tennis facilities in the nation, and we are pleased that its day-to-day operations will be managed by an operator with a proven track record of excellence,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg.

SF Rec and Parks, the San Francisco Parks Alliance and the Tennis Coalition of San Francisco broke ground on the Tennis Center renovation in April. When complete, the center will offer 17 new USTA-regulation tennis courts, a sunken court feature and a dedicated pickleball court. New court lights will provide increased playtime for the public while the new clubhouse and classroom will allow SF Rec and Parks to expand the Tennis Learning Center (TLC) its tennis and tutoring program for youth from underserved neighborhoods. The $27 million project is funded almost entirely from private donations.

“ It’s a true honor to be selected as the operator for the Golden Gate Park Tennis Center.  We look forward to serving the community in a manner that preserves the iconic tennis legacy of the past, while facilitating new programs, services and memories for present and future generations,” said Lifetime Activities CEO Dana Gill. “I truly believe that the newly renovated GGPTC, the TLC, and the throngs of tennis enthusiasts will serve as the national model of public facility excellence for years to come.”

Terms of the proposed agreement between SF Rec and Parks and Lifetime Activities can be found here. More information can be found in a staff report here.

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SAN FRANCISCO – Getting onto the courts at Potrero Recreation Center is now a whole new game,  thanks to major improvements that will delight both basketball and tennis players.

About 50 neighborhood kids joined Mayor London N.  Breed, former Mayor Art Agnos, and San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg today for a celebration of the makeover, made possible by a $180,000 gift through San Franciscans for Sports and Recreation. It includes a complete resurfacing of the tennis and basketball courts, along with new nets, backboards and hoops, improved fencing and benches.

“The Potrero Hill Recreation Center is a true community hub, and it’s wonderful to see it shine with these recent improvements,” said Mayor Breed. “Every kid in San Francisco deserves a modern and safe place to play and have fun with their friends. The renovated basketball and tennis courts, along with the new equipment, lighting, and accessible pathways, are an important investment in our youth and the entire Potrero Hill neighborhood.”

San Franciscans for Sports and Recreation has contributed nearly $2 million to public recreation in San Francisco.  The sport courts at Potrero Hill Recreation Center are the 16th and 17th tennis courts and first basketball court resurfaced in the last two years under the grant.

“I played on these courts growing up, and it’s moving to see a new generation enjoy them,” said District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton. “Seeing the excitement of neighborhood families inspires us to keep advocating for more open space and top notch recreation in District 10.”

Potrero Hill Recreation Center is among the city’s most well-used fitness facilities. In addition to the tennis and basketball, it is used by baseball, softball and soccer teams and offers classes in digital arts, dance, Zumba, teen job readiness and more.

“Improvements big and small have a tremendous impact for any community,” Ginsburg said. “It makes people proud of their neighborhood recreation centers and inspires them to keep coming back to play”

For San Franciscans for Sports and Recreation, funding the project at Potrero Hill was a chance to make a difference.

“This project was particularly exciting for us since we had the opportunity to piggyback on top of the improvements to the softball fields and upper area of the center, paid for by a recent bond measure, by funding the improvement to the sport courts in the lower area,” said San Franciscans for Sports and Recreation Executive Director Seth Socolow.  “The result is one of the best recreational facilities anywhere in San Francisco for playing tennis, basketball, softball, as well as other sports.  The view of the San Francisco Bay from the newly resurfaced tennis courts is also take-your-breath-away beautiful.”

San Franciscans for Sports and Recreation and its advisor, former Mayor Agnos, were honored at the event with a bronze plaque at the courts.

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SAN FRANCISCO – A few miles from the whir of construction at the new Golden Gate Park Tennis Center, about 100 elementary school kids were being coached by one of the top tennis players in the world at Hamilton Recreation Center today.

Sloane Stephens, a 2017 U.S. Open champion and advocate for education and wellness, shared her journey to Wimbledon fame with the children from the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s Tennis & Learning Center (TLC)  and fielded questions from the kids.  Later, as the young tennis players practiced drills, Stephens lent her expertise, correcting a stance here, demonstrating a serve there.

The event included another cause to celebrate: upon the completion of the new tennis center in Golden Gate Park in 2020, the TLC program will be able to expand to middle school, serving 60-80 more students from underserved neighborhoods.

Stephens, who has won six WTA singles titles, felt a special connection with the young students in the program.

“I see myself in the TLC kids because I know firsthand how tennis contributes to success off the court,” Stephens said. “There is no better training in problem solving, concentration, and playing fairly. You get good at winning, but more importantly, you learn that failing is just part of learning. I am so excited that they will continue to develop their potential at a world class tennis facility starting next year.”

In April, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department broke ground on its project to transform its 125-year-old Golden Gate Park Tennis Center into one of the best public tennis facilities in the nation. The $27 million project was made possible through a partnership with the San Francisco Parks Alliance and the Tennis Coalition. When complete, the center will offer 17 new USTA-regulation tennis courts, a sunken court feature and a dedicated pickleball court. New court lights will provide increased playtime for the public while the new clubhouse will allow SF Rec and Parks to expand the TLC program.

“Our children deserve to learn and play in great facilities, and that’s what we’re building in Golden Gate Park,” said Mayor London N. Breed. “We hope the next generation of tennis stars will be able to learn about the value of hard work and dedication right here on the new Golden Gate Park courts. By increasing public access to tennis courts and investing in coaches and training programs, we can make it normal for all kids in San Francisco to play tennis if they want to, regardless of their zip code.”

TLC provides one-on-one tutoring, parent engagement, tennis instruction and other support services for a total of 100 elementary students each year at Palega Recreation Center in the Excelsior, in partnership with Hillcrest Elementary;  Hamilton Recreation Center in Western Addition, in partnership with Rosa Parks Elementary; Betty Ann Ong (BAO) Recreation Center in Chinatown, in partnership with Gordon J Lau Elementary; and Youngblood Coleman Playground in Bayview Hunters Point, in partnership with George Washington Carver Elementary.

Each student receives over 10 hours of homework help with additional one-on-one tutoring available three days per week, as well as five hours of tennis instruction per week.  TLC students have made strides in improving their reading levels as well their social-emotional development.

“The TLC program is part of what makes growing up in San Francisco so special,” said SF Rec and Park general manager Phil Ginsburg. “Here we have dedicated coaches who are invested in our children’s future, both on and off the court. With the opening of the new tennis center in 2020, we’ll be able to grow alongside these kids and continue to guide them toward success.”

Event Photos

About the Tennis Learning Center

The TLC is a youth development program that pairs tennis lessons with tutoring for elementary school students from underserved communities throughout the school year and during all school breaks including summer. TLC’s mission is to promote academic achievement, health, wellness, and social-emotional development, through the sport of tennis.

About the Tennis Coalition

The Tennis Coalition promotes San Francisco’s advantage for year-round public tennis by spearheading the renovation of the historic Golden Gate Park Tennis Center and strengthening San Francisco’s tennis community.

About the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department currently manages more than 220 parks, playgrounds and open spaces throughout San Francisco, including two outside city limits—Sharp Park in Pacifica and Camp Mather in the High Sierras. The system includes full-complex recreation centers, swimming pools, golf courses, sports fields and numerous small-to-medium-sized clubhouses that offer a variety of sports- and arts-related recreation programs for people of all ages.  Included in the Department’s responsibilities are Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, the Marina Yacht Harbor, the San Francisco Zoo and Lake Merced. In 2017, San Francisco became the first and only city in the nation where all residents have access to a park within a 10-minute walk, a direct result of the Department’s commitment to increasing and improving parkland in the city.

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]]> https://sstasio.wpengine.com/panhandle-playground-celebrates-renovation/ Wed, 13 Nov 2019 00:04:42 +0000 https://sfrecpark.org/?p=133464 SAN FRANCISCO – With new equipment to spark imagination, fresh surfaces for jumping and running, and innovative features to explore music and sound, the renovated Panhandle Playground opened amid a community celebration today. Children from Stepping Stones Preschool whooshed down one of the playground’s two new slides alongside District 5 … Continue reading →]]>

SAN FRANCISCO – With new equipment to spark imagination, fresh surfaces for jumping and running, and innovative features to explore music and sound, the renovated Panhandle Playground opened amid a community celebration today.

Children from Stepping Stones Preschool whooshed down one of the playground’s two new slides alongside District 5 Supervisor Vallie Brown, and through a ceremonial ribbon to applause from parents, city officials, and neighbors.

“Every child deserves a safe, clean, and welcoming place to play,” said Mayor London N. Breed. “The renovation of the Panhandle Playground is part of our citywide initiative to ensure that every kid in San Francisco has access to a high-quality playground. Thanks to the Recreation and Park Department and the San Francisco Parks Alliance, this playground is a fun and creative space that will be enjoyed by children and their families for years to come.”

Panhandle Playground is among 13 renovations across the city supported by the Let’sPlaySF! campaign, a partnership between the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and the San Francisco Parks Alliance.  The $36 million initiative is leveraging approximately $22 million in public funding with $14.5 million in private support to more quickly transform San Francisco’s most timeworn playgrounds into modern hubs of imaginative play and community connection used by 20,000 children and their parents. Panhandle is the second playground to be completed after Washington Square Playground in North Beach, which opened in January.

The transformed Panhandle Playground includes a sandbox in which children can dig for built-in sea treasures, multiple climbing surfaces, two swing sets, an area for older and younger children, and reservable picnic tables. The use of natural materials like boulders and wood allows the new playground to blend into the area, which is home to 80 species of trees.

“Renovating this playground is one of the best things we can do for the families in our community,” said Brown. “This modernization of one of the city’s oldest playgrounds exhibits the city’s commitment to continuing to serve its families. Community members from different social circles, economic levels, and ages can continue to come together to build new communities around their shared love of this wonderful playground.”

Today’s ceremony also included the unveiling of a memorial bench for Konstantinos “Gus” Vardakastanis, the late owner of Gus’s Community Market who was beloved by the Panhandle community for his generous spirit.

“Parks and playgrounds are essential to the health of neighborhoods,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Play helps children learn to share, negotiate, resolve conflict and develop self-advocacy skills. Welcoming urban spaces allow families to forge strong connections with one another and make neighborhoods safer and more livable.”

Other playgrounds slated for improvement under the Let’sPlaySF! initiative include Merced Heights Playground, Sgt. John Macaulay Park,  Alice Chalmers Playground, John McLaren Park Picnic Area and Playground, Buchanan Street Mall, Golden Gate Heights Park, Herz Playground, Juri Commons, Richmond Playground, Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove and West Portal Playground. All playgrounds were selected by a citizen task force based on presence of unhealthy chemicals in playground wood, with priority given to playgrounds in low income neighborhoods dense with children.

The Let’sPlaySF! campaign is ongoing.

About Let’sPlaySF!

The Let’s Play SF! Campaign is a public-private partnership between the Recreation & Park Department and the San Francisco Parks Alliance to support the renovation of 13 playgrounds across the city. The partners are supplementing $22 million of public funds with $14.5 million of contributions from generous donors to improve San Francisco’s 13 most timeworn playgrounds into dynamic hubs for creativity and family life that are surrounded by 20,000 children.

About the San Francisco Parks Alliance

San Francisco Parks Alliance champions, transforms, and activates parks and public spaces throughout our city through innovative partnerships with community

groups, city government and businesses. We believe that building these partnerships to support parks and public spaces leads to stronger, more cohesive communities,

greater physical and mental wellness, and a more sustainable, equitable urban environment.   For more information, please visit www.sfparksalliance.org.

About the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department currently manages more than 220 parks, playgrounds and open spaces throughout San Francisco, including two outside city limits—Sharp Park in Pacifica and Camp Mather in the High Sierras. The system includes full-complex recreation centers, swimming pools, golf courses, sports fields and numerous small-to-medium-sized clubhouses that offer a variety of sports- and arts-related recreation programs for people of all ages.  Included in the Department’s responsibilities are Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, the Marina Yacht Harbor, the San Francisco Zoo and Lake Merced. In 2017, San Francisco became the first and only city in the nation where all residents have access to a park within a 10-minute walk, a direct result of the Department’s commitment to increasing and improving parkland in the city.

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SAN FRANCISCO – Bayview neighbors, kids, and city officials were celebrating the ground beneath their feet today with the completion of a major overhaul of Silver Terrace Playground’s athletic field.

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department replaced the 13-year-old synthetic turf on the 145,000 square foot field, which hosts a soccer pitch and two baseball diamonds. The new turf has natural cork and sand infill for sustainability and durability. Other improvements include new soccer goals, benches, trash cans, backstops, gates and a drinking fountain with a water bottle filler. Park-goers also greeted accessibility improvements to the Silver Avenue entrance and park restroom.

Bayview United, an SF Rec and Park youth soccer team, held a ceremonial first kick on the new playing field.

“I am so excited by the renovation of Silver Terrace,” said District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton, who was also on  hand. “This park is a true asset for the community. As we push for more open space in the community, we appreciate all the work Rec and Park is doing in the community and with our office.”

The $4.8 million renovation took three months to complete.

“The community has been the driving force behind this renovation,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Silver Terrace is an important hub for young athletes and their fans, as well as a beloved neighborhood gathering space.”

In 2006, Silver Terrace was the second field to be renovated under the Playfields Initiative, a $52 million public-private partnership between the City Fields Foundation and SF Rec and Park.  City Fields Foundation was established by Bob, Bill and John Fisher to help San Francisco upgrade its run-down athletic fields and provide more play space for the city’s 800,000 children and adults. In six years, the initiative renovated 12 athletic fields in six parks with synthetic turf and night lights and reorganized the city’s antiquated field permit system. The efforts added more than 66,000 hours of annual playtime to San Francisco’s parks  and put the city on track to eliminate the deficit of athletic fields for local kids.

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SAN FRANCISCO – Former and current NFL players teamed up with local veterans and their supporters to weed, mulch, plant and build today at the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s Alemany Farm.

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department hosted the day of volunteer service at the city’s largest urban farm. The Huddle for 100 event, the Salute to Service Huddle, was organized by The Mission Continues, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, the NFL, and the 49ers. Activities centered around a healthy lifestyle and fostering a sense of community among local veterans leading up to the 49ers Monday night game on Veteran’s Day. Huddle for 100 is the NFL’s season-long initiative to inspire fans to donate 100 minutes of their time, totaling 100 million minutes in honor of the League’s 100th season.

“Rec and Park has a long history with the 49ers through their former homes at Kezar Stadium and Candlestick Park,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “It is wonderful to host them today at Alemany Farm, where they are giving back to a place that does so much to relieve neighborhood food insecurity while instilling a love of gardening among the community.”

49ers offensive lineman Ben Garland and offensive tackle Daniel Brunskill joined NFL Legends Steven Jackson and Donnie Edwards as they worked in the community garden, paved a path for apple trees, built a community information kiosk, planted native species and removed dead trees.

“We were thrilled to bring our Salute to Service Huddle for 100 event to San Francisco and volunteer alongside veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country,” said Anna Isaacson, NFL senior vice president of social responsibility. “Seeing veterans giving their 100 minutes alongside volunteers, NFL players and Legends is awe-inspiring and we’re proud to have made a difference at Alemany Farm today.”

Veterans and civilian volunteers were led by The Mission Continues, a nonprofit organization that connects veterans with under-resourced communities to improve educational resources, increase access to parks and green spaces, foster neighborhood identity, and more. The Mission Continues is a Bob Woodruff Foundation-NFL Salute To Service grantee.

“Veterans find purpose and social connection through volunteer service,” said Mary Beth Bruggeman, Marine Corps veteran and president of The Mission Continues, “With their expertise and experience, veterans are uniquely positioned to lead alongside others to rebuild our neighborhoods, accelerate the work that’s already been started, empower underserved communities to feel seen and valued, and rekindle a sense of hope and optimism for the future.”

Managed under SF Rec and Park’s Community Gardens Program, Alemany Farm is a 3.5 acre organic farm offers horticulture, volunteer and educational programs.   Recreational gardening at Alemany Farm have been recognized for successes in promoting urban agriculture and reducing food insecurity in the neighborhood. The farm regularly hosts free trainings for the community, including in beekeeping and natural landscapes.

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About the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department currently manages more than 220 parks, playgrounds and open spaces throughout San Francisco, including two outside city limits—Sharp Park in Pacifica and Camp Mather in the High Sierras. The system includes full-complex recreation centers, swimming pools, golf courses, sports fields and numerous small-to-medium-sized clubhouses that offer a variety of sports- and arts-related recreation programs for people of all ages.  Included in the Department’s responsibilities are Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, the Marina Yacht Harbor, the San Francisco Zoo and Lake Merced. In 2017, San Francisco became the first and only city in the nation where all residents have access to a park within a 10-minute walk, a direct result of the Department’s commitment to increasing and improving parkland in the city.

About The Mission Continues

The Mission Continues is a national veterans’ organization dedicated to the empowerment of veterans as community-based leaders. The nonprofit invests in veterans and under-resourced communities, developing new skill sets and equipping a growing veteran volunteer movement with the tools to drive positive change. Their programs in 56 cities across the country deploy veteran volunteers alongside nonprofit partners and community leaders to improve educational resources, increase access to parks and green spaces, foster neighborhood identity, and more. Through this unique service model, veterans are provided opportunities for connection and personal growth while generating visible community impact. To learn more, visit http://www.missioncontinues.org or follow us on Twitter at @missioncontinue.

About the Bob Woodruff Foundation

The Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) was founded in 2006 after reporter Bob Woodruff was hit by a roadside bomb while covering the war in Iraq. Since then, the Bob Woodruff  Foundation has led an enduring call to action for people to stand up for heroes and meet the emerging and long-term needs of today’s veterans. To date, BWF has invested nearly $70 million to Find, Fund and Shape programs that have empowered impacted veterans, service members and their family members, across the nation. For more information, please visit bobwoodrufffoundation.org or follow us on Twitter at @Stand4Heroes.

About NFL Huddle for 100

Visit www.nfl.com/huddlefor100 or follow #NFLHuddleFor100 to get involved and learn more about Huddle for 100. Visit www.nfl.com/100 for more information about the NFL100 campaign.

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For reservations and pricing, please visit click here. 

SAN FRANCISCO – Equestrian enthusiasts can now experience Golden Gate Park on horseback, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today.

Chaparral Ranch will hold its grand opening Saturday in the park’s Bercut Equitation Field, offering trail rides, children’s pony rides, horse camp and riding lessons. Aside from a brief pilot program in 2017, the opening of Chaparral Ranch marks the first horseback riding concession in the park since 2001. The equestrian facility is located on Chain of Lakes Drive East, near John F. Kennedy Drive. The company has provided trail rides to San Francisco families at Camp Mather for the past two years.

As part of its agreement with SF Rec and Park, Chaparral Ranch will offer free visits for San Francisco public schools and underserved communities and make its facility available to local organizations such as therapeutic riding programs for disabled and disadvantaged youth. It will clean up manure every 30 minutes, which will be used for fertilizer in the park.  The program will be reviewed and possibly extended after six months.

“Horses play a big part in Golden Gate Park’s history and we’re thrilled to have them back as our park turns 150,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg said. “Chaparral Ranch’s staff and horses are beloved by our Camp Mather families, and we are looking forward to a new generation of city kids falling in love with riding, nature and our equestrian trails.”

Chaparral Ranch is currently booking trail rides, pony rides and lessons. It will operate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with plans to expand availability in the future.

“It’s an honor to be part of bringing horses back to this park,” said Chaparral CEO Shawn Mott. “The horses seem to bring back a spirit that has been missing.”

Trail rides and lessons range from $40 to a 30 minute ride to $80 for an hour; Pony rides are $15 for 15 minutes, or $1 per minute; Thanksgiving and winter camps are also available.

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SAN FRANCISCO – In April, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department broke ground on its project to transform its 125-year-old Golden Gate Park Tennis Center into one of the best public tennis facilities in the nation. On Thursday, Recreation and Park Commissioners will vote on an operator to handle its day-to-day management when it opens its doors.

The Commission’s Operations Committee will decide whether to authorize Rec and Parks to approve the selection of Lifetime Activities to enter into an agreement with the department to offer tennis programs for up to eight years at the center, which is set to open in Winter 2020. If approved, the matter will then go to the full Commission for a vote.

The operator’s responsibilities include ensuring the new center is welcoming to everyone by balancing the needs of public court rentals, access for SF Rec and Parks’ summer camps and afterschool tutoring program, local high school matches, lessons, clinics, pickleball and special events. It will also offer online court reservations, equipment rentals and refreshments, and perform daily maintenance.

Lifetime Activities was one of two companies to submit bids to SF Rec and Parks after the department issued a request for proposals on Aug. 7, 2018 and held a subsequent meeting with eight potential operators.  It was subsequently chosen by a selection committee comprised of experts in public projects, urban recreation, tennis programming and finance. The company, started in 1993, runs municipal tennis centers in Cupertino, Pleasanton, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Walnut Creek.

SF Rec and Parks, the San Francisco Parks Alliance and the Tennis Coalition of San Francisco kicked off the Tennis Center renovation April 17. When complete, the center will offer 17 new USTA-regulation tennis courts, a sunken court feature and a dedicated pickleball court. New court lights will provide increased playtime for the public while the new clubhouse will allow SF Rec and Parks to expand its youth development and tutoring program to include middle school children from underserved neighborhoods.

Terms of the proposed agreement between SF Rec and Parks and Lifetime Activities can be found here. More information can be found in a staff report here.

Join us on Tuesday, November 19 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Potrero Hill Recreation Center outdoor courts (801 Arkansas Street at the outdoor sport courts) for a special plaque unveiling and celebration of recent improvements to these courts! The event will feature tennis and basketball activities for kids, sports wheelchairs for use, a speaking program at 4:15 p.m. and the plaque unveiling afterwards. A special thanks to San Franciscans for Sports and Recreation, who made this project possible through a generous grant!

SAN FRANCISCO – Amid a community celebration,  the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department broke ground today on a project that will transform Shoreview Park in the Bayview into a well-lit, accessible oasis for children to play and families to gather.

The $3 million renovation, funded mainly through federal and state grants, will include a children’s play area; a picnic area with grills and a shade trellis; a community garden; new landscaping, irrigation and lighting;  outdoor fitness equipment; new seating; and small plazas connected by an accessible pathway. The renovation will be complete in summer 2020.

State Board of Equalization Chair Malia M. Cohen has supported the project since her tenure as District 10 Supervisor.

“This highly anticipated park improvement project is a showcase of what our community can do when we work together to improve our parks,” said Cohen. “This beautiful open space with its new playground and picnic area will enable our families to enjoy a little slice of the great outdoors while in the city.”

“I’m excited about the groundbreaking of Shoreview Park,” said San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton, who grew up in the Bayview, and now represents the neighborhood.  “This renovation has been a long time coming and we continue to be elated about the improvements of our park. Open space and parks represent so much for community and we will continue to improve our parks on the Bayview.”

Rec and Park staff met with the Bayview community to inform their design of the renovated park.

“The feedback from Shoreview Park neighbors was clear,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “They wanted a safe, family-friendly park that retains its natural beauty while offering spaces where people of all ages could socialize, exercise, and hold celebrations.”

The .85 acre property, located at 1 Lilian Street, was constructed by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency in 1979 to serve residents of the newly constructed Shoreview Apartments, a subsidized housing complex with 156 housing units. In the early 2000s, the park fell into disrepair. In 2012, the Redevelopment Agency dissolved. In 2017, the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure transferred Shoreline Park to the Recreation and Park Department. Since it assumed control of the property, Rec and Parks removed the fence around the existing play area, cleaned the sand, repaired the irrigation system and constructed new picnic tables.

The renovation project received a $1.96 million Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It also received a $625,108 California Urban Greening Grant from the California Natural Resources Agency. The Recreation and Park Commission also granted the project $300,000 from the Rec and Park Department’s Open Space Contingency reserves for play structures.

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Join us for a groundbreaking ceremony and community day to celebrate the start of construction on the Shoreview Park renovation project. The event will take place on Wednesday, October 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the park (1 Lillian Court) and will feature lawn games, Zumba, refreshments and a speaking program. The planned improvements to the park include a new playground, picnic area, landscaping, lighting and pathways. For more information about the project, click here.

SAN FRANCISCO – Bicycle and pedestrian advocates joined city officials today to celebrate the last of 13 raised crosswalks installed recently in Golden Gate Park, capping three years of traffic calming measures in the park as part of the city’s Vision Zero initiative.

District 5 Supervisor Vallie Brown helped stripe the new raised crosswalk on John F. Kennedy Drive just east of 8^th Avenue,  along with San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg, San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency Interim Director of Transportation Tom Maguire, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Brian Wiedenmeier and WalkSF Communications Director Marta Lindsey.

The Golden Gate Park Traffic Safety Improvement Project, launched in 2016 following an executive directive from then-mayor Ed Lee, also includes floating red curbs to deter illegal parking in the bikeway along John F. Kennedy Drive, striping treatments to slow turns, speed humps and cushions, hit posts, and median extensions.

“With these new traffic calming measures we have taken another important step forward in ensuring folks are safe when walking and biking in Golden Gate Park,” said Brown. “It’s critical that we build upon this progress and continue to look for additional safety improvements that be installed quickly”

John F. Kennedy Drive is on the city’s Vision Zero High Injury Network, representing the 13 percent of city streets that account for 75 percent of severe and fatal traffic collisions. Since improvements began, the number of vehicles traveling over 30 mph has fallen 42 percent park-wide, according to SFMTA data.

“Speeding is a threat to everyone using the park, whether for recreation or to reach their destination” said Maguire. “By prioritizing safety improvements in the area, we are creating a safer and more inviting space for the city’s largest outdoor landmark.”

City officials plan to continue to implement longer-term solutions  to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe in the park, which sees 26 million visits per year.

“Our work is not done,” said Ginsburg. “We recognize that parks are for people first, and we must prioritize the safety of everyone who comes here to enjoy our gardens, playgrounds, lakes and trails.”

Pedestrian and bicycle advocates also celebrated the improvements, while pledging to continue pressing for safer streets.

“We’re grateful that the improvements made by this project will better the lives of people biking in Golden Gate Park by reducing vehicle speed. To ensure we are proactive and not reactive going forward we must challenge ourselves to do more. And that looks like considering expanding car-free spaces in Golden Gate Park,” said Wiedenmeier.

“We’re so glad to see the new, much-needed street safety improvements just added to Golden Gate Park,” Lindsey said. “These safety fixes will help slow vehicles and better protect everyone who is here to enjoy this incredible park.”

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SAN FRANCISCO – Two second generation saplings—descendants of ginkgo trees that survived the nuclear blast on Hiroshima—were planted at the Japanese Tea Garden today in a ceremony that also honored former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz and Dame Charlotte Malliard Shultz for their advocacy around nuclear disarmament.

United Religions Initiative, a global grassroots interfaith organization, held the ceremonial planting in conjunction with the United Nations’ International Day for Peace (Sept. 21) and its International Day for Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (Sept. 26).

“These trees represent our City’s commitment to the health and safety of our planet,” said San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed. “For generations to come, San Francisco residents and visitors will be able to visit these trees in the Japanese Tea Garden and reflect on the importance of a nuclear-free future.”

The trees join seeds and saplings from the A-bombed trees growing in more than 20 countries as part of the effort for a nuclear-free planet. Green Legacy Hiroshima, a URI Cooperation Circle, shares worldwide the double message of caution and hope that the unique survivor trees of Hiroshima (and ultimately Nagasaki) represent, recalling on the one hand the dangers of arms of mass destruction and nuclear weapons in particular, and on the other hand, the sacred character of mankind and the resilience of nature.

“These trees will stand here as a symbol of abiding peace between our two countries and a symbol of a world free of nuclear weapons,” said President and Founder of URI, The Right Rev. William E. Swing. “So it is fitting that we honor this unique and praiseworthy couple, with trees that have withstood this planet’s hottest test.  The George and Charlotte Shultz Peace Grove of the Japanese Tea Garden will stand tall in San Francisco.”

The Japanese Tea Garden, located in Golden Gate Park, is the oldest public Japanese garden.

“We are honored to have these survivor trees grow and thrive here in this special place for the Japanese American community and all San Franciscans,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “They will stand not only for peace, but as a living honor to George and Charlotte Shultz and their work around disarmament.”

URI is a global grassroots interfaith network that cultivates peace and justice by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities and the world.  Local groups called Cooperation Circles connect to a global network that amplifies impact. URI’s network comprises 1018 Cooperation Circle in 108 countries.

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission voted unanimously today to rename Julius Kahn Playground to “Presidio Wall Playground.”

The organizations Chinese for Affirmative Action and the Chinese Historical Society drove the renaming efforts. Public comment at today’s meeting included individuals personally affected by the Chinese Exclusion Act, which Julius Kahn was instrumental in extending.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors last year voted to remove Kahn’s name from the playground.

Join us this Saturday, September 21 from 1 to 3 p.m. to celebrate the beginning of construction at West Portal Playground (Ulloa and Lenox streets.) This project is a part of the Let’sPlaySF! campaign, a partnership between SF Rec and Parks and the San Francisco Parks Alliance, that promises to transform 13 timeworn play areas used by 20,000 children in neighborhoods across the city.

The event will feature a speaking program at 1:30 p.m, along with food, games and fun! Come by and meet your neighbors outside!

SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco’s playgrounds are getting a major boost thanks to a $1.6 million contribution by Kaiser Permanente to the LetsPlaySF! campaign, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today.

The LetsPlaySF! campaign, a partnership between SF Rec and Parks and the San Francisco Parks Alliance, promises to transform 13 timeworn play areas used by 20,000 children in neighborhoods across the city.  Kaiser Permanente’s contribution represents one of the largest commitments to LetsPlaySF!

“The mission of San Francisco Rec and Parks to ensure all communities and families thrive regardless of socioeconomic status resonated strongly with ours at Kaiser Permanente,” said Janet Liang, president, Kaiser Permanente Northern California. “Outdoor play is essential for total health and we are proud to create welcoming and safe gathering places for laughter, joy and exercise through these re-furbished and new spaces in local neighborhoods. Gathering places such as playgrounds strengthen families, and community bonds.”

Washington Square Playground in North Beach, the first to undergo a transformation, re-opened in January.  Rec and Parks has broken ground at five more locations—the Panhandle Playground, Alice Chalmers Playground in the Outer Mission, McLaren Playground and group picnic area in the Excelsior-Portola neighborhood, Merced Heights Playground, and Sgt. Macaulay Playground in the Tenderloin.

Construction on the remaining seven playgrounds will take place from late 2019 to 2021. Those include the Buchanan Street Mall in the Western Addition, Golden Gate Heights Park, Herz Playground in Visitacion Valley, Juri Commons in the Mission, Richmond Playground, Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove, and West Portal Playground.

The campaign aims to supplement $22 million in public funds with $14.5 million in donor contributions.

The playgrounds were selected by a citizen task force based on presence of unhealthy chemicals in playground wood, with priority given to playgrounds in low-income neighborhoods dense with children.

“LetsPlaySF is truly about equity,” said SF Rec and Parks General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Every child in San Francisco deserves top notch, creative neighborhood playgrounds to exercise their bodies and imaginations.”

Studies have linked access to parks and playgrounds to youth and family wellness. Growing research also speaks to the impact of exercise on brain development. Children living in neighborhoods without a park or playground are 26 percent more likely to be obese. Play also helps children forge strong connections with one another through learning to share, negotiate, resolve conflicts, and develop self-advocacy skills.

“We’re grateful to Kaiser for helping us transform the 13 highest need playgrounds across San Francisco. With their support, 20,000 children will have access to safe, welcoming and inspiring playgrounds—a necessity for any healthy neighborhood,” said Drew Becher, CEO of San Francisco Parks Alliance.

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The Bay Area Photographers Collective (BAPC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to peer learning and a diversity of photographic styles, will present its 20th Anniversary Exhibition Marking Time at the Harvey Milk Photo Center Gallery in San Francisco from September 26 through October 26, 2019.  At the Opening Reception on September 26 from 6 to 8 p.m, the public can meet the artists and hear an introduction to the exhibition by its curator Meg Shiffler, Galleries Director, San Francisco Arts Commission. 

Marking Time represents this moment in BAPC’s 20-year journey, featuring the work of the twenty-one current members. “A photograph provides us with the closest thing we have to a pin in time–a precise moment that nanoseconds later is lost in the sea of the past,” explains Shiffler. “Stepping into the exhibition will bring viewers into a time capsule representing today–our relationships to each other, the world, and photography.” 

To honor BAPC’s history, the photographs of several BAPC founders will also be on display, along with a timeline of BAPC’s evolution through two decades of photographic, technological, and social change in the Bay Area and beyond. “With this exhibition, we’re thrilled to celebrate BAPC’s strength at 20 and its roots in the vision of the early members. This strength lets us keep expanding our activities and reach, such as our taking exhibits to Japan in both 2018 (Photo Yokohama) and 2019 (Kyotographie),” said Cindy Stokes, President of BAPC. For more information, click here. 

SAN FRANCISCO – Officials have confirmed two mountain lion sightings in San Francisco since Aug. 21, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today.

SF Rec and Parks, working with Animal Care & Control and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, posted signs at Golden Gate Park, where a mountain lion was spotted in the park’s west end on Tuesday, and Lake Merced, where a sighting was reported Aug. 21.  Neither report describes aggressive behavior by the big cat toward humans, which is extremely rare.

Mountain lions are quiet, solitary animals that avoid people. According to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, there have been only 16 verified mountain lion attacks on humans in California since 1890, six of them fatal. The last documented attack occurred in 2014 in Santa Clara County.

It is normal for mountain lions to come and go from natural areas, including in San Francisco. Chances are high that these animals have, or soon will, move out of the area.

Report any mountain lion sighting in San Francisco to 311. Out of an abundance of caution, keep a close eye on small children in areas where mountain lions have been spotted, keep pets on leash, and avoid hiking, biking or jogging alone, especially at dawn, dusk and night, when the cats are most active.

California Fish and Wildlife offers the following tips if you come face to face with a mountain lion:

• Do not approach
• Do not run; instead, face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving your arms
• Throw rocks or other objects
• Pick up small children

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SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission’s Operations Committee today voted to recommend “Presidio Wall Playground” replace the name of the current Julius Kahn Playground.

Presidio Wall was the top vote-getter during the public outreach process. It awaits final approval by the full commission during its Sept. 19 meeting.  The majority of community members favored a geographic name for the Presidio Heights site and also considered the name West Pacific Playground.

Members of the organizations Chinese for Affirmative Action and the Chinese Historical Society have driven renaming efforts and were attendance at today’s meeting. Julius Kahn was instrumental in extending the racist Chinese Exclusion Act in 1902.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors last year voted to remove Kahn’s name from the playground.

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SAN FRANCISCO – Revamped athletic fields, new sports equipment, improved lighting and accessible pathways were among the major improvements unveiled by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department today at the Potrero Hill Recreation Center.

The $5.5 million renovation also included a new irrigation system, new landscaping, concrete retaining walls, curbs, stairs, resurfacing of the center’s tennis and basketball courts and new light poles to illuminate the path of parents walking children to school. Approximately $4.1 million in funding was provided through the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond.

The changes were met with a celebration involving local youth, city officials and neighborhood groups such as the Potrero Annex Tenants Association and Friends of Potrero Hill Rec Center.

“I remember coming up to the Potrero Hill Rec Center at a young age and playing basketball and watching my older cousins on the court,” said San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton.  “It’s exciting to see the new playground and now the updates to all of the fields makes it even more exciting for young people and families to utilize. We will continue to fight for more open space and more modern recreation facilities in District 10.”

The improvements are the latest in what has become the site’s complete overhaul over the past 12 years. Its upper playground area reopened in October 2011 after extensive work on the softball field, tot lot and picnic areas. Its lower playground received a complete renovation and was reopened in August of 2007.  Funding came from the 2004 Revenue Bond.

“The Potrero Hill Recreation Center is a cherished community hub for neighbors to gather and children to play,” said Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “We will continue to invest in this incredible resource that has something for everyone.”

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SAN FRANCISCO – Local children, seniors and—yes—snakes will be among the beneficiaries of state conservation grants totaling more than $400,000, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today.

SF Rec and Park’s McLaren Park Visitacion Avenue Corridor Trail and Sharp Park Garter Snake Habitat Restoration were among the 26 park projects across the state recently awarded $4.1 million in California Habitat Conservation Fund grants. The competitive program, funded by the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990, helps local agencies protect, restore, and enhance wildlife habitat to maintain California’s quality of life.

The McLaren Park Visitacion Avenue Corridor Trail Project, which received $207,000, will improve access to McLaren Park by constructing a ¼ mile pedestrian and bicycle trail that connects the Visitacion Valley neighborhood to the park’s interior trail system. Points of access include Visitacion Valley Middle School and multiple streets.

The new trail dramatically improves access to more than 1,000 residents who do not have cars, including seniors who attend tai chi classes at the McLaren Park tennis courts and students at Visitacion Valley Middle School. Native plantings, interpretive signs and habitat restoration will transform the area into an oasis for children to experience nature.  The state grant will be used to construct approximately 1,400 feet of multi-use trail with 7,000 square feet of trail surfacing.

The San Francisco Garter Snake, one of North America’s most beautiful snakes and on the federal list of endangered species, is also benefitting from an infusion of funding. The Sharp Park Garter Snake Habitat Restoration Project received $200,500 to restore 1 acre of habitat with invasive plant removal and native plantings. Sharp Park is in Pacifica but is managed by the SF Rec and Parks. At just under 400 acres, its natural area encompasses coastal wetlands, coastal scrub, forest, and grasslands and it serves as an important wildlife habitat.

Historically, the San Francisco Garter Snake could be found throughout San Mateo County.  Currently, it lives only in small, disconnected patches within San Mateo County, including Sharp Park.  Cape ivy, mustard radish and teasel are among the invasive species to be removed by hand under the supervision of a biological monitor due to the sensitivity of the habitat. Native plants propagated at the Golden Gate Park nursery will be replanted in the area.

“Healthy parks are essential to our well-being—that goes for everyone in the ecosystem, from gardeners to garter snakes,” said SF Rec and Parks General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “We are grateful to the California Department of Parks and Recreation for supporting our vision for both people and wildlife.”

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]]> https://sstasio.wpengine.com/due-south-concert-series-to-be-held-at-mclaren-park/ Fri, 16 Aug 2019 18:23:35 +0000 https://sfrecpark.org/?p=131241 SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, San Francisco Parks Alliance, District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai, and Noise Pop are excited to announce the inaugural season of the Due South Concert Series.  Due South is a new series of free concerts made possible by the City of … Continue reading →]]>

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, San Francisco Parks Alliance, District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai, and Noise Pop are excited to announce the inaugural season of the Due South Concert Series.  Due South is a new series of free concerts made possible by the City of San Francisco, District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai, and SF Rec & Parks.

The concerts will be held at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in San Francisco’s McLaren Park on Saturday, August 24 and Saturday, September 7 from 3-6 p.m. both days.  The series will feature a diverse lineup of contemporary talent that reflects the local neighborhoods and populations of the city’s southern districts neighboring the park.

The kick-off concert will feature the Latin folk-infused electronica of Mexican Institute of Sound and the ambient cosmic pop songsmith Helado Negro.  Mexico City DJ and Producer Camilo Lara is the driving force behind Mexican Institute of Sound, who have built an international reputation and fanbase through an infectious mix of vintage Mexican pop and traditional music with modern loops and beats. Helado Negro is the current moniker of Brooklyn-based Ecuadorian-American producer and songwriter Robert Carlos Lange, whose lyrically personal and political avant pop music explores the expressivity within intense states of being, Latinx identity, and pluralistic sensibilities.

San Francisco-based producer Giraffage and lush electronica artist Astronautica will hit the stage for the second concert of the series. A son of Taiwanese immigrants, Giraffage (Charlie Yin) started posting his self-produced projects online in 2009 and quickly struck a chord with listeners and music blogs alike. Drawing from a wide crop of sonic cues including R&B and ‘70s Japanese techno-pop, Giraffage makes dreamy synth-pop that has seen international stages with Porter Robinson, Phantogram, and Flume. Edrina Martinez, aka Astronautica, channels the eclectic sounds of LA’s experimental scene and its web of global imprints. With elements of indie, EDM, and hip hop, Astronautica and her celestial beats have become a respected staple in the underground electronic community.

“I am honored to help make this community vision a reality,” said Supervisor Ahsha Safai, “It is about time the whole city discovered what a gem the Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre truly is through great music. I look forward to helping usher in a new generation of San Francisco residents who make McLaren Park and the Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre a regular stop for community events and concerts.”

McLaren Park is the city’s second-largest park, located near the southern border of San Francisco. This hidden gem features immense natural areas of scenic meadows, grassland and wetland habitat, and more than 7 miles of trails throughout 312 acres of native plants and wildlife. Established in 1927, the park is named for John McLaren, the ‘grandfather of Golden Gate Park.’

“From Outside Lands, to Stern Grove to Due South – music and parks go hand and hand,” said Phil Ginsburg, General Manager of San Francisco’s Recreation and Park Department.  “We are thrilled to bring great music to McLaren Park.”

Jerry Garcia Amphitheater is a Greek-style outdoor concert theater with outstanding acoustics and facilities. Originally created in 1970 by SF Rec and Parks, it was renamed in 2005 in honor of the Grateful Dead icon, who grew up in the nearby Excelsior neighborhood. The Amphitheater has a capacity of approximately 2,500 attendees, and has hosted many community and music events including the annual Jerry Day concert since 2002.

“Jerry Garcia Amphitheater and McLaren Park are amazing, under-appreciated spaces that deserve to be recognized and experienced by all of San Francisco,” says Noise Pop founder Kevin Arnold. “It’s a privilege to work with the Parks Alliance, Rec & Parks, and the City of SF to bring relevant, contemporary free music programming to this amazing space and the community.”

Expect afternoons full of music, food and drinks, and fun in the sun – all in one of SF’s most beautiful natural settings. Due South will celebrate the unique character and beauty of the park and neighborhood and help to preserve and sustain other community spaces by donating a portion of the proceeds to the San Francisco Parks Alliance.  Also on hand will be representatives of Friends of the AMP/Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre, who produce regular community music events including this year’s Live from the AMP series. They work closely with a wide group of neighborhood and park advocates, including the McLaren Park Collaborative, Help McLaren Park, Save McLaren Park, FACE, EDIA, Excelsior Collaborative and OMMRA.

“We are excited to build on the success of the surrounding community groups who have championed this park for many years,” says Drew Becher, CEO of the San Francisco Parks Alliance. “We are also thrilled to bring more recognition to the second largest city park in San Francisco.”

RSVP online at dothebay.com/due-south to be entered to win reserved premium seating and special prizes at each concert. Due South VIP Packages including premium seating and a drink from the bar are now available for purchase with Parks Alliance Membership.

Stay tuned for more information on the full series line up and upcoming events soon!

Due South is produced by SF Parks Alliance and Noise Pop Presents in partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. Special thanks to the City of San Francisco and our sponsors for their support in making this series possible.

 Due South Concert Series Dates:

8/24: Mexican Institute of Sound and Helado Negro

9/7: Giraffage with Astronautica

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Additional Contacts:

Charlie McCone, San Francisco Parks Alliance: charlie@sfparksalliance.org

Lamont Harper, Noise Pop: lamont@noisepop.com

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department has been selected to receive a $30,000 play space grant from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and The Walt Disney Company.

Rec and Parks will use the funding toward the current renovation of Alice Chalmers Playground in the Outer Mission. This investment supports NRPA and Disney’s combined goal of providing one million kids and families with greater access to play.

Part of the national Meet Me at the Park Play Spaces grant program, park and recreation agencies across the country were invited to share their best ideas on increasing access to play spaces for children and families in their communities. Agencies with the most innovative and effective project ideas were chosen to receive $30,000 grants to build their projects.

The Alice Chalmers Playground renovation began in April and is estimated to be complete in December. It is one of 13 timeworn city playgrounds to be transformed through the Let’sPlaySF! campaign, a partnership between the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and the San Francisco Parks Alliance. The design approach for Alice Chalmers Playground references the rocky coastline of California and gives kids a tactile and active play experience. The playground culminates in a large fort structure that will offer commanding views and foster a creative and imaginary type of play experience.

“Every child in every neighborhood deserves a safe, creative place to exercise their bodies and imaginations,” said SF Rec and Parks General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “We are grateful to the NRPA and The Walt Disney Company for investing in the power of play and the vision of urban playgrounds as modern town squares where families bond and connect.”

Studies have linked access to parks and playgrounds to youth and family wellness. Growing research also speaks to the impact of exercise on brain development. Children living in neighborhoods without a park or playground are 26 percent more likely to be obese. Play also helps children forge strong connections with one another through learning to share, negotiate, resolve conflicts, and develop self-advocacy skills. “NRPA is proud to collaborate with The Walt Disney Company to help more children and families experience the benefits of play,” said Kellie May, NRPA vice president of programs. “By increasing access to play spaces, this program will also provide unique activities tailored to the local community that support healthy lifestyles.”

To learn more about Meet Me at the Park, visit nrpa.org/meetmeatthepark. To learn more about Let’sPlaySF!, visit sfparksalliance.org/lets-play-sf

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The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department currently manages more than 220 parks, playgrounds and open spaces throughout San Francisco, including two outside city limits—Sharp Park in Pacifica and Camp Mather in the High Sierras. The system includes full-complex recreation centers, swimming pools, golf courses, sports fields and numerous small-to-medium-sized clubhouses that offer a variety of sports- and arts-related recreation programs for people of all ages.  Included in the Department’s responsibilities are Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, the Marina Yacht Harbor, the San Francisco Zoo and Lake Merced.In 2017, San Francisco became the first and only city in the nation where all residents have access to a park within a 10-minute walk, a direct result of the Department’s commitment to increasing and improving parkland in the city.

San Francisco Parks Alliance champions, transforms, and activates parks and public spaces throughout our city through innovative partnerships with community groups, city government and businesses. We believe that building these partnerships to support parks and public spaces leads to stronger, more cohesive communities, greater physical and mental wellness, and a more sustainable, equitable urban environment.   For more information, please visit www.sfparksalliance.org.

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social

equity. Through its network of over 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.

SAN FRANCISCO – Phil Ginsburg, general manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department for the past decade, will bring his expertise to the state park system as well.

Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Ginsburg, 52, to the California State Park and Recreation Commission, the governor’s office announced Tuesday afternoon. Ginsburg will continue to lead SF Rec and Parks, a position he has held since 2009.

The California State Park and Recreation Commission is responsible for approving plans and establishing policies of state parks; guiding the director of state parks in the administration, protection, and development of California’s park system; and recommending a comprehensive recreation policy for the state.

“I am honored by the Governor’s nomination. I pledge to use my decade of experience running San Francisco’s world class urban park system to support our amazing state parks with a focus on stewardship, equity and access,” Ginsburg said.

Under Ginsburg’s leadership, San Francisco became the first city in the U.S. where 100 percent of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. During his tenure, San Francisco has consistently ranked one of the nation’s top five park systems.  He has led his organization through transformational improvements to the public realm and made equity and increasing access to public recreation and to nature, the department’s primary objective.  He has built a financially sustainable model for San Francisco’s park system through ballot advocacy, the strategic use of public-private partnerships and philanthropy, creative revenue strategies, technology and administrative efficiencies. With more than 4,100 acres and over 220 parks under its jurisdiction, the Recreation and Park Department stewards some of the most spectacular public spaces in the world, including Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower and the Palace of Fine Arts.

Prior to SF Rec and Parks, Ginsburg served as chief of staff in the Office of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom from 2006 to 2008, director of the San Francisco Department of Human Resources from 2004 to 2006 and deputy city attorney in the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office from 2000 to 2004. Ginsburg was an associate and partner at Carroll, Burdick and McDonough from 1993 to 2000. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. The California State Parks and Recreation Commission position requires Senate confirmation.

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SAN FRANCISCO—This weekend’s Outside Lands festival will be the first event in San Francisco where adults can legally buy and consume recreational cannabis, the San Francisco Office of Cannabis (OOC) and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today.

The announcement kicks off a new era of legal—and highly regulated—cannabis consumption at qualifying events.  The temporary cannabis event permit, issued by the OOC and the state Bureau of Cannabis Control today, will ensure safe consumption of lab-tested cannabis products at the three-day festival. Only concert-goers 21 and older will be admitted to the Grass Lands area, which is separated from the rest of the festival by opaque fencing. Only safe, tested cannabis products will be sold through local vendors, and a point-of-sale system will track purchases to ensure each individual remains within the legal limit for purchase. Security officers will be on site throughout the festival, along with police and rangers.

“Permitting Grass Lands as the inaugural event is the first step in creating a safe cannabis event space for those aged 21 years and older.”  OOC Director Marisa Rodriguez said.  “Attendees will be able to purchase and consume lab-tested products away from the rest of the venue’s attendees. We’re excited to finalize the temporary cannabis event rulemaking – in collaboration with our City partners – and in support of the Temporary Cannabis Events Pilot Program.”

San Francisco’s Office of Cannabis completed an extensive regulatory process, collaborating with city and state partners and the public, incorporating their feedback into regulations for the pilot program. The experience at Outside Lands will also inform future policy and regulations.

Assembly Bill 2020, chartered in September 2018, authorized local jurisdictions to approve venues for cannabis events. The OOC established its pilot program in April after Supervisor Rafael Mandelman sponsored legislation regulating safe consumption and sales at events.

“San Francisco is a city that has long embraced community festivals and gatherings, as well as the cannabis industry,” Mandelman said. “Outside Lands is an exciting opportunity for us to host our first event with legal cannabis sales and consumption and do so in a way that supports local businesses and puts public safety first.”

To be considered for a temporary cannabis event permit under the pilot program, events must have been previously held on a regular basis, received city permits in prior years, and had significant unregulated cannabis sales and consumption.

Outside Lands, which highlights the City’s music, arts and culinary offerings, draws more than 2 million visitors and contributes an estimated $66 million annually to San Francisco’s economy. Produced by Another Planet Entertainment, Superfly, and Starr Hill Presents, it is in its 12^th year in Golden Gate Park.

“Outside Lands has been an exceptional partner with a proven record of delivering safe, fun events,” said SF Rec and Parks General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Every year we work together to enhance the festival and Golden Gate Park in ways that are authentically San Francisco.”

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As we close out July, we look ahead to August with Outside Lands right around the corner! The three-day music and arts festival, featuring more than 100 of the music industry’s best acts, has become a destination event and is considered one of the top festivals in the nation. It will take place on the weekend of August 9 in Golden Gate Park at the Polo Field, Hellman Hollow, and Marx and Lindley Meadows and feature acts such as Paul Simon, Childish Gambino and Twenty One Pilots.

Be sure to read Outside Lands’ FAQ sheet ahead of this festival for information such as road closures, transport tips and the community hotline number here.

SAN FRANCISCO—Renovated sport courts, including a unique basketball court that doubles as colorful street art, opened amid a community celebration today at the Hayes Valley Playground.

Improvements to the basketball court, including a colorful court mural by San Francisco street artist Apexer, resurfacing, and new hoops and backboards, was funded with a $99,500 grant from the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation (KDCF) through its Build it and They Will Ball initiative, with support from Airbnb Co-founder Joe Gebbia. The project also includes a resurfaced tennis court and fencing improvements funded through the Recreation and Park Department’s budget.

The design was inspired by the neighborhood and the project driven by community input.

“Public basketball courts like this one have always been places people can go not just to get exercise but to find community,” said District 5 Supervisor Vallie Brown, “This brand new court designed with community input in a beloved neighborhood park is sure to become a beacon bringing people together, young and old.”

Through the Build it and They Will Ball initiative, KDCF has supported over 13 basketball court resurfacings around the world in order to increase access to high-quality courts for underprivileged youth, including two courts resurfaced in 2018 at Hunters Point Community Youth Park, a San Francisco Unified School District property.

“It’s an honor to partner with Joe Gebbia of AirBnB and the City of San Francisco to give back to the community and its youth,” said Kevin Durant. “This is the KDCF’s 20th basketball court renovation through the Build It and They Will Ball initiative, and it means a lot to me that it’s in the Bay, a place that will always be special to me.”

Hayes Valley Playground reopened in 2011 after a $3.9 million renovation, which included a new clubhouse with a living roof and solar panels, a performance area, outdoors sports equipment, a new playground and community garden. However, the sport courts had not been renovated since 2001.

“The Hayes Valley Playground is one of our most cherished parks,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “It is the social center of the community and provides invaluable programming, especially for youth from the nearby public housing developments. We’re so excited to offer top-notch sport courts, including one of the most creative basketball courts anywhere.”

Street artist Apexer, who designed the court mural of colorful abstract patterns, is part of the Gestalt Collective that engages in collaborative murals in San Francisco. He has curated mural projects across San Francisco, including on Bluxome Alley and the SFMOMA display windows in association with St. Johns Community Center. His work has been shown extensively both in the Bay Area and beyond, and he has been featured in documentaries and publications about the Mission District.

“I’m proud to join the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation to support the San Francisco Recreation and Parks and the Hayes Valley Playground renovation project,” said Joe Gebbia, Airbnb Co-Founder. “This one of a kind design created by San Francisco street artist Apexer, will help ensure that kids across the community have a special place to belong and call their own for years to come.”

More than 100 local youth attended today’s event, which featured basketball games, face painting, a DJ, and giveaways.

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SAN FRANCISCO – These days, In Chan Kaajal Community Garden is cultivating more than carrots and corn for the Mission District. On Sunday, the community garden located on 17^th and Folsom received the Livability Award for its role in creating a cohesive neighborhood hub for one of the most diverse cross-sections of the city.

Presented by Livable City, the Livability Awards honor individuals and institutions who have made an outstanding contribution to San Francisco’s livability, with a focus on land use, environment, public health, and social equity. Since 2011, the awards have recognized grassroots biodiversity advocates, organizations and activists working to improve quality of life for seniors and youth, along with policy-makers, city planners and legislators.

“Livable City is so excited to award In Chan Kaajal as a Community Leader in Action. Green space, public parks and community gardens aren’t just pretty or nice to have – they’re key to creating an equitable city with opportunities for recreation, advancing public health, building community and connecting with nature in an urban environment,” said Livable City Associate Director Katy Birnbaum.

Opened in June 2017, In Chan Kaajal brought much-needed green space, a community garden, a performance stage, gym area and playground to a dense, diverse neighborhood that was searching for a welcoming communal space. The creation of the park involved input from over 350 neighborhood residents and dozens of local community organizations, including People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Justice (PODER). A committed group of volunteers have since transformed the garden into a thriving cultural center, with members representing nations across the globe, spanning generations and socioeconomic backgrounds. The group regularly hosts cultural events and provides produce that is often difficult to find in commercial grocery stores. The 2018 harvest yielded over 1000 pounds of food, all of it distributed to garden members and the broader community.

San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg reflected on the remarkable transformation of the space from parking lot to public park.

“We’re honored to provide a space that serves this community far beyond its previous use as a parking lot,” said Ginsburg. “Beyond fresh, culturally relevant foods, In Chan Kaajal sows deep connections to nature and neighbors, with impacts reaching far beyond the garden gates. This is a special place and a special group of people that deserve to be honored for their work.”

“What this garden provides goes far beyond fresh food,” said Andrea Combet, a member of the In Chan Kaajal Community Garden steering committee. “One of our group projects last year was a Native American-style “Three Sisters” planting of corn, beans, and pumpkins.  The corn patch was like a magnet: it attracted all kinds of neighbors who wanted to tell us how corn was grown and used in their birthplaces. They shared lore from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Ethiopia, as well as the US South and Midwest. People used the leaves and husks for tamales, and later we ground the dried kernels into masa meal and made tortillas right here in the park. An experience like that bonds the community in a profound way. Our members appreciate the recognition of the Livability Award, as well as the fact that SF Recreation and Park has provided the setting for gardeners to connect with the earth and with each other.”

The Rec and Park Department supports and manages a program of 40 community gardens (and growing!) on City-owned property, where members can grow produce and ornamental plants for personal use. Each garden is operated by a group of committed volunteers, and membership fees are often self-imposed to cover common expenses.

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SAN FRANCISCO – Sightseers will soon be able to take in a panini or cannoli alongside Coit Tower’s breathtaking views.

Coit Tower Café, located in a kiosk steps away from the San Francisco skyline’s 210-foot welcoming beacon, will open today, Friday, July 12. Operated by Acquolina Restaurant in North Beach, Coit Tower Café will also feature hot and cold drinks, pastries, pizza by the slice and frozen yogurt. Visitors to Coit Tower can also refill their water bottles at the café, which will operate from 9:30am to 6pm daily.

Located at 1 Telegraph Hill Boulevard on the edge of the Coit Tower parking lot, the kiosk shares sweeping views of San Francisco. The San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission approved the project in 2016.

“From its incredible views to its priceless murals, it’s easy to see why Coit Tower is one of the City’s top destinations,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “We are proud to be able to offer our visitors delicious, quality food to enjoy steps from this beloved landmark.”

Coit Tower is the site of 26 murals commissioned by the federal Public Works of Art Project, a precursor to the Works Progress Administration. It is a city landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There is a community effort underway have Coit Tower designated as a National Historic Landmark.

For more information, click here.

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SAN FRANCISCO – Get ready to kick off a summer of street soccer in the heart of San Francisco.

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department is preparing to transform Fulton Street between the Asian Art Museum and Main Library into a temporary street soccer installation that will serve the diverse community of the Civic Center area.

Two modular turf fields provided by Street Soccer USA are currently being installed. The facility’s opening day will take place Sunday, July 7, coinciding with Rec and Parks’ World Cup Finals viewing party beginning at 8 a.m. at Civic Center Plaza, as well as the Civic Center Commons’ 1^st Sunday Block Party from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a
family-friendly event featuring free soccer programming on the new fields, street food curated by Off the Grid, a craft market, and DIY activities. The soccer installation will remain up until the end of August and will include youth programs, youth and adult “drop-in” play and adult leagues. A full schedule can be found here.

“The Civic Center is the City’s cultural and political heart, but it’s also earning a reputation as its recreational hub,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “With the addition of the fields, soccer fans can watch the excitement on the big screen and let it inspire them to play the game nearby.”

The fields will be bustling every day from morning until 9 p.m. with programming from Street Soccer USA and America Scores. Street Soccer USA empowers low income and homeless youth and adults through soccer, helping to build a social safety net and transferrable life skills. America Scores delivers transformational and spirited after-school enrichment programs focused on whole child health.

“Street Soccer USA is excited to partner with so many city agencies, led by the Parks Department, to install two street soccer courts at Civic Center so the community can come together to raise our game,” said Street Soccer USA Co-Founder and Director Rob Cann.  “Raising our game means making soccer more accessible and more impactful for everyone, and it means raising the game of our youth by using sport to develop their character and teamwork skills, which are proven indicators long term success in life. The fields will give our street league a home for the summer and create a unique opportunity for people of all backgrounds and ages to come together and enjoy soccer in the heart of San Francisco.”

The project is a collaborative effort between multiple city agencies: Rec and Parks, Planning, Public Works, the Municipal Transportation Agency, and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, as well as the Asian Art Museum and the Library.  The new turf fields are the latest project undertaken as part of a comprehensive effort to make Civic Center’s public spaces safe, welcoming and fun for both residents and visitors.

More information can be found here.

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SAN FRANCISCO—LGBTQ golfers and allies gathered on the green Wednesday for the first-ever San Francisco Pride Pro-Am Golf Tournament, a historic fundraiser at TPC Harding Park.

The inaugural event was hosted by TPC Harding Park in partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, the Northern California Professional Golfers Association and the First Tee of San Francisco. The TopGolf/Tom Smith team took top honors at the tournament, which featured more than 115 amateurs and 23 PGA professionals.

All proceeds from the one-day event benefit the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee, a nonprofit dedicated to education, the commemoration of LGBT heritage and to the celebration of LGBT culture and liberation.

“TPC Harding Park has a rich history as the only city-owned public course managed by the PGA. Golf legends such as Ken Venturi, Billy Casper and Tiger Woods all walked its fairways, and I’m thrilled it’s making history again as the site of Pride on the Green,” said SF Rec and Parks General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “It’s important to us to incorporate the inclusive spirit of Pride into our programming at the Recreation and Park Department. It’s our goal to make sure everyone has a chance to get out and play.”

Wednesday’s tournament took on a scramble format, upholding the fun and welcoming ambiance of SF Pride. Participants enjoyed an unforgettable round of championship golf on the same fairways slated to host the 2020 PGA Championship and the Presidents Cup 2025, followed by a silent auction and post-round dinner, courtesy of the club’s Cypress Grill.

“We are honored to be one of the first golf courses to host an LGBT fundraiser of this caliber,”said Tom Smith, TPC Harding Park general manager. “It’s humbling to be part of something this historic and witness the San Francisco community come together for such an important cause.”

Other Pride weekend attractions at Rec and Parks properties include the ongoing Stonewall 50 Year Anniversary Art and Pride Exhibit at the Harvey Milk Photo Center;  the 16^th Annual San Francisco Trans March at Dolores Park on Friday; the 27^th San Francisco Dyke March at Dolores Park on Saturday, an LGBT Storytelling Circle with Stonewall OutLoud at the Harvey Milk Photo Center on Sunday; and the San Francisco Pride celebration at Civic Center Plaza both Saturday and Sunday.

“Visibility is key to our ongoing progress as a community,” said SF Pride Board President Jacquelene Bishop. “This opportunity is an important first step that we hope will grow into larger strides with a respected sporting institution such as the PGA.”

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SAN FRANCISCO—As the competition heats up, the San Francisco Recreation and Park department today announced an additional free, live FIFA Women’s World Cup viewing party to be held this Friday, June 28.

This bonus screening, held in partnership with the San Francisco Parks Alliance, will be held at noon at Sue Bierman Park at Washington and Drumm streets along the Embarcadero. It will feature the USA vs. France quarterfinals on the big screen, food trucks, soccer-related activities, and family fun.

“We are so proud to support the incredible U.S. women’s national soccer team, both for their excellence on the field and their position at the forefront of gender pay equity,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “It’s a powerful experience to cheer alongside hundreds of community members gathered together to celebrate women’s sports.”

The addition of Friday’s screening was made possible by the Yours in Soccer Foundation. It will be the second of five viewing parties in San Francisco parks. Other upcoming dates include the July 2 and July 3 semifinals, both at noon at Sue Bierman Park; and the July 7 final at 8 a.m. at Civic Center Plaza.

In addition to Yours in Soccer, the following sponsors provided generous support for the screenings: KTVU FOX 2, Friends of the Polo Field Cycling Track, Boston Properties, JUMP, Uber, Fitness SF, San Francisco Youth Soccer, San Francisco Elite Academy, Recology, Port of San Francisco, San Francisco Association of Realtors, Sports Basement, Salesforce, and Civic Center Commons.

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Looking for a way to kick off summer? The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department is hosting free, live FIFA Women’s World Cup viewing parties in this June and July.

Held in partnership with the San Francisco Parks Alliance, this event will feature USA versus France on the big screen, food trucks, soccer-related activities, and family fun.

SF Rec and Park has been hosting free World Cup watch parties for the public since 2010, attracting thousands of soccer fans from diverse backgrounds who celebrate and share camaraderie at the events. For more information, click here.

SAN FRANCISCO – Amid a neighborhood celebration, city officials today unveiled a new mural celebrating the Bayview-Hunters Point community on a historic building that will become an integral part of its future. The block party featured free food and music, followed by a screening of the Golden State Warriors game against the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Finals.

The temporary mural, painted by Ira Watkins, Artist in Residence at Shipyard Trust for the Arts (STAR), will make its home on the walls of the Shipwright’s Cottage at 900 Innes Avenue. The cottage, built in 1875, is the oldest known residence in India Basin and was the centerpiece to the union shipbuilding industry.  It will one day serve as the welcome, education and community center of the city’s planned 10-acre waterfront park, which will connect the Bay Trail and provide open space, boating amenities, food concessions, trails, and unrivaled recreation for local residents.

District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton revealed the mural, which depicts generations of diverse neighbors experiencing the joy of recreation, community gatherings and leisure along the San Francisco Bay shoreline.

“This is a community with a long history of local artists,” Walton said. “Ira Watkins’ mural helps ensure that Bayview-Hunters Point will become an even more vital part of the City’s fine arts community.”

Watkins, a self-taught artist and resident of the neighborhood’s Davis Senior Center, tells the histories and stories of African Americans through his work. He migrated to San Francisco from the South during World War II to work in the shipyard. His work has been exhibited at numerous gallery and museum shows, including the Asian Art Museum, University of California, and Luggage Store Gallery. He was inspired by childhood memories of his neighborhood park.

“When I was young, my friends and I would meet up every day to play basketball in the park. We spent countless days in the park playing ball for bragging rights, laughing and simply enjoying each other’s company. Because the park was such an important part of my childhood, I wanted to make sure the idea of creating treasured childhood memories in the park came through in the mural—to show how I think people in my community will use India Basin Park when it’s here,” Watkins said.  “Lastly, the most special part about this project is letting people know that I was here on Earth and had an opportunity to create something that will hopefully brighten up their day every time they visit India Basin Park.”

San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg said his department embarked on the mural project to beautify the space and celebrate the community.

“Like the park plan itself, the design of the mural was shaped by residents of Bayview-Hunters Point. Their priorities were clear: they wanted to see the history and future of their community, generations of neighbors enjoying fresh air and healthy activities,” Ginsburg said.

The rehabilitation of 900 Innes, site of the Shipwright’s Cottage, is part of a larger plan to revitalize a network of waterfront open space in the city’s southeast by rehabilitating and uniting several poorly conditioned existing open spaces into a single, seamless design.  The India Basin waterfront project, passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in September of 2018, will combine the abandoned industrial site at 900 Innes, which the City acquired in 2014, with two existing parks that border it: India Basin Shoreline Park and India Basin Shoreline Open Space, both of which would undergo significant improvements.

The project is a partnership between the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, the Trust for Public Land, and the San Francisco Parks Alliance.

“Parks are an integral part of what makes San Francisco a great place to live,” said Guillermo Rodriguez, California State Director at the Trust for Public Land. “The work we’re doing in the India Basin community is helping to ensure that everyone has access to a great park that reflects the identity of the neighborhood. We’re thrilled to continue working in partnership with the community.”

“This new and improved park will work towards correcting the environmental injustices this community has experienced in the past,” said Drew Becher of the San Francisco Parks Alliance. “The mural unveiling is a great first step towards highlighting the investment in a greener future for this community.”

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SAN FRANCISCO—Looking for a way to kick off summer? The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department is hosting free, live FIFA Women’s World Cup viewing parties in this June and July.

The events, held in partnership with the San Francisco Parks Alliance, will feature matches on the big screen, food trucks, soccer-related activities, and family fun.

“We host many free events throughout the year, but World Cup parties are truly something special” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “This year’s Women’s World Cup may be the best in history, and what better way to see it than cheering alongside thousands of your friends and neighbors?”

SF Rec and Park has been hosting free World Cup watch parties for the public since 2010, attracting thousands of soccer fans from diverse backgrounds who celebrate and share camaraderie at the events.

This year’s events are scheduled as follows:

Thursday, June 20

USA vs. Sweden

Noon

Sue Bierman Park (Embarcadero)

Friday, June 28

USA vs. France

Noon

Sue Bierman Park (Embarcadero)

Tuesday, July 2

Semi-Final

Noon

Sue Bierman Park (Embarcadero)

Wednesday, July 3

Semi-Final

Noon

Sue Bierman Park (Embarcadero)

Sunday, July 7

Final

8 a.m.

Civic Center Plaza

World Cup Poster

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SAN FRANCISCO – Under the watchful eyes of 45 preschoolers, city officials and community members broke ground today on five playground renovations—a major milestone in a project that promises to transform 13 timeworn play areas used by 20,000 children in neighborhoods across the City.

Today’s groundbreaking ceremony, held at the Panhandle Playground, marked the beginning of construction at that site and four others: Alice Chalmers Playground in the Outer Mission, McLaren Playground and group picnic area in the Excelsior-Portola neighborhood, Merced Heights Playground, and Sgt. Macaulay Playground in the Tenderloin.

The Let’sPlaySF! campaign, a partnership between the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and the San Francisco Parks Alliance, will support the 13 renovations by supplementing $22 million in public funds with $14.5 million in donor contributions. Washington Square Playground in North Beach, the first to undergo a transformation, re-opened in January. Construction on the remaining seven playgrounds will take place from late 2019 to 2021. Those include the Buchanan Street Mall in the Western Addition, Golden Gate Heights Park, Herz Playground in Visitacion Valley, Juri Commons in the Mission, Richmond Playground, Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove, and West Portal Playground.

“The renovations at Panhandle Park will finally bring this community the high quality playground our children deserve,” said Mayor Breed. “But we are not stopping here. We are upgrading playgrounds across the City, which serve thousands of children, because this is a matter of equity. Every child in every community should have a safe, clean place to play.”

All playgrounds were selected by a citizen task force based on presence of unhealthy chemicals in playground wood, with priority given to playgrounds in low income neighborhoods dense with children.

“We need outdoor spaces for children and families,” said Supervisor Vallie Brown. “Playing outside is part of being a kid and has so many benefits—of course for the kids, but also for all of us. Their joy and laughter radiate out into the City.”

Studies have linked access to parks and playgrounds to youth and family wellness. Growing research also speaks to the impact of exercise on brain development. Children living in neighborhoods without a park or playground are 26 percent more likely to be obese. Play also helps children forge strong connections with one another through learning to share, negotiate, resolve conflicts, and develop self-advocacy skills.

“Supervisor Vallie Brown has been a champion for recreation and open space in District 5 for decades and playgrounds are no exception,” San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg said. “They are essential to both children and adults; modern town squares where urban families forge friendships while kids experience the rush of outside play.”

The Let’sPlaySF! campaign is ongoing. An additional $5 million in private funding is needed to complete all 13 sites in the initiative.

“We are thrilled to begin the renovations,” said San Francisco Parks Alliance CEO Drew Becher.  “Approximately 20,000 children will benefit from the Let’sPlaySF campaign. We believe all kids deserve healthy, creative and imaginative places to play regardless of where they live. In a world class city like San Francisco, our families deserve no less.”

At today’s ceremony, community members from each of the five neighborhoods took shovels to mounds of earth representing each of the five construction sites. Following the event, each of the students from Stepping Stones preschool enjoyed a cookie from the Mayor.

Both video and still photographs from the event can be found here.

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SAN FRANCISCO – Tennis enthusiasts of all ages gathered today with City officials, the Tennis Coalition of San Francisco, and the San Francisco Parks Alliance to celebrate a new era for public tennis in San Francisco with the groundbreaking of the Golden Gate Park Tennis Center renovation.

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s $27 million project, funded almost entirely through private donations, will transform the 125-year-old site into one of the best public tennis facilities in the nation and allow the public more than 20,000 hours of additional playtime each year. It will include 17 new USTA-regulation tennis courts, a sunken feature court, and a dedicated pickleball court. Off the court, players will enjoy a new 7,800 square foot clubhouse with a player’s lounge, recreation room, locker room and kitchen and a garden area for viewing, socializing and relaxing.

The renovated tennis center also includes a dedicated classroom to expand the Tennis & Learning Center (TLC), an innovative Rec and Parks program that provides after school tennis instruction, academic tutoring, and leadership development to youth from underserved San Francisco neighborhoods.  TLC, which currently serves elementary school students, will launch a middle school program in the new facility.

“From the legendary Billie Jean King to hometown hero Peanut Louie Harper, some of the tennis world’s brightest stars honed their games on the Golden Gate Park tennis courts,” said Mayor London Breed. “This renovation ensures that all San Franciscans, including the next generation of tennis greats, have access to a world-class facility.”

District 5 Supervisor Vallie Brown said the new facility will increase recreation options for tennis players of all ages and abilities.

“What’s so wonderful about the new Tennis Center is that although it will be one of the best in country, it’s not just for elite players,” said Brown, “It’s for everyday San Franciscans, for seniors and kids, a place where diverse communities can gather to socialize and share their mutual love of the game.”

City officials, community members, and children from the TLC program performed a ceremonial “net drop” to mark the beginning of the project.

“Simply, we are planning one of the best public tennis centers in the country,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Not only will the public will enjoy more than 20,000 hours of playtime, but youth—the heart of this project—will be able to improve both their games and their lives through an expanded TLC program.”

“With 17 state-of-the-art, lighted courts and lots of places where you can enjoy watching your kid’s lesson or your team compete, we’ll have an energized public tennis center with affordable, reservable courts and programs for players of all ages and abilities,” said Tennis Coalition of San Francisco Co-Chair Lois Salisbury. “What’s more, with a stadium court and a big, beautiful clubhouse, all professionally run, the new GGPTC will be the bedrock of tennis for the City, building community and strengthening tennis as a lifetime sport throughout the Bay Area.”

The new Golden Gate Park Tennis Center has been secured through a public-private partnership with leadership gifts from Taube Philanthropies, the Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, the Koret Foundation, Jackie & Joby Pritzker, and an anonymous donor. Approximately $4.5 million has been allocated to this project by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, from the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond.

“Anytime we increase the level of a facility in the community—make it more attractive, cleaner, more current, and looking toward the future—all of us benefit,” said Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund President Douglas Goldman.

Every donation was matched by Taube Philanthropies through a $6.5 million grant.

“We are honored to serve as a catalyst to provide an outstanding tennis center for the people of San Francisco—and to provide a tennis venue for young and old, amateur and beyond,” said Founder Tad Taube.

The tennis courts drew 600,000 visits last year, a third from the neighborhoods bordering Golden Gate Park, according the StreetLight Data, a San Francisco company the park partners with to understand visitor counts across one of the nation’s most visited parks.

Project renderings can be found here.

Join us and the San Francisco Parks Alliance for a groundbreaking event marking the beginning of the next five playground renovation projects under the Let’sPlaySF! initiative. The event will take place on Thursday, April 25 from 11 a.m. to noon at the Panhandle Playground (Oak and Ashbury streets in Golden Gate Park). In total, Let’sPlaySF! is renovating 13 neighborhood playgrounds around the city. Join us as we celebrate the transformation of playgrounds at the Panhandle, Sgt. John Macaulay Park, Merced Heights, Alice Chalmers and McLaren Park!

Join us for the historic groundbreaking of the Golden Gate Park Tennis Center on Wednesday, April 17 beginning at 11 a.m! The facility is poised to undergo a $27 million renovation, which will make the 125-year-old site one of the best public tennis facilities in the nation with 17 new USTA regulation tennis courts including a sunken feature court; a dedicated pickleball court; a new 7,8000 sq. ft. clubhouse with a payers’ lounge, recreation room, locker room, and kitchen; a garden area for viewing, socializing and relaxing; and state-of-the-art lighting on all courts, allowing for over 20,000 hours of additional playtime each year. The renovated GGPTC also includes a dedicated classroom and support spaces to accommodate an expansion of the Tennis & Learning Center (TLC), a San Francisco Recreation and Park Department youth development program. The event will feature brief remarks, followed by a groundbreaking ceremony. For more information, click here.

SAN FRANCISCO – City leaders and community members today celebrated the opening of side-by-side environmental features at McLaren Park: A renovated oasis for community gardeners and a new rain garden system to manage stormwater.

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s McLaren Community Garden re-opened with additional plots to accommodate four times the number of gardeners. The renovated site, at the west end of Leland Avenue, also features a new greenhouse, gazebo, and plaza area. Decorative panels created by Recology artist-in-residence Jim Growden adorn the pedestrian gates. The 20,0000 square foot site also boasts an additional composting system, new trellis and secure storage.

Located just north of the community gardens, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has constructed new rain gardens as part of the Visitacion Valley Green Nodes Project.  The project develops two distinct green infrastructure locations at Sunnydale Avenue and McLaren Park that improves community spaces and accessibility while helping manage stormwater. The terraced rain gardens in McLaren Park will manage 600,000 gallons of stormwater each year from approximately 1.5 acres of impervious surface and provide a pedestrian connection to McLaren Park from Leland Avenue.

“I am thrilled to see the community and environmental improvement projects at McLaren Park,” said Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). “We are lucky this year to have gotten so much rain, but that’s not always the case. The new rain garden will help us to reuse hundreds of thousands of gallons of rainwater each year. We need more projects like these that bring benefits to local communities while helping advance our broader environmental goals.”

The renovation of McLaren Community Garden was funded through a combination of Community Opportunity Fund award, SF Rec and Parks capital budget, monies allocated by former Supervisor Malia Cohen, and the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond.

“Protecting and maintaining the pockets of green spaces in the Southeast part of the City like this gem, is important for us as a community,” said Cohen, now chair of the state Board of Equalization. “My hope is that we continue to invest in the urban farming opportunities gardens like this offer for residents.”

Both projects are a boon for surrounding neighborhoods, said District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton.

“Both the community garden and the rain garden are exciting. Being able to reuse water is important for conservation and more plots for more gardeners means more San Franciscans connecting to the environment,” Walton said.

“The SFPUC is building projects like these across the City to work toward our goal of capturing one billion gallons of stormwater a year using green infrastructure by 2050,” said SFPUC General Manager Harlan L. Kelly, Jr. “This green infrastructure project reduces excess stormwater to our sewer system while improving pedestrian connections to McLaren Park. We are proud to partner with RPD on this innovative project.”

Building on its history of serving the senior population, the upper terrace of the renovated McLaren Community Garden is fully ADA accessible. It also includes an educational space for the local Boys and Girls Club as well as neighborhood youth.

“The McLaren Community Garden has long been an anchor of the Visatacion Valley neighborhood,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “We are so excited for the community to enjoy these improvements—one in many upgrades we have planned for McLaren Park.”

Other planned projects include the installation of a ropes course, improvements to sport courts and the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater and the renovation of Herz Playground, trails and pathways.

Following Saturday’s ribbon cuttings, community members enjoyed gardening activities, yoga, and tours.

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SAN FRANCISCO – Budding scientists from middle schools across San Francisco will compete in a Bay Area-wide science fair later this month after distinguishing themselves at a citywide competition held at the Randall Museum.

More than 160 students from San Francisco’s public and private schools competed in this year’s San Francisco Middle School Science Fair. Students from Roosevelt Middle School, St. Philip the Apostle, and Notre Dame des Victoires took first place in the behavioral science category, while students from St. Gabriel School, Holy Name School and Adda Clevenger School earned first in the environmental science category. Students from Roosevelt Middle School and St. Brendan Parish School earned first place in the biology category. Students from Rooftop, Stratford School and St. Philip the Apostle took first place in physical sciences.

The Randall Museum has hosted the Middle School Science Fair for 37 years. San Francisco Recreation and Park Department staff organize the event and Randall Museum Friends raise funds to purchase the supplies and other amenities needed to run the fair.

“The Middle School Science Fair is one of the things that makes the Randall Museum so special,” said Rec and Parks General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “The museum’s hands-on exhibits, classes and camps have fostered a love of science and nature in countless San Francisco children.”

San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews commended all the middle schoolers who participated in the fair.

“At SFUSD, we believe a well-rounded and rigorous science education is critical to a 21^st century education and appreciate the museum for giving our students an opportunity to showcase their learning,” he said.

Winners will now move on to the Golden Gate STEM Fair. Their projects will be displayed March 23 at the Bay Model Visitor Center in Sausalito from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students earning top spots will then move on to the California State Science Fair.

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Join us from 10 a.m. to noon for a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, March 23 as we open the McLaren Community Garden! We will have brief remarks, family-friendly gardening activities and a Visitacion Valley Green Nodes walking tour!

Funded by the 2008 and 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks bonds, the renovated Mclaren Community Garden includes a welcoming entrance into the garden with communal planter beds for herbs and trailing vegetables, sheltered gathering spaces for groups, and ornamental gates and fencing, while also creating a utilitarian garden designed to accommodate raised garden plots.

Located just north of the community gardens, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has constructed new rain gardens as part of the Visitacion Valley Green Nodes Project. The project develops two distinct green infrastructure locations at Sunnydale Avenue and Mclaren Park that improves community spaces and accessibility while helping manage stormwater. The terraced rain gardens in Mclaren Park will manage 600,000 gallons of stormwater each year from 1.5 acres of impervious surface and provide a pedestrian connection to Mclaren Park from Leland Avenue.

Join us on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at 10 a.m. for a joint ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating these two unique spaces!

SAN FRANCISCO – City officials, wheelchair basketball athletes, and South of Market community members on Wednesday celebrated the addition of 10 new custom sport wheelchairs at Gene Friend Recreation Center—part of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s focus on adaptive sports.

The $40,000 purchase of the 10 wheelchairs were paid for as part of a $105,000 grant from the nonprofit San Franciscans for Sports and Recreation (SFFSR) to the Gene Friend Recreation Center.  The organization has given nearly $2 million in grants to improve recreation programs in San Francisco since 2015.

The chairs will be free for members of the public with disabilities, and available for checkout with valid, government issued identification anytime the center is open for adult recreation. Gene Friend will also designate Fridays from 6-8 p.m. for wheelchair basketball games.

“The sport chairs are an incredible resource for SOMA residents with disabilities, whether they’re lifelong athletes or it’s their first time on the court,” said District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney. “It’s also a fun, accessible way to keep fit without leaving the center of urban life.”

Specialized sport wheelchairs, designed for speed and agility on the court, make for fast-paced and exciting games. But they can be prohibitively expensive for the average person.

“We are so excited to partner with San Franciscans for Sports and Recreation to expand recreational opportunities for everyone,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “These sport chairs offer people with disabilities the opportunity to fall in love with adaptive recreation without having to invest in their own equipment.”

San Franciscans for Sports and Recreation has also funded the resurfacing of 15 public tennis courts at six locations throughout the city and contributed to the restoration of the Koret Playground in Golden Gate Park, as well as the Let’sPlaySF! fund to renovate 13 of of the City’s most deserving playgrounds.

“As an organization founded and active in SOMA, all of us at San Franciscans for Sports and Recreation are particularly proud to have contributed $105,000 directly to the Gene Friend Recreation Center at 6th St. and Folsom,” said San Franciscans for Sports and Recreation Executive Director Seth Socolow. “We hope that the 10 sport wheelchairs, basketball shot clock, and youth uniforms funded through our grant will provide countless hours of sports fun for San Franciscans of all ages and abilities for many years to come.”

The wheelchairs are custom made by Melrose Wheelchairs USA! Following their unveiling, members of the Golden State Road Warriors and the BORP (Bay Area Outreach & Recreation Program). All Stars took to the court for a demo game. Members of the community were also given the opportunity to try the new chairs.

Golden State Road Warriors Captain and two-time MVP Chuck Gil recalled how wheelchair basketball reignited his passion for athletics several years after a bout of spinal meningitis.

“It was instant love—competing and being active, but also social aspect. I haven’t left the court since,” Gil said. “I’m thrilled that other people will get the same opportunity to discover the joy of adaptive sports right here at Gene Friend Recreation Center.”

SAN FRANCISCO – A plan to rehabilitate a long-vacant bayside lot in San Francisco’s India Basin and turn it into a waterfront park took a step forward with the allocation of a $5 million grant toward tidal restoration and site cleanup.

The San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority on Friday approved the funds for the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department to remediate and restore the soft-bottom intertidal and subtidal habitat and remove dilapidated structures at 900 Innes Ave.  The Authority disburses grant money earmarked by voters through Measure AA to preserve the San Francisco Bay and its shorelines.

The rehabilitation of 900 Innes is part of a larger plan to revitalize a network of waterfront open space in the city’s southeast by rehabilitating and uniting several poorly conditioned existing open spaces into a single, seamless design.  The India Basin waterfront project, passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in September of 2018, will combine the abandoned industrial site at 900 Innes, which the City acquired in 2014, with two existing parks that border it: India Basin Shoreline Park and India Basin Shoreline Open Space, both of which would undergo significant improvements.  The resulting 10-acre waterfront park would connect the Bay Trail and provide open spaces, trails, and unrivaled recreational opportunities for local residents.

“Today’s grant award will help fund environmental restoration in a community that has suffered neglect and injustice for many years,” said Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who is a governing board member of the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority.  “In restoring the intertidal and subtidal habitat and removing the sources of contaminants, we will create habitat for wildlife to thrive and a place for urban residents to reconnect with nature.  This is exactly the sort of project voters had in mind when they passed Measure AA – one that benefits people, natural systems, and the overall health of our Bay.”

“This is environmental justice in action,” San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg said. “We are thrilled to get the opportunity to transform a neglected brownfield into a beautiful park to serve the people of the City’s Southeast. Equity, health, and environmental stewardship have been at the heart of this community-driven plan.”

The India Basin plan is a collaboration between the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, Build Inc, the Trust for Public Land, and the San Francisco Parks Alliance, Parks 94124, the A, Phillip Randloph Institute, Young Community Developers, the India Basin Neighborhood Association and many other neighborhood and park serving organizations.

“This cleanup project will be the first step towards developing a new full-service park for the community, providing residents local access to open space and enhanced natural resources as well as new recreational opportunities,” said Alejandra Chiesa, program director for The Trust for Public Land.

Cleanup of the site will be conducted by Hunters Point Family, a grassroots job training program for low-income residents of the Bayview-Hunters Point community.  Executive Director Lena Miller said her organization has already trained 60 students, with plans to train 60 more and place at least 80 percent in environmental jobs.

The San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority was created by the California legislature in 2008. In 2016, it placed a funding measure on the June ballots in all nine San Francisco Bay Area counties.  Measure AA, or the San Francisco Bay Clean Water, Pollution Prevention and Habitat Restoration Program, passed the required 2/3 majority in the combined county vote. It provides for $500 million in funding for the Authority to be used to restore wetlands and mitigate sea level rise.

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SAN FRANCISCO –San Francisco Recreation and Park Department today unveiled its new main trail through the Oak Woodlands of Golden Gate Park, dedicating the scenic path to Phil Arnold, a longtime advocate for local parks, open space, and recreational trail opportunities.

The Phil Arnold trail provides a primary, continuous nature trail with wayfinding and interpretive signs for pedestrians and bicyclists.  It begins at the intersection of JFK Drive and Conservatory Drive East, just west of McLaren Lodge and continuing over knolls, past the horseshoe courts, crossing Arguello Boulevard and ending at 6^th Avenue. It is part of the newly-finished Golden Gate Park Oak Woodlands Trail Improvement Project, funded by the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond as well as a private grant and state Habitat Conservation Fund grant. Construction began in June 2018 and included repair of existing trails in the area, erosion control and restoration of native plants.  At just under a mile, the Phil Arnold Trail adds to the approximately 30 miles of nature trails in the SF Rec and Parks system.

Arnold, chair of the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council Board and 33-year city employee, provided instrumental support for the realignment of the Bay Ridge Trail that connects Twin Peaks, Mount Sutro, and the Oak Woodlands. He worked for the Recreation and Park Department from 1986 to 1997, and later for the City’s Human Services Agency. He has served on the San Francisco Housing Authority Commission since 2013, the San Francisco Parks Alliance Board of Directors since 2011, and as a member of the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council Board of Directors since 2005. He became board chair in 2016.

“Phil Arnold wore many hats in his service to the City, but his ability to inspire, lead, and work hard on projects benefitting our entire community remains constant,” said Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg.

The Oak Woodlands is a remnant forest located in the northeast corner of Golden Gate Park along Fulton Avenue between Stanyan Street and 6^th Avenue. The area is home to some of the oldest coast live oak trees in San Francisco and was added to the Old Growth Forest Network in 2015.  It provides significant wildlife habitat.

Robert Bakewell, who leads the Friends of Oak Woodlands group, said the opening of the trail is the result of many years of volunteer efforts.

“The community of advocates and volunteers, now represented by Friends of Oak Woodlands, have for 25 years been working to restore and steward this natural area in northeast Golden Gate Park,” Bakewell said. “We join in celebrating the Phil Arnold Trail, and commit to continuing stewardship with Rec and Parks’ Natural Resources Division.”

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission approved the naming in October 2018.

Join us on Saturday, February 23 beginning at 12:30 p.m. as we hold a reopening celebration for the community at the Balboa Pool (51 Havelock).  The event will feature special performances, speakers, aquatic giveaways & FREE swimming! We look forward to diving in with you soon! ‬

SAN FRANCISCO –– Seventy eight percent of San Franciscans think the condition of the city’s parks are improving, a bright spot in poll results measuring the public’s satisfaction with city services and issues.

The 2019 Dignity Health CityBeat Poll, released Tuesday by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, revealed that residents’ satisfaction with the San Francisco Park and Recreation Department is not only high, but on the upswing. City dwellers who believe parks are improving jumped from 70 percent in 2018 to 78 percent in 2019, while those who believe parks are deteriorating fell from 11 percent in 2018 to 8 percent this year, the lowest dissatisfaction rate ever.

“Well maintained parks make cities more livable in countless ways, from improving mental and physical health to providing free family recreation to making neighborhoods safer,” said SF Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg.  “This poll validates the hard work of our talented staff, dedicated volunteers and committed community members. We’re proud to contribute to the quality of life of San Franciscans.”

Over the past year, Rec and Parks launched new activities for people of all ages, improved playgrounds, implemented traffic calming measures and made parks and programs more equitable and accessible. San Franciscans and visitors enjoyed free World Cup screenings, light displays at the Conservatory of Flowers, concerts and seasonal family events like Eggstravaganza, Scaregrove, and the annual Holiday Tree Lighting in Golden Gate Park. More than 60,000 people registered for recreational programs and classes, while 70 youth living in public housing attended summer camp for free.

“San Francisco’s parks are part of the special sauce that makes our city so unique, and voters recognize that. Whether you want to visit the bevy of playgrounds, stroll through the lush open space or just take in the stunning views, our parks enhance the quality of life for everyone who works and lives in San Francisco,” said Juliana Bunim, senior vice president of external affairs for the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.

The CityBeat 2019 poll also showed that despite 52 percent of voters believing quality of life in the city is worse, 64 percent would rather live in San Francisco than anywhere else. Top quality of life issues identified by respondents were homelessness (64 percent), rent/affordability (41 percent) and cost of owning a home (30 percent).

The results echo a San Francisco Controller’s Office report released in November, which found San Francisco’s parks became more consistently well maintained across the city last year, with Rec and Parks meeting 89 percent of its park maintenance standards.

To see more CityBeat survey results, click here.

Happy 2019! As we begin the new year, we’d like to share some of our recent accomplishments in our 2018 Community Report! Some highlights include 252,000 volunteer hours committed to our parks and programs as well as 145,000 permits issued for events. We also kick started campaigns to renovate 13 city playgrounds and the 124-year-old Golden Gate Park Tennis Center, while our partnerships helped transform Civic Center Plaza into a bustling, family-friendly destination! Thank you to everyone who made 2018 such an amazing year and we look forward to getting outside with you in 2019! To read, click here: http://bit.ly/2Rv9Ht0

SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco Recreation and Park commissioners today unanimously approved a contract extending San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s contract with Another Planet Entertainment for the production of the annual Outside Lands Music Festival.

The agreement, which will now go before the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for final approval, extends the contract to 2031. Outside Lands, which highlights the City’s music, arts and culinary offerings, draws more than 2 million visitors and contributes an estimated $66 million annually to San Francisco’s economy.

“Outside Lands has become part of the cultural fabric of San Francisco, and we are happy our partnership will continue,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Hosting the festival provides invaluable support for Rec and Parks, enabling us to maintain our open spaces and offer scholarships to our top-notch recreation programs.”

Senior Mather Get Away 2019

Don’t worry, you’re early!

• Registration for the Senior Mather Get-Away for the Summer of 2019 will take place in March of 2019. 
• If you had a reservation for the Senior Mather Get-Away in 2018, but could not attend due to the Ferguson Fire, you will be contacted in February / March 2019 regarding priority registration.
• Senior Mather Get-Away for the Summer of 2019 will be the week of August 18, 2019.

For more information, please contact katherine.villasin@sfgov.org.

SAN FRANCISCO –  The San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission today approved a plan to transform an under-used part of John McLaren Park into a high ropes challenge focusing on leadership and character development for local youth and others.

A project of SF Rec and Parks and Outward Bound California (OBCA), the ropes course is estimated to be completed by May 2019. The course will serve both public and educational community group recreation for youth and adults. Schools and non-profit groups that serve low-income students will receive up to 75 percent scholarship for a day on the course, with students themselves typically attending free of charge.  One Saturday per month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. will be reserved for free community programs led by highly trained Outward Bound educators. Studies show outdoor adventure programs provide mental health benefits for teens  and young adults.

It will be the sole ropes course on San Francisco property. A second course is located on federal land in the Fort Miley Military Reservation, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

“McLaren Park has been an important neighborhood space for both children and adults for generations,” said Mayor London Breed. “We are always looking for new ways for our public spaces to better serve our community and the new ropes course will be a welcome addition.”

After working with community members, including the McLaren Park Collaborative group, Rec and Parks and OBCA settled on Wilde Overlook Tower area near the intersection of Mansell Street and Visitacion Avenue as the new ropes course location.  OBCA has raised the funds to build the course in partnership with the city that will serve as a gateway and anchor of outdoor activity for San Francisco’s second largest park.  Fundraising continues for staff training, ongoing maintenance, and scholarships for local students – including Visitacion Valley Middle School just down the hill from the course.

“Having a ropes course in McLaren Park is incredibly important to students in San Francisco’s southern neighborhoods,” said San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews.  “It means equitable access to all of the benefits that come from meaningful outdoor experiences and programming.”

The plan aligns with the 2018 McLaren Park Vision Plan, which cites recreational improvements focusing on play and aerial adventure as the top desire of park neighbors and advocates.

“The southwestern corner of McLaren Park has long deserved a revitalization,” said Phil Ginsburg, general manager of San Francisco Recreation and Parks. “Outward Bound California has proposed a dynamic ropes course that promises to bring new life to the area while honing leadership skills for San Franciscans.”

The project ensures equitable access to all of the benefits that come from meaningful outdoor experiences and programming, providing students from the neighborhood and beyond an opportunity to become stewards of nature.

“Outward Bound California has deep roots in San Francisco,” said Nettie Pardue, Executive Director of OBCA. “The majority of the SF students we serve live in District 10 and 11 so we are thrilled at the opportunity to bring more accessible, life-changing outdoor experiences to local schools and youth in the southern part of the city.”

The course will have five separate structures, tucked into the tree line or landscape whenever possible. The course provides solo and team climbing opportunities and focuses on balance, trust, communication, leadership and teamwork.

•       The Challenge Course: A ten-pole traditional high ropes course with eight aerial challenges
•       The Discovery Tower: A two-pole, four-person aerial adventure
•       The Leap: A three-pole solo challenge that asks participants to take a leap
•       The Down Lows: Portable low elements that can be installed on landscape posts to unharnessed challenges.
•       Storage: Two 8-feet-by 20-feet storage structures for program and course equipment.

Once completed, the course could accommodate small to large groups led by facilitators that last from one hour to all day.

About McLaren Park:

At over 300 acres, John McLaren Park is the second largest park in The City. The park was created in 1927 and currently includes playgrounds, picnic areas, game courts, the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, a golf course, McNab Lake and the Coffman Pool. It provides more than 7 miles of trails. The Wilde Overlook Area was opened to the public in 1981. Previously the Wilde Reservoir, the area was used to store tap water for San Francisco. After its operation ceased, the old walls of the reservoir were retained as a viewing platform and a 35-foot tower was constructed as its center.

About Outward Bound California:

Outward Bound California is a nonprofit educational organization and expedition school offering educational programs that challenge students to develop leadership, character, and a desire to serve in their schools, communities and showcase their inner strength in their careers. Outward Bound California is deeply committed to opening up access for low-income students and facilitating effective community partnerships, which is why:

•       Two in three Outward Bound California students receive scholarships to participate in their programs.
•       Outward Bound California provides nearly 12,000 days of outdoor leadership education to students across the Bay Area and California annually.
•       Outward Bound California students consistently demonstrate strong growth in measurable outcomes areas of leadership, character, environmental stewardship, and the development of an ethic of service.
•       More than 12,000 students have taken part in Outward Bound California programs in partnership with public schools and student-serving nonprofits, including: San Francisco International High School, Abraham Lincoln High School, Visitacion Valley Middle School; Leadership Public Schools, Urban Promise Academy and Bret Harte Middle School; Richmond’s Yes Nature to Neighborhoods, Friends of the Urban Forest, Jewish Big Brothers and Sisters of LA, Summer Search, Larkin Street Youth Services, and dozens upon dozens of others.

Learn more at www.obca.org.

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SAN FRANCISCO – A project to improve park access, update play equipment and enhance programs for seniors and youth at a beloved Western Addition gathering space broke ground today.

The redesign of Margaret Hayward Playground, which will be complete in 2020, will unify the sprawling 6-acre property, welcoming visitors through a singular entrance. The renovation also includes a new children’s play area, updated sport courts and play fields, and a new community building with expanded meeting space and kitchen amenities.

Western Addition community members shaped the renovation plan of the park, which has been a neighborhood fixture for more than a century.   Neighbors requested the new design prioritize safety, increase outdoor space and establish a sense of cohesion between the park’s various features. As a result, barriers will be removed, landscape expanded, sightlines improved, and space devoted for youth and senior activities. The new community building, full of natural light, will look out onto a plaza that will host performances, community events, and classes.

“Margaret Hayward Park has been an important community space in the Western Addition neighborhood for generations,” said Mayor London Breed. “This was my neighborhood park when I was growing up. I am excited for this renovation project because it will bring important improvements so the park can continue to serve the community for years to come.”

Supervisor Vallie Brown, a longtime advocate for providing equitable recreational services to the Fillmore/Western Addition community, said the revamped playground will offer something for everyone.

“I’m thrilled that we’re renewing our promise to the surrounding neighborhood by investing in the park. When it reopens, a bigger and brighter Margaret Hayward Playground will ensure that nearby elders, families, and kids can truly make the park their own,” Brown said.

The updated play area, designed to ignite children’s imaginations, will be at the heart of the park.

“Margaret Hayward Playground has been cherished by so many and for so long.  We couldn’t be more excited to be carrying out the community’s vision for polishing this neighborhood jewel,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg.

Charles M. Collins, president and chief executive officer of the YMCA of San Francisco, said the new community building is especially important for children and their parents.

“The renovation, besides being very functional, creates a welcoming atmosphere to the entire community.  The design of the building was created with input from all the community partners and took into consideration safety, versatility for a multifaceted program and the ease of accessibility,” Collins said.  “Renovation ensures that the youth and families will have quality programs far into the future.”

The $28 million project is funded by the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhoods Park GO Bond, with additional funds from Market Octavia Community Improvements Fund and the California Housing Related Parks Program, plus proposed gifts from Nearby Schools Initiative and Open Space funds. The site is shared with the Department of Emergency Management, which operates the city’s 911 Call Center and Emergency Operations Center.

The park, originally part of Jefferson Square which sits across Turk Street, served as a refugee camp following the 1906 earthquake. In 1918, it was named to honor Margaret S. Hayward, one of the founding members of San Francisco’s Playground Commission, which was created in 1907. The following year, Hayward was elected to the board of directors of the California Club, the premiere vehicle for child reform in the City. Margaret S. Hayward Park was the first San Francisco Recreation and Park property named for a woman.

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SAN FRANCISCO – An ice rink steps away from San Francisco City Hall and modeled after the famed Wiener Eistraum of Vienna opened today, the latest attraction in a Civic Center area now rich with art, entertainment and family-friendly fun.

The Winter Park at Civic Center, operated by Willy Bietak Productions, will remain open until Jan. 6 and joins a variety of creative venues transforming the area into a coveted destination both for neighborhood families and tourists. Bi-Rite Cafe opened its doors in Civic Center Plaza last month, and two state-of-the art playgrounds opened earlier this year. Surrounding blocks boast outdoor art, free performances, and food trucks.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed kicked off The Winter Park’s opening ceremony with Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater Brian Boitano, San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg, and Willy Bietak, president of Willy Bietak Productions.

“Since taking office, one of my priorities has been working with our City departments to make Civic Center a more welcoming place for all our residents,” said Mayor Breed. “We have made consistent progress over the past few months and the Winter Park is yet another great addition to the area. I am excited for people to be able to come together and celebrate with those they love this holiday season.”

Approximately 200 children from Tenderloin elementary schools and Boitano’s Youth Skate program took to the ice after watching performances by professional skaters and children from the Yerba Buena Ice Skating Center.

With more than 3,000 kids in kindergarten through 12th grade, the Tenderloin is home to more schoolchildren than any other neighborhood.  Willy Bietak Productions is partnering with San Francisco Unified School District and SF Rec and Parks to offer field trips to Tenderloin students that includes free skating sessions, guidance from skate instructors and healthy snacks. In addition to Tenderloin students skating for free, all children, no matter where they live, will enjoy $5 admission and skate rental every day before 3:30 p.m.

“All San Franciscans deserve to experience holiday magic, especially those right here in the neighborhood. The Civic Center is coming alive and we want everyone to reap the benefits,” Ginsburg said.

Willy Bietak Productions is also focused on giving back to the community. It is holding a Socks in the City Drive from Dec. 21-23, during which visitors to the ice rink are asked to donate new socks when they come to skate. The socks will then be donated to St. Anthony’s for distribution to people living in shelters and on the streets.

“We are thrilled to expand our seasonal offerings to a new part of the City,” said Willy Bietak, President of Willy Bietak Productions. “We are striving to ensure that The Winter Park is a space for everyone, and we are proud to be partnering with local schools and organizations to create holiday magic for the entire community.”

In addition to the traditional ice rink, The Winter Park will include a 400 square foot track winding through a lighted tree forest. It will also host a series of special events, including Learn to Curl Sessions, First Responders Appreciation Days and more. For more information, please visit winterparkicerinksf.com

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SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco’s parks became more consistently well maintained across the city last year, with less disparity between neighborhoods and significant improvements to formerly lower scoring properties, according to a Controller’s Office report released Wednesday afternoon.

Overall, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department met 89 percent of its park maintenance standards in fiscal year 2017-2018, the 2018 Park Maintenance Standards Annual Report found. While the overall score remains the same as the previous year, the report showed dramatic improvements in raising the overall upkeep standards of parks over the past several years. In 2015, the lowest scoring park was 60 percent. In 2018, that score climbed 11 percentage points to 71 percent.

“All of our residents, no matter which neighborhood they live in, deserve clean, safe parks and open spaces” said Mayor London Breed. “While there is always more that can be done, I am glad to see we are making progress to maintain the locations that are most in need so that all of our parks serve our communities.”

Much of last year’s improvements were made in neighborhoods with the highest concentration of residents exhibiting one or more vulnerable population characteristics, as defined by the State of California.  Parks in these neighborhoods, dubbed “equity zones” include Alice Chalmers Playground in the Crocker-Amazon neighborhood, which improved by 14 percentage points; Buchanan Street Mall in the Western Addition, which improved by 11 percentage points; and Turk-Hyde Mini Park in the Tenderloin and Excelsior Playground, both of which improved by 10 points.  Overall, equity zone parks received an average score of 88 percent, the report showed. Over 61 percent of Rec and Parks’ capital dollars are invested in equity zones, which comprise 20 percent of the city’s park acreage.

“The ability to interact with nature in a clean, safe environment is crucial to everyone’s wellbeing,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Our staff has been working hard to ensure all our parks are in good shape across every neighborhood in the city and I’m very pleased to see their labor reflected in the controller’s report. There is always work to be done and room to improve but this shows our commitment to equity is making a difference.”

The score for parks in the Bayview neighborhood increased by four percentage points over last year and some of the city’s most improved properties were in the same neighborhood. Gilman Playground improved by 11.2 percentage points, while Bay View Playground improved by 7.7 percentage points

Lyslynn Lacoste, executive director of BMAGIC, a collaborative devoted to improving the lives of Bayview-Hunters Point children, youth and their families, said the improvements to the parks are apparent to residents.

“The parks in the Bayview are cleaner, safer and more welcoming. We are seeing more park staffers and volunteers and, in turn, more community members who now feel comfortable enjoying their neighborhood parks,” Lacoste said.

Notable improvements in other neighborhoods include the Margaret Osborne DuPont Tennis Courts in the Richmond District, Joe DiMaggio Playground in North Beach, Ina Coolbrith Mini Park in Russian Hill, and Jefferson Square in the Western Addition.

The condition of many of the top ranking and most improved parks has been partly due to an infusion of bond money. In 2008, voters approved a $185 million Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond to improve park restrooms and replace dilapidated playfields. In 2012, voters again passed a $195 million general obligation bond to improve infrastructure in neighborhood parks.

Three of this year’s top-scoring parks were also top-scoring parks last fiscal year: Cabrillo Playground, Fulton Playground, and Fay Park. Two of these, Fulton Playground and Cabrillo Playground, were renovated in 2012 and 2013, respectively, using 2008 bond money. Of the 12 highest-scoring athletic fields, three are in West Sunset Playground, which has six athletic fields and four are in Golden Gate Park, which has 15 athletic fields. The West Sunset Playground received $13.6 million dollars in funding from the 2012 bond.

This is the 13^th Park Maintenance Standards Annual Report. Under an amendment passed by voters in 2003, the City Charter requires the Controller’s Office to work with Rec and Parks to establish objective and measurable park maintenance standards and assess them annually. The goal is to reveal how park conditions change from year to year and to uncover the main drivers of change in park conditions to inform Rec and Parks’ operational decisions.

To view the full report, click here.

SAN FRANCISCO – The men and women whose gardening skills have made San Francisco’s parks among the nation’s best were honored recently at the 10^th Annual William Hammond Hall Awards.

In partnership with the Laborer’s International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 261, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission and Department hosted the ceremony Thursday at the McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park. The awards recognize the top gardening and horticulture professionals of the Recreation and Park Department who take pride in their work and enjoy providing well maintained parks for all who use them. This year’s honors were presented by San Francisco Supervisors Jane Kim and Rafael Mandelman.

Governor-Elect Gavin Newsom said he was continually impressed by the commitment of those who maintain San Francisco’s parks.

“I’m saying it because I believe it,” said Newsom. “I’ve gotten to know a lot of the City gardeners, I know how hard they work, how much they care, and I respect the work they do.”

Mayor London Breed said the work is integral to making San Francisco a livable city for everyone.

“The dedication and hard work of our city gardeners, arborists, park supervisors, and apprentices keep our parks clean and safe, and allow San Franciscans of all ages to enjoy these important community spaces,” Breed said.

“People have begun to recognize that being a city gardener is an honorable occupation as well as a calling,” said Oscar de la Torre, vice president of the Laborers International Union of North America. “Their collective strength, expertise and commitment to our city and the citizens we serve is unmatched. To us, they are heroes.”

San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission President Mark Buell congratulated the awardees on their “extraordinary excellence and dedication”

The award is named for William Hammond Hall, a civil engineer and a visionary who designed Golden Gate Park and became the city’s first park superintendent in the 1870s. Tasked with transforming the sandy, windswept dunes of the “outside lands” into a living, vibrant landscape, Hall constructed a destination of warmth, repose and enlivenment for San Francisco citizens in Golden Gate Park.

“Our gardeners’ jobs are among the most challenging in the city. But like William Hammond Hall, who was often told that his job of building a park on sand dunes was impossible, they have shown great commitment, dedication, and ingenuity in getting the job done,” said Phil Ginsburg, general manager of San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. “We couldn’t be prouder to work with such a great group of men and women.”

Today, the City’s gardeners carry on Hall’s legacy, implementing his vision of gardens and greenways across San Francisco. In the past decade alone, they planted thousands of new trees and propagated tens of thousands of native plants and exotic flowers. At the same time, the Department sustained a 40 percent reduction in water use for landscape maintenance since 2013. In the biennial city survey from the Office of the Controller, residents also graded the quality of park landscapes higher than nearly every other San Francisco amenity – with a B+.

Dozens of gardening professionals with SF Rec and Park are also Bay-Friendly Certified through ReScape California, meaning they implement landscape maintenance practices that conserve water, reduce waste and pollution, and provide many other benefits for communities and the environment.

In 2010, the Department developed a Gardener Apprenticeship program, with the help of Laborers Local 261, to provide a pathway for San Franciscans into gardening jobs with the City. On-the-job training during the two-to-three year program teaches participants proper mowing, weeding, pruning, digging, planting and controlling pests. Ultimately, the program gives apprentices the minimum qualification needed to apply for permanent gardening jobs with the City.

Today, the Recreation and Park Department stewards more than 220 parks, playgrounds, and open spaces, such as the Marina Yacht Harbor, the San Francisco Zoo, and the Lake Merced Complex as well as two outside the city limits—Sharp Park in Pacifica and Camp Mather in the high Sierras.

The Award was presented to the following gardeners for their outstanding work in keeping San Francisco Parks clean and beautiful: Zac Bron, John Demery, Ryan Donovan, Lauren Doyle Kerins, Liz Hui, Isao Kaji, Paul Naughton, Stephanie Roetken, Aida Teklu, Alexandra Weaver, David Williams, and Chris Womack.

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SAN FRANCISCO – Starting Monday, an unusual visitor will descend upon Golden Gate Park’s Chain of Lakes, chomping its way through the marshy waters and spitting out any invasive weed that dare stand in its path, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today.

The Aquamog, an aquatic vehicle that looks like the unlikely offspring of a small paddleboat and a backhoe, will dine on submerged and floating invasive plants for approximately one month at North Lake, the largest of the three natural waterways that make up the Chain of Lakes. North Lake is known for its birdwatching, and its paved path is popular with joggers, dog walkers, and parents pushing strollers. It has long attracted water birds that take shelter on its small islands, including egrets, great blue herons, belted kingfishers, and many types of ducks.

Invasive plants, mainly water primrose and parrot feather, have grown across nearly 80 percent of North Lake’s open water. When these aquatic invaders take over a lake, they can destroy native plant populations, choke waterways and eliminate major food sources and habitats of native animals. Removing the invasive vegetation will improve the health of the lake and its shoreline and enhance viewpoints from the pathway.

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department uses vegetation management methods that cause the least possible hazard to people, property and the environment. Using the Aquamog to harvest the bulk of aquatic weeds is more environmentally friendly than applying herbicides and more efficient than removing them through manual labor. The project’s goal is eradication of 100 percent of invasive weeds. SF Rec and Parks has previously used an Aquamog in Pine Lake and Metson Lake.

The Aquamog is owned by DK Environmental, a Bay Area company that contracts with the City to restore native plant populations and healthy ecosystems.

Two staging areas at the northern shore will be closed for the duration of the project, while areas along the perimeter pathways may be closed intermittently. The work will continue until late November.

Once nestled in the sand dunes that covered western San Francisco, the three waterways that make up the Chain of Lakes are among Golden Gate Park’s five natural lakes. The rest of the park’s lakes are artificial.

SAN FRANCISCO – Offering fresh food amid the flourishing Civic Center Plaza, Bi-Rite Cafe opened its doors today, serving the neighborhood’s appetite for nourishing options and a welcoming gathering space.

The opening of the cafe is the latest attraction transforming the area into a destination for neighborhood families, visitors from across the City and tourists alike. It is steps from two state-of-the-art playgrounds opened earlier this year and a cornerstone of a major effort to enliven the public spaces linking Market Street and City Hall with outdoor art, free performances, and regular family friendly events.

Bringing the cafe to the plaza was a collaboration between the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the Civic Center Community Benefit District (CCCBD). Bi-Rite, the operator of the new cafe, is a local family-owned institution since 1940. Architecture firm WRNS Studio led the design.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed was among the first to welcome Bi-Rite to the neighborhood.

“As someone who spends a lot of time in the Civic Center area, I am excited to see Bi-Rite Cafe open,” said Mayor Breed. “Between the new Helen Diller Playgrounds, monthly Civic Center block parties, and the opening of Bi-Rite, we are activating this important community space to better serve residents, families, and visitors.”

The cafe was born from broad community input during the planning process for the new playgrounds requesting more fresh food options.

“We are committed to serving the growing Civic Center and Tenderloin neighborhoods while creating a destination that brings people from across San Francisco, the Bay Area and around the world out to eat, play, and enjoy the arts at the center of the city,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg.

Bi-Rite Family of Businesses was chosen due to its deep, multi-generational ties to San Francisco and its long history of creating space where community members could deepen their relationships with food and each other. The Bi-Rite Family also includes 18 Reasons, a nonprofit community cooking school. Bi-Rite has significant ties to the neighborhood, ensuring residents on public assistance have access to fresh produce through the EBT Market Match program at Heart of the City Farmers’ Market. Its partnerships have also included Episcopal Community Services’ CHEFS Program, the Tenderloin Healthy Corner Store Coalition and Project Open Hand.

“The Civic Center is such an important, iconic part of San Francisco and we’re excited to have this opportunity to continue our mission of creating community through food and to deepen our relationship with Civic Center and surrounding communities,” explained Sam Mogannam, founding partner of Bi-Rite Family of Businesses. “And as a native San Franciscan, I’m proud to have a role in helping the Plaza be a safe and welcoming place for families and visitors to enjoy the delicious, responsibly sourced, local food they deserve.”

To encourage learning and healthy food choices, Bi-Rite Cafe is partnering with San Francisco Public Library’s Main Branch to provide whole, fresh fruit to children and teens who visit the library’s Children’s Room or Teen Center. Every time they visit, kids will receive a special Bi-Rite sticker, which they can then show to the Cafe staff to receive a free piece of fruit. The Cafe has also been actively working with the City’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development to hire staff directly from the neighborhood.

Funding for the cafe came from a $2 million Mercer Fund grant made in honor of Helen Diller, whose family foundation awarded the generous $10 million donation to fund the design and construction of two vibrant, state-of-the-art playgrounds, at no cost to the City.

“My parents were native San Franciscans and we are honored to be a part of the team working on this important project,” said Helen Diller Family Foundation President Jackie Safier, whose parents started the foundation in 1999. “The care and thought put into each detail by everyone involved has been a labor of love.”

Through the Trust for Public Land, the Foundation donated the funds to the Civic Center Plaza community in 2013 to provide a central gathering space where families can play while enjoying local, healthy food. In partnership with SF Rec and Park, TPL led the community engagement, design, and construction of the playgrounds and cafe.

“San Francisco truly is a leader in park access, with 100 percent of San Franciscans living within a 10-minute walk of a park,” said Diane Regas, president and CEO of The Trust for Public Land. “We’re proud to help make Civic Center Plaza a crowd-favorite destination for fun, outdoor inspiration and now, refreshment.”

Responsible for the cafe’s building management, the Civic Center Community Benefit District will reinvest the rent collected from Bi-Rite directly back into the Civic Center Plaza open spaces and playgrounds.

For the past several years at Civic Center Plaza, SF Rec and Park has offered classes and games for adults and youth such as Zumba, soccer, bocce ball, kickball, and volleyball as well as weekly food trucks in partnership with Off the Grid. Building upon the momentum championed by the Department, the City has launched the Civic Center Commons Initiative, a collaborative effort to breathe new life into the City’s central civic spaces so people who live, work and play nearby can enjoy free outdoor cultural events in the heart of San Francisco.

The elegant design of the cafe was led by architecture firm WRNS Studio. With California local stone, intricate stainless steel, and gates that open on all sides to form a canopy, the design creates a welcoming sense of place that complements both the new playgrounds and the historic architecture of the surrounding Civic Center buildings. The cafe draws in visitors and encourages enjoyment of the park and surrounding views.

Also integral to the project were the San Francisco Planning Commission, Public Works, Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Arts Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Department of Building Inspection, Office of the City Administrator and Hunters Point Family.

Bi-Rite Cafe, located at 52 Grove Street, will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. The menu offers breakfast and lunch all day and includes healthy, kid-friendly options. The cafe will also feature Bi-Rite Creamery soft serve ice cream and a full espresso bar and coffee program featuring Sightglass Coffee.

More on San Francisco Recreation and Park Department

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department currently manages more than 220 parks, playgrounds and open spaces throughout San Francisco, including two outside city limits. The system includes full-complex recreation centers, swimming pools, golf courses, sports fields and numerous small-to-medium-sized clubhouses that offer a variety of sports- and arts-related recreation programs for people of all ages.

More on the Helen Diller Family Foundation

The Helen Diller Family Foundation has supported a number of programs and institutions in the Bay Area and throughout the world, including other award-winning playground renovations in the city, such as the Helen Diller Play Area at Julius Kahn Playground in the Presidio and the recent Helen Diller playground in Mission Dolores Park.

More on The Trust for Public Land

The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Millions of people live near a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year. To support The Trust for Public Land and share why nature matters to you, visit www.tpl.org.

More on Bi-Rite Family of Businesses

In addition to the Cafe, the Bi-Rite Family of Businesses includes two neighborhood Markets, a Creamery, a full-service catering operation, and a small farm. Bi-Rite is also a Certified B Corp. To learn more, visit biritemarket.com.

More on the Civic Center Community Benefit District

The Civic Center Community Benefit District (CCCBD) improves and promotes San Francisco’s historic Civic Center through a host of planning, policy and public programming initiatives. In addition to focused and responsive neighborhood clean and safe programs, CCCBD provides public open space beautification, activation and advocacy on behalf of the area’s diverse constituency.

More on WRNS Studio

WRNS Studio has been responsible for numerous projects that enhance the public realm in San Francisco, including Boeddeker Park and Hayes Valley Playground.

More on the Civic Center Commons Initiative

The Civic Center Commons Initiative is a collaborative effort among the City of San Francisco and neighbors, community organizations, and cultural institutions to breathe new life into the City’s central civic spaces, changing how people engage with the place and with each other so that everyone can feel welcome and experience the best of San Francisco every day. Led by the City of San Francisco in partnership with neighbors, community organizations, and cultural institutions, the initiative is transforming Civic Center Plaza, UN Plaza, and Fulton Street between the Main Library and the Asian Art Museum with San Francisco-style attractions such as the Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds, the new Bi-Rite Café and Village Artist Corner at the Asian Art Museum; innovative workforce development partnerships that help keep the area clean and safe while providing jobs for people facing barriers to employment; and frequent free events, markets, recreational activities, and whimsical art installations that are changing how people engage with the space and each other. For more information, please visit www.civiccentercommons.org.

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SAN FRANCISCO – A plan to revitalize a network of waterfront open space in the city’s southeast by rehabilitating and uniting several poorly conditioned existing open spaces into a single, seamless design received approval by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors today.

Supervisors voted to certify the environmental impact report for the India Basin waterfront project, which will combine 900 Innes Ave, a long-vacant bayside lot the City acquired in 2014, with two existing parks that border it: India Basin Shoreline Park and India Basin Shoreline Open Space, both of which would undergo significant improvements.  The resulting 10-acre waterfront park would connect the Bay Trail and provide open spaces, trails and unrivaled recreational opportunities for residents. The plan is a collaboration between the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, Build Inc, the Trust for Public Land, the San Francisco Parks Alliance, Parks 94124, the A. Phillip Randolph Institute, Young Community Developers, the India Basin Neighborhood Association and many other neighborhood and park serving organizations.

“India Basin will transform an abandoned industrial site into an important community space that will serve Bayview residents and visitors from across the Bay Area,” said Mayor London N. Breed. “I want to thank Rec & Parks, the numerous community organizations, and Bayview residents for their hard work to make this plan a reality.”

Supervisor Malia Cohen, who represents the area, stressed the urgency and importance of the project.

“The India Basin Park, which has the best views in the City, is the long overdue crown jewel of San Francisco’s waterfront park system,” Cohen said. “The Bayview-Hunters Point and India Basin community will finally gain much-deserved space for active recreation, to take a stroll, or to have a family barbecue. I’m proud to see this project move forward, benefiting our D10 community and the City as a whole.”

San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg envisions the completed India Basin project as “one of the most important park projects in modern San Francisco history.”

“India Basin provides an incredible opportunity to transform an industrial segment of the southern waterfront that has long been neglected into a beautiful network of parks that will be a source of health and recreation, economic and workforce development, environmental stewardship and joy for Bayview and India Basin neighborhood residents. Equity and public access have been the driving force behind every detail of this plan,” Ginsburg said.

Today’s approval represents an important step in realizing the comprehensive plan.

“Bayview-Hunters Point and India Basin residents deserve access to a beautiful and clean shoreline park that reflects their values and provides more opportunities to play, be healthy and connect to nature and each other. There is still a long road ahead to make this vision a reality and this a significant milestone in the process,” said Alejandra Chiesa, Bay Area program director for The Trust for Public Land.

More than 30 Bayview community stakeholders, regional organizations and local property owners guided the programming and design process. The plan will connect the residents of public housing, now isolated on the hills, with the coastline. Vendors will offer healthy food choices historically lacking in the neighborhood. The Shop, a remnant of the site’s long-ago life as a boatyard, will nurture the next generation of makers through boat building workshops and other creative and life skills classes.

“The Parks Alliance has long advocated for creating much needed open space for southeast residents. We look forward to continue working with the surrounding communities, city and property owners to ensure these parks and open spaces reflect the needs of the local residents and are an extension of the surrounding neighborhoods,” said San Francisco Parks Alliance CEO Drew Becher.

Neighborhood advocates also cheered Tuesday’s development.

Maya Rodgers, co-founder of Parks 94124, a non-profit organization that advocates for open space and recreation in Bayview-Hunters Point, called the India Basin project “an example of demonstrated commitment and collaboration in a tenuous economic climate.”

“The juxtaposition of open space and urban space is innovative and exciting,” Rodgers said. “The Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood needs more open space, the sheer density of the area requires it. The India Basin project has the potential to create opportunities for positive exposure to and of this neighborhood amidst a long history of marginalization and inequity.”

It was a sentiment shared by Jacqueline Flin, executive director of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute San Francisco.

“The India Basin Project brings much needed beautification and public assets to the historically neglected southeast shoreline,” Flin said. “Bayview is vastly diverse and eclectic. This project is designed with families that currently live in Bayview. In addition to protecting and restoring our natural shoreline, future generations of families will continue to benefit with gorgeous open space for our City’s youth to play, grow, and thrive.”

The 5.6-acre India Basin Shoreline Park, which is currently used by local residents, will be redesigned to better serve the community, including the installation of enhanced playground and recreational facilities, biking and walking paths.

Remediation and grading of the site is $11.5 million, $5 million of which will be covered by Measure AA funds. Funding has also been provided by the California Coastal Conservancy, EPA grants, the Trust for Public Lands, Build Inc, San Francisco Parks Alliance, and the city’s Open Space Acquisition Fund and General Fund.

SF Rec & Parks is also partnering with Hunters Point Family, which provides employment opportunities for low income African American residents of the Bayview-Hunters Point community. Through an EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant, Hunters Point Family has already trained more than 60 students in environmental remediation and intends to place at least 80 percent of graduates in environmental remediation jobs, many of which will be at 900 Innes.

“We are very excited to engage in the work of restoring the community through restoring and healing the land alongside our partners at the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department,” said Hunters Point Family Executive Director and Founder Lena Miller. “We are providing career pathways for some of our community’s residents who have been most impacted by environmental pollution, thereby becoming the change we wish to see in the world.”

The Port of San Francisco, along with the City’s Planning Department, Office of Economic and Workforce Development and Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure also played vital roles in the India Basin Project.

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SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco’s iconic Coit Tower will turn 85 on Monday with extra reason to celebrate: it has been named a “nationally significant” historic place on the National Register of Historic Places.

The National Register is the official list of buildings, districts and objects worthy of preservation. Established as part of the National Historical Preservation Act of 1966, it is overseen by the National Park Service.

“Coit Tower has been an emblem of San Francisco’s skyline for 85 years, and its beautiful murals portray what life was like for San Franciscans trying to make a living during the Great Depression. Both are woven into the history and landscape of our city,” said Phil Ginsburg, general manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. “We are proud to support public works of art and give these historic murals and their artists the recognition they deserve – at the national level.”

Coit Tower’s murals earned its spot on the list with the help of neighborhood committee Protect Coit Tower and the SF Arts Commission.

Now, Protect Coit Tower and a coalition of artists and relatives of the Coit Tower muralists, civic associations, and historic preservation advocates are working to elevate Coit Tower to the highest status of a “National Historic Landmark.” Of more than 90,000 places listed on the country’s National Register of Historic Places, only 2,500 are recognized as National Historic Landmarks, including Alcatraz.

A majestic fluted white column rising from the top of Telegraph Hill, Coit Tower was built at the bequest of Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a true San Francisco character and devoted patron of the city’s firefighters.  Since its completion in 1933, the tower has been welcoming visitors and residents to marvel at the 360-degree views of the City and the Bay offered by the Tower’s observation deck.  Its frescos were painted in 1934 by a diverse group of artists employed by the Public Works of Art Project, a precursor to the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

“Coit Tower and the 27 murals housed within are among San Francisco’s most glorious treasures,” said San Francisco Arts Commission Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny. “As the prototype for the Works Progress Administration program and San Francisco’s own public art program, the Coit Tower murals were at the vanguard 85 years ago and their imagery still resonates today. No matter how many times one visits the murals, there is always something new to discover and to learn about our city and about our humanity. Thank you to Lillie Hitchcock Coit for the gift that keeps on giving.”

The push for National Historic Landmark status will give proper recognition to the murals and artists who created them. It also recognizes the historical significance of the nation’s first federal art program, conceived as part of the New Deal, and which ultimately employed millions of people to carry out public works projects across the country, including construction of public buildings and roads.

To celebrate the 85^th birthday of Coit Tower, Canessa Gallery in North Beach is displaying ‘Coit Tower Artists-in-Action Photo Exhibit’ through the month of October. This exhibit focuses on the 25 Coit Tower mural artists, featuring rare photographs of each artist along with revealing life stories and examples of their work.  Many–including Ralph Stackpole, Victor Arnautoff, Mallette Dean, Maxine Albro, Lucien Labaudt, Edith Hamlin, and Bernard Zakheim — went on to create other significant artworks throughout the Bay Area and beyond. While you’re there, check out the Fireman’s Memorial in Washington Square Park, another gift to the City from the famous Lillie Hitchcock Coit.

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Fleet Week officially begins on Tuesday, October 2 and runs until Monday, October 8. There will be events throughout the city that honor the contributions of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces while advancing cooperation and knowledge among civilian- and military-based Humanitarian Assistance personnel, including in our parks! See below for park events and click here for the citywide event list: https://fleetweeksf.org/events/

10/2  6 to 7 p.m. 32nd Street Brass Band Performance at Noe Valley Town Square

10/5-7 Humanitarian Village at Marina Green

10/5-7  Fleet Week Celebration and Air Show at Marina Green

10/5  4 to 5 p.m. 1st Marine Division Band Performance at Argonne Playground

10/6  11 a.m. to 1 p.m. K-9 Heroes: Bark at the Park at Duboce Park

10/8  10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. High School Band Challenge at the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park

The recent $6.7 million renovation that transformed an underused park in the Bayview into a sought-after, multi-purpose public space for people of all ages has been selected by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) San Francisco chapter as its Outstanding Parks and Recreation Project, the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department announced today.

The Hilltop Park Renovation Project team was honored at the ASCE’s San Francisco Section meeting at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center.  The team included the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department; The Trust for Public Land; community groups Parks 94124 and Hunters Point Family; Langan Engineering and Environmental Services; Miller Company Landscape Architects Inc., Robert A. Bothman Construction; and construction manager Mack5.

Located at the highest point in the Bayview District, the park was originally constructed in 1979. Renovations began in late November 2015 and were completed just under a year later. Hilltop’s updated features include the 70-foot sundial amphitheater and plaza, a new skateboard park replacing the former “dish,” two new playgrounds, additional seating, picnic and barbeque areas, an adult fitness and meditation area and accessible pathways.

Next to public housing in the heart of the traditionally underserved neighborhood, Hilltop Park now provides a safe and dynamic public venue that includes space both for group gatherings and quiet reflection. Sustainability features include vegetated swales for water infiltration, California native and drought tolerant plants, and storm water retention. The renovation also updated the former sundial that had rusted over time and replaced the mound of dirt surrounding the sundial with green grass.

San Francisco Recreation and Parks General Manager Phil Ginsburg said the renovated Hilltop Park provides a green oasis for neighborhood residents.

“Bayview has the highest number of children in San Francisco, yet few open spaces. The renovated Hilltop Park provides a greatly improved outdoor space where neighbors can get out and play in a healthy, safe, and fun environment,” he said.

The renovation was made possible through a partnership with The Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit. Funding was also provided by the California State Parks Statewide Park Program, California Department of Housing and Community Develop Housing Related Parks Program, 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond Community Opportunity Fund, Youth Outside, The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Walter and Elise Haas Fund, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Hellman Foundation, and the Tony Hawk Foundation.

“The Trust for Public Land is proud to have worked with great community and consultant partners, including Langan Engineering, to renovate Hilltop Park. Almost 15,000 San Franciscans can walk to Hilltop Park in 10 minutes, making this a great resource for the community – from children to seniors – who live in the Bayview. We’re working to ensure everyone in this country lives within a 10 minute walk of a quality park, and projects like Hilltop Park are integral to that goal,” said Alejandra Chiesa, Bay Area Program Director.

“The Hilltop Park underwent an amazing transformation. I am immensely proud to be on the team that made this happen,” said Langan Engineering Associate Cary Ronan, the geotechnical project manager for the park renovation. “Winning the ASCE award is a testament to how special this park is and the benefit it provides to San Franciscans of all ages.

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This past month we completed our resurfacing of the Louis Sutter sports courts (Wayland and University Streets) and converted the tennis courts to dedicated pickleball courts, the first of its kind in San Francisco! To celebrate this milestone, we will have an event on Saturday, September 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. that will not only feature pickleball activities, but a pickling workshop! We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us and the Tennis Coalition for the launch of our Golden Gate Park Tennis Center campaign on Saturday, September 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come to this FREE event that will feature a fun day of on-court activities, games for kids, food trucks, a beer & wine garden and a watch party for the US Open Women’s Final! This event will help kick off the “final set” of fundraising to renovate the Golden Gate Park Tennis Center. For more information, click here.

Swing by Robin Williams Meadow on Sunday, September 16th for some laughs at the 38th Annual Comedy Day from noon to 5 p.m.! Located at the formerly named Sharon Meadow, this is the first year the event’s location will bear the name of this iconic Bay Area comedian who was one of the biggest supporters of this festival. With over 40 comedians, you are bound giggle, chuckle and flat out chortle all afternoon! For more information, click here: http://comedyday.org/

SAN FRANCISCO –  Starting Saturday, nothing will stand between families and all-day outdoor fun at Boat Playground—not even the call of nature itself.

The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department will hold a celebration and opening of a free-standing, all-gender restroom at Boat Playground from 3-4 p.m. Saturday. State Senator Scott Wiener and District 4 Supervisor Katy Tang will conduct the ceremonial first flush at the ribbon cutting. Children will receive free sand pails and shovels. Boat Playground is in Golden Gate Park at 45^th Avenue and Lincoln Way.

“From the beginning, Boat Playground has been a treasure created by and for the community,” Senator Wiener said. “The idea was born in 1926 and brought to fruition through the organizing and efforts of parents at nearby Francis Scott Key School. Now, the 45^th Avenue Neighborhood Association and Supervisor Katy Tang have improved it for the next generation of San Francisco kids. Time and again, this community demonstrates the power of grassroots advocacy and stewardship of our park resources.”

Mayor London Breed also praised the addition of the new restroom.

“Boat Playground is a wonderful location for families and children, but for too long has lacked restroom facilities” said Mayor Breed said. “I want to thank Supervisor Tang and Rec and Park for coming together with the community on this common-sense improvement.”

Tang secured $1.4 million in funding for the $1.9 million project through the city’s general fund after the 45^th Avenue Neighborhood Association gathered hundreds of signatures in support. Residents noted there was no public restroom within a 15-minute walk of Boat Playground.

“The new restroom at the Boat Playground means families can stay and play longer,” Tang said. “I want to thank the community members who first brought this need to my attention and who worked for many years with me to secure funding and garner community support for this project. This type of infrastructure is one small step in making this area even more family-friendly.”

The restroom includes new water, electrical and sanitary services; ADA accessible pathways from Lincoln Ave; new landscaping and adjusted irrigation to care for all existing and new planting in the area.

“We’d like to give a huge thank you to Supervisor Katy Tang and the 45^th Avenue Neighborhood Association for advocating on behalf of the community to improve this beloved playground,” said SF Park and Rec General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Supervisor Tang has been a great ally to our park system and has helped secure funding for multiple projects to make the city more livable, and the outdoors more accessible for everyone.”

The restroom is a tangible improvement for Outer Sunset parents and recreation enthusiasts, Neighborhood Association Leader Ginger Tulley said,

“With a restroom in this sweet little playground, all visitors will be able to enjoy it for longer periods, potty training children will have a place to ‘go’ that’s not behind a tree, and the many passing cyclists and runners will be able to stop in and use it,” Tulley said. “We owe a huge thanks to Supervisor Katy Tang for making it a reality. Hundreds of residents supported the effort, and they’re so happy to see it done.”

The Boat Playground is known for the small, flat-bottomed boat, called a dory, parked in the sand.  According to Recreation and Park Department’s Historian-in-Residence, Christopher Pollock, this type of boat was used by the U.S. Coast Guard, formerly known as the United States Life-Saving Service.  The agency’s station was located at the northwest corner of Golden Gate Park from 1878 until 1951.  During this period, the agency used dories to save shipwrecked souls off the coast of Ocean Beach. It is likely the dory at Boat Playground directly came from the station when the agency relocated, Pollock said.

SAN FRANCISCO – Construction began this week on Guy Place Mini Park, a planned oasis amid the skyscrapers of Rincon Hill, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today.

The parcel, at 4-8 Guy Place, is one of the very few undeveloped properties in the neighborhood. It sits near the approach to the Bay Bridge, steps from the new Transbay Terminal development and surrounded by a mix of older residential and commercial low-rise buildings as well as new residential towers.

“As San Francisco continues to grow, it is important that we create open spaces to serve our communities,” said Mayor London Breed. “By getting creative with ideas like mini parks, we can ensure all our neighborhoods have access to green spaces.”

District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim, whose district includes Guy Place Park, said the park serves a rapidly growing neighborhood.

“San Francisco’s fastest growing population is in District 6, so our need for open space and healthy recreation is growing as well,” Kim said. “We must build complete neighborhoods while building housing. I am proud that years of community advocacy made this new park a reality.”

In addition, Supervisor Kim’s office secured a $60,000 add-back for the construction of a bulb-out with a 24-hour dog relief area in front of the park to increase accessibility.

The acquisition of 4-8 Guy Place was funded by the Rincon Hill Community Improvements Fund in 2007 and followed by a community planning and design process in 2008, and additional community outreach in 2014.  The design then received approval from the San Francisco Arts Commission. In Spring 2017, the Department received additional funding to move forward with the construction.

“Guy Place Park has been a community driven project for a neighborhood that has lacked green and open space,” said SF Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “We are excited to be adding a new park in this corner of District 6.”

Guy Place Park is designed for quiet enjoyment as well as small group gatherings.  To maximize usable space and ensure accessibility, the design will raise the sloping terrain with engineered retaining walls to create a level site.  The new park design features eight new trees.

The renovation will also create three defined outdoor spaces as ‘rooms” with lush landscapes and three living green columns featuring native California grapevines.  The entry fence and gates are art enrichment components of the project designed through the San Francisco Arts Commission.

The new park will also include a waterjet-cut steel fence designed by artist Adriane Colburn. Inspired by the historic and contemporary geologic record of the neighborhood, the design combines the contours of the local landscape, cartographic imagery and abstract forms.

“Adriane Colburn’s fence design is meditative and modern in the way it evokes the site’s history and topography,” says Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny. “It ties a bow around this beautiful new urban oasis.”

The construction project is expected to last one year.

San Francisco – The Golden Gate Park Golf Course has re-opened after a July 2 fire destroyed its clubhouse, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today.

The clubhouse, built in 1951, was fully removed by July 11 and a temporary unit is now in its place. Food service is limited, but all other operations have resumed.

“The Golden Gate Park Golf Course means so much to so many,” said Phil Ginsburg, San Francisco Recreation and Park’s general manager.  “Countless San Franciscans have fallen in love with the game there, and we wanted to make sure golfers of all abilities could get back to honing their skills.”

The San Francisco Fire Department is investigating the cause of the two-alarm blaze, which was reported at 2:47 a.m. at the nine-hole course, which sits on the west end of Golden Gate Park near the ocean.

The course and clubhouse are San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department property, which are leased by The Golden Gate Park Golf Development Foundation, a nonprofit organization that nurtures local youth life skills development through golf.  While engaging the community at large by focusing on providing a friendly environment with a variety of products and services highlighting a stunning natural background.

“The staff of Golden Gate Park Golf Course would like to thank all of our faithful customers and the local community,” said Justin Moore, general manager of the course.  “We have received hundreds of emails and phone calls showing support after the fire.  It truly means a great deal to the golf course staff.  The support and kind words have given us the motivation to resume normal operations.”

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SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (SF Rec & Parks) is celebrating National Parks and Recreation Month this July with a month of special events and fun activities. Since 1985, July has been commemorated nationwide as America’s official Park and Recreation Month. SF Rec & Parks will kick off July with Flower Piano at SF Botanical Garden (July 5-16), followed by free World Cup Viewing Parties (July 10-11 & 15) and Summer Play Day at Bayview Playground and MLK Pool (July 14). Street Soccer USA (SSUSA) will host the SF Cup (July 28-29) in the final days of July at Union Square

SF Rec and Parks is also celebrating its second year as the only city in the country where every resident lives within a 10-minute walk of a park. This achievement was the result of maximizing recreational use of park land as well as acquiring new land to develop into parks, including In Chan Kaajal, which opened last spring. The findings were part of The Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore assessment of the nation’s 100 largest cities, and ranking them based on how well they provide and fund parks for their citizens. The study was released on May 22.

“To celebrate National Rec and Park Month, I challenge everyone to get out and take a 10-minute walk to a park, every day this month,” said SF Rec and Parks General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Our urban playgrounds are just around the corner, and every day is a chance to celebrate and connect with nature.”

World Cup screenings are designed to bring San Francisco together, activating park space to celebrate the world’s game and inspire people to engage in sports and healthy activities. This year’s screenings will be held at Sue Bierman Park (July 10 & 11) and Civic Center Commons (July 15). The free event attracts diverse crowds from across the City’s neighborhoods, the Bay Area, and beyond. In addition to the screenings, there will be soccer activities for kids, the mobile rock climbing wall, and food trucks.

Newly renovated Rolph Nicol Jr. Park is open and invites children to play at the new Nature Exploration Area. This space offers children the opportunity to connect with nature through unstructured play using hands-on methods interacting with the natural environment. The space was developed in collaboration with the Children & Nature Network (C&NN), which supports and inspires cities to prioritize access to natural green space, outdoor recreation and learning opportunities for all children. By prioritizing access to nature, SF Rec & Parks and C&NN hope to make a positive impact on youth development, from increased attention capacity to improved motor coordination and physical fitness – outcomes that have been demonstrated through decades of research spanning the entire globe.

The SF Cup, hosted by SSUSA, will take place July 28-29 at Union Square. SSUSA brings sports to all — by building fields, providing coaching and training, as well as education and employment programs to at-risk youth and homeless adults. SF Rec & Parks has been partnering with SSUSA for 5 consecutive years as part of an effort to leverage public resources for social good.

Join us for FREE 2018 FIFA World Cup viewings parties this July! We will be hosting the Final match on Sunday, July 15 beginning at 8AM at Civic Center Plaza. These free World Cup viewing events are presented in partnership with the San Francisco Parks Alliance. In addition to the screenings, there will be soccer activities for kids and food trucks. Civic Center Commons Initiative will also be offering lawn games like giant Jenga and cornhole for guests to enjoy for viewing of the Final at Civic Center Plaza.

Be sure to check out the Semi-final viewing parties too at Sue Bierman Park on Tuesday, July 10 and Wednesday, July 11 beginning at 11AM both days!

Join us for FREE 2018 FIFA World Cup viewings parties this July! We will be hosting the Semi-Final matches on Tuesday, July 10 and Wednesday, July 11 beginning both days at 11AM at Sue Bierman Park  These free World Cup viewing events are presented in partnership with the San Francisco Parks Alliance.

In addition to the screenings, there will be soccer activities for kids, the mobile rock climbing wall and food trucks! See you on the pitch!

The Golden Gate Park golf course clubhouse, which was built in 1951, was the victim of fire on the morning of Monday, July 2. The San Francisco Fire Department is currently investigating. The Golf course will be closed until further notice.

July 11, 2018
4:00 – 6:00 pm
City College of San Francisco 4th Floor Community Room #402
808 Kearny St, San Francisco (Kearny and Washington)

We hope to see you there!

Note: The Semi-Final Matches will NOW be hosted at Sue Bierman Park (Washington and Drumm Street) with the Final Match still being held at Civic Center Plaza. 

SAN FRANCISCO – As the 2018 FIFA World Cup kicked off with the host nation Russia, facing off against Saudi Arabia at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow today, both San Francisco’s Sue Bierman Park and Civic Center Plaza will be cheering with soccer fans for three days this July. The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (SF Rec & Parks) announced today that the Department will host free public viewing parties of the 2018 FIFA World Cup for the Semi-Final matches on Tuesday, July 10 and Wednesday, July 11 beginning both days at 11AM at Sue Bierman Park along with the Final on Sunday, July 15, beginning at 8AM at Civic Center Plaza. These free World Cup viewing events are presented in partnership with the San Francisco Parks Alliance.

“Events such as these embrace who we are as a city and celebrate the diversity of San Franciscans,” said Mayor Mark Farrell. “Soccer is the most popular sport in the world and has the immeasurable power to bring people together globally, nationally and civically. We look forward to seeing who comes out on top this year.”

Screenings like these are designed to bring San Francisco together, activating Sue Bierman Park and the historic Civic Center Plaza in the heart of the City to celebrate the world’s game and inspire people to engage in sports and healthy activities. Past showings of the Olympics, FIFA Men’s and Women’s World Cup Soccer, Warriors basketball and Giants baseball in Civic Center Plaza have attracted thousands of fans all cheering together with a wonderful sense of community. The free screenings attract diverse crowds from across the City’s neighborhoods, the Bay Area, and beyond.

In addition to the screenings, there will be soccer activities for kids, the mobile rock climbing wall, and food trucks. Civic Center Commons Initiative will also be offering lawn games like giant Jenga and cornhole for guests to enjoy for viewing of the Final at Civic Center Plaza.

“What a perfect venue to tune in with the rest of the world and celebrate a game that connects us all,” said, Drew Becher, SF Parks Alliance CEO. “We’re thrilled to activate the heart of the city for the World Cup!”

SF Rec and Parks hosts over 1,000 youth soccer teams, as well as runs over 90 soccer camps and classes for youth throughout the year, with well over 15,000 kids participating in both combined. No one is turned away from these programs due to lack of ability to pay. The Department gives over $1 million in scholarships each year for kids to participate in recreational activities such as these camps and classes.

“By providing free screenings of the FIFA World Cup, we are both inspiring and providing the opportunity for youth and adults alike to get out and play,” said, Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec & Parks’ General Manager.  “We will have America SCORES Bay Area running soccer camps here during the week, where kids can watch the world’s top athletes such as Lionel Messi and immediately take what they learned and apply it in their own camp.”

These free public showings are made possible thanks to Mayor Mark Farrell, who secured funding to support the event through his former role as District 2 Supervisor and the generous support of sponsors including KTVU FOX 2, Boston Properties, San Francisco Youth Soccer, Yours in Soccer Foundation, 150 Van Ness, Civic Center Commons Initiative, Recology, Shorenstein, Sports Basement and America SCORES Bay Area.

For more information about the events, visit: www.worldcupsf.com

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June 20, 2018 6-10pm

Conservatory Lighting at approximately 9:15pm

SAN FRANCISCO – Put some flowers in your hair and come celebrate the start of summer with an amazing night of music in Golden Gate Park at the iconic Conservatory of Flowers.  The City will revel in another free concert in the Park and as the longest day of the year slides into night, the Conservatory welcomes back the Summer of Love light art installation launched in 2017.  Photosynthesis transforms the Conservatory into a canvas of colorful light art every night.  The concert will revisit iconic songs of 1968 featuring legendary artists alongside new bright talents in the Bay Area music scene.

The flower-powered celebration is free and open to all ages. A variety of food trucks from Off the Grid will be available, as well.

This will be an All-Star concert featuring musicians from legendary bands: Big Brother & The Holding Company, It’s A Beautiful Day, Jefferson Starship, Jerry Garcia Band, New Chambers Brothers, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Rat Dog, and Sons of Champlin Along with musicians from the newer generation of San Francisco bands: ALO, Box Set, Brothers Comatose, Con Brio, Cosmic Twang, Midnight North, Mother Hips, and Tarnation.

Dance to Piece of My Heart – performed by original members of Big Brother & The Holding Company. Time Has Come Today – performed by original members of the New Chambers Brothers and of course, Dance to the Music – performed by original members of Sly & The Family Stone.

Developed in partnership with San Francisco Recreation and Parks, the light art installation, initiated by Illuminate, the nonprofit arts group behind The Bay Lights, together with Obscura Digital, a world-renowned creative studio specializing in large scale light-based art, uses gobo projectors to transform the all-white landmark with a series of exquisite scenes inspired by the rare tropical flowers within this national landmark.

Space is limited at this event, and public transportation is highly recommended, as parking is limited. John F. Kennedy Drive will be closed from Kezar Drive and 8^th Ave for the entirety of Wednesday June 20.

The Summer Solstice Concert is produced by Dawn Holliday with the musical direction of Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz.  The Recreation and Park Department is grateful to the Conservatory of Flowers, San Francisco Parks Alliance, and numerous civic leaders and organizations for supporting the event.

Entertainment for Summer Solstice blends San Francisco most beloved legacy bands and the bright new talents on the San Francisco music scene.

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List of Musicians

Musical director – Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz

Steve Adams

Stu Allen

Michael Bello

Tim Caine

Lester & Dylan Chambers

Jason Crosby

Greg Errico

Paula Frazer

Dave Getz

Darby Gould

Norman Greenbaum

Ross James

Alex Jordan

Mark Karan

David & Linda LaFlamme

Jay Lane

Scott Law

Ezra Lipp

Greg Loiacono

Ziek McCarter

Roger McNamee

John Molo

Ben & Alex Morrison

David Nelson

Jeff Pehrson

Melvin Seals

Pete Sears

Barry Sless

Plus more to be announced!

From planning the perfect family picnic to teaching us how to throw a baseball, we celebrate all that our moms do for us. This Mother’s Day, May 13, spend time with mom in your favorite park. The first 100 moms to enter the San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park (1199 9th Avenue) will receive a complimentary succulent from us at SF Rec and Park.

SAN FRANCISCO – In partnership with the Golden Gate Angling & Casting Club (GGACC), the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (SF Rec & Parks) announced the celebration of the 80^th anniversary of Anglers Lodge and Casting Pond in Golden Gate Park.  A celebration is scheduled on Saturday, May 12^th, that will include brief remarks from city leaders, free casting lessons and a barbecue social at Anglers Lodge.

“For more than 80 years, the Golden Gate Angling & Casting Club and its robust membership, have innovated fly fishing techniques and equipment. They have also provided a place for people to gather, learn, and relax in the heart of Golden Gate Park,” said District 11 State Senator Scott Wiener.  “Congratulations to them on the Anglers Lodge and Casting Pond’s 80th anniversary and thanks to them for providing a public space for all San Franciscans.”

“The Anglers Lodge is a hidden gem in Golden Gate Park surrounded by serene casting pools and lush green foliage. One only needs to visit the lodge to see the love of fishing in the memorabilia, the people who care for the lodge, and the resources available there,” said District 1 Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer whose district includes the Anglers Lodge.  “So happy and proud that the lodge has served San Franciscans for 80 years and will continue to be an institutionalized resource for all who visit it. Happy 80th birthday to the Anglers Lodge!”

Established in 1933, and celebrating its 85^th Anniversary, today the GGACC is the largest angling and casting club in the country with more than 1,000 members.  The Club hosts free fly casting lessons at Anglers Lodge and Casting Pond in Golden Gate Park on the second Saturday of each month from 9:30AM to noon year-round.  Each month casting instructors often teach more than 120 students, at four different skill levels ranging from Beginner through Advanced.  Free gear rental is available and a free lunch is provided.  More information is available at the GGACC website www.ggacc.org under the Calendar Events tab.  Participants are encouraged but not required to register online to help with event planning.

And on May 12^th, GGACC will also offer everyone free rod rentals and casting lessons starting at 9:30AM, then the Club will also offer SF Rec & Parks’ Greenagers free casting lessons starting at 3:000PM.  Greeagers, is a Youth Leadership Program under the umbrella of the SF Rec & Parks’ Youth Stewardship Program (YSP).  YSP offers teens, from underserved neighborhoods in San Francisco, a chance to play an important role in the community by improving our city’s green spaces and raising awareness.

“We are inspired by the Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club’s dedication to refining the fishing sports and continuing the traditions, they have shown commitment to sharing their passion and welcoming everyone to join them by offering them free lessons,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec & Parks’ General Manager.  “There are generations of stories of San Francisco family and community bonds to be told inside the Lodge and at the edge of the Casting Pond in Golden Gate Park.  We are honored to be celebrating the 80^th Anniversary of Anglers Lodge today.”

“The Golden Gate Angling & Casting Club, America’s largest fly fishing club, is truly blessed to have access to world class facilities in the Golden Gate Park’s Anglers Lodge and Casting Ponds, celebrating their 80th Anniversary this year” said Willy George, GGACC President.  “But it is our strong working relationship with the fine folks at SF Rec & Parks that enables GGACC to provide such a breadth of fly fishing related, community outreach programs.”

Originally part of the San Francisco Fly-Casting Club began in 1894, built its first clubhouse on the edge of Stow Lake, where it also held practices and tournaments in 1928, the GGACC was formed in 1933.  Then in 1938, the Club relocated the clubhouse to its current site by the Bison Paddock in Golden Gate Park.  The Anglers Lodge, as well as the Casting Pond were erected with the help from Work Project Administration (WPA).

Today, the Lodge remains to be a charming rustic cottage of redwood and field stone with hand-hewn window frames, and wrought iron.  The leaded glass panel depicting a fishing fly came from the front door of the original 1928 lodge.  And the Casting Pond, comprised of three huge, shallow concrete-lined tanks, provides a variety of targets for casting practice with no live fish.  The first national tournament was held in 1939 at the newly dedicated facilities.

Over the years, GGACC has continued its commitment to the sports as well as the protection of the ecosystem that supports the sports.  Beginning in 2017, the GGACC proudly funded an annual scholarship at Humboldt State University in support of an advanced degree in the Fisheries Biology Department.  The scholarship is a reflection of GGACC’s commitment to community and conservation with a specific focus on supporting the sustainability of Northern California steelhead, salmon, and trout fisheries.  The GGACC’s conservation committee’s ongoing work will support the scholarship at Humboldt State as well as focus on outreach with other conservation institutions and volunteer organizations.

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SAN FRANCISCO – In partnership with the Golden Gate Angling & Casting Club (GGACC), the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (SF Rec & Parks) announced the celebration of the 80^th anniversary of Anglers Lodge and Casting Pond in Golden Gate Park.  A celebration is scheduled on Saturday, May 12^th, that will include brief remarks from city leaders, free casting lessons and a barbecue social at Anglers Lodge.

“For more than 80 years, the Golden Gate Angling & Casting Club and its robust membership, have innovated fly fishing techniques and equipment. They have also provided a place for people to gather, learn, and relax in the heart of Golden Gate Park,” said District 11 State Senator Scott Wiener.  “Congratulations to them on the Anglers Lodge and Casting Pond’s 80th anniversary and thanks to them for providing a public space for all San Franciscans.”

“The Anglers Lodge is a hidden gem in Golden Gate Park surrounded by serene casting pools and lush green foliage. One only needs to visit the lodge to see the love of fishing in the memorabilia, the people who care for the lodge, and the resources available there,” said District 1 Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer whose district includes the Anglers Lodge.  “So happy and proud that the lodge has served San Franciscans for 80 years and will continue to be an institutionalized resource for all who visit it. Happy 80th birthday to the Anglers Lodge!”

Established in 1933, and celebrating its 85^th Anniversary, today the GGACC is the largest angling and casting club in the country with more than 1,000 members.  The Club hosts free fly casting lessons at Anglers Lodge and Casting Pond in Golden Gate Park on the second Saturday of each month from 9:30AM to noon year-round.  Each month casting instructors often teach more than 120 students, at four different skill levels ranging from Beginner through Advanced.  Free gear rental is available and a free lunch is provided.  More information is available at the GGACC website www.ggacc.org under the Calendar Events tab.  Participants are encouraged but not required to register online to help with event planning.

And on May 12^th, GGACC will also offer everyone free rod rentals and casting lessons starting at 9:30AM, then the Club will also offer SF Rec & Parks’ Greenagers free casting lessons starting at 3:000PM.  Greeagers, is a Youth Leadership Program under the umbrella of the SF Rec & Parks’ Youth Stewardship Program (YSP).  YSP offers teens, from underserved neighborhoods in San Francisco, a chance to play an important role in the community by improving our city’s green spaces and raising awareness.

“We are inspired by the Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club’s dedication to refining the fishing sports and continuing the traditions, they have shown commitment to sharing their passion and welcoming everyone to join them by offering them free lessons,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec & Parks’ General Manager.  “There are generations of stories of San Francisco family and community bonds to be told inside the Lodge and at the edge of the Casting Pond in Golden Gate Park.  We are honored to be celebrating the 80^th Anniversary of Anglers Lodge today.”

“The Golden Gate Angling & Casting Club, America’s largest fly fishing club, is truly blessed to have access to world class facilities in the Golden Gate Park’s Anglers Lodge and Casting Ponds, celebrating their 80th Anniversary this year” said Willy George, GGACC President.  “But it is our strong working relationship with the fine folks at SF Rec & Parks that enables GGACC to provide such a breadth of fly fishing related, community outreach programs.”

Originally part of the San Francisco Fly-Casting Club began in 1894, built its first clubhouse on the edge of Stow Lake, where it also held practices and tournaments in 1928, the GGACC was formed in 1933.  Then in 1938, the Club relocated the clubhouse to its current site by the Bison Paddock in Golden Gate Park.  The Anglers Lodge, as well as the Casting Pond were erected with the help from Work Project Administration (WPA).

Today, the Lodge remains to be a charming rustic cottage of redwood and field stone with hand-hewn window frames, and wrought iron.  The leaded glass panel depicting a fishing fly came from the front door of the original 1928 lodge.  And the Casting Pond, comprised of three huge, shallow concrete-lined tanks, provides a variety of targets for casting practice with no live fish.  The first national tournament was held in 1939 at the newly dedicated facilities.

Over the years, GGACC has continued its commitment to the sports as well as the protection of the ecosystem that supports the sports.  Beginning in 2017, the GGACC proudly funded an annual scholarship at Humboldt State University in support of an advanced degree in the Fisheries Biology Department.  The scholarship is a reflection of GGACC’s commitment to community and conservation with a specific focus on supporting the sustainability of Northern California steelhead, salmon, and trout fisheries.  The GGACC’s conservation committee’s ongoing work will support the scholarship at Humboldt State as well as focus on outreach with other conservation institutions and volunteer organizations.

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Join us and the Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club for a celebration event marking the 80th anniversary of the historic Angler’s Lodge and Casting Pools in Golden Gate Park. A project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1938, the ponds are free and open to anyone with an interest in fly fishing, from beginners to seasoned experts.The event will go from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 12 with free casting lessons from 9:30 a.m. to noon! Come out, cast a line and Get Out and Play!

We are proud to announce that we will be celebrating the opening of the Koret Playground (320 Bowling Green Drive) on Saturday, March 31 from 10 to 11 a.m. Join us before Eggstravaganza to celebrate the return of this iconic play area! Thank you to the San Francisco Parks Alliance, Koret Foundation, San Franciscans for Sports and Recreation, Stepping Stones Preschool and everyone who has supported this project! We looking forward to seeing everyone swinging and sliding again soon!

SAN FRANCISCO – The Japantown Merchants Association, the East and West Japan Center Malls, the Japantown community of residents, merchants and nonprofits and spiritual leaders, in partnership with SF Recreation and Park Department (SF Rec & Parks) will celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of Japanese Cultural and Trade Center (Japan Center) and Japantown Peace Plaza.  The celebration includes remarks by city leaders, performances by SF Taiko Dojo, as well as a community blessing, will take place at Japantown Peace Plaza on Wednesday, March 28^th starting at 11AM.

“We are pleased to be commemorating this special celebration in one of the most iconic neighborhoods in the City of San Francisco.  We are truly grateful to those that have supported our merchants and businesses over the past fifty years and wish for another 50 years of success.” said Richard Hashimoto, President of the Japantown Merchants Association.

In addition, pioneering businesses who have been the integral partners of contributing to the preservation of the Japanese heritage in Japantown and bringing cultural diversity to the City, some for more than 100 years, will be honored.  The year-long celebration will continue with the Cherry Blossom Festival in April and a 50^th Anniversary Community Festival in October as well as many other cultural festivals throughout the year honoring the Japanese culture and traditions.

“We are the proud stewards of the Japantown Peace Plaza and Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, beautiful open spaces that celebrate the Japanese American community in San Francisco,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec & Parks General Manager.  “And we are honored to be a partner to commemorating 50 years of history of the Japan Center and Peace Plaza.  We look forward to another 50 successful years to come, and to celebrate the centennial anniversary in 2068!”

San Francisco’s Japantown was among the first Japanese American communities to settle and establish itself in the United States. Founded in 1906 at its current location, San Francisco’s Japantown (Nihonmachi) has been the center of the local Japanese American community for over 100 years.  And in 1968, after San Francisco’s redevelopment of project A-1, the Japanese Cultural and Trade Center was established and opened to the public.

Today, the Japan Center is comprised of the East and West Japan Center Malls, adjacent to the Buchanan Mall and Kinokuniya Mall of Japantown. The historic Japantown Peace Plaza is centered between the East and West Malls and features the Peace Pagoda which stands where once was the heart of the old Japantown neighborhood.  The Peace Pagoda – a 100ft modernist styled five-tiered bronze plated concrete structure was designed by Japanese architect Dr. Yoshiro Taniguchi. While ultra-modern, the Pagoda drew inspiration from the ancient 8^th century Nara Period cylindrical Million Pagoda and Empress Koken’s who was guided by an affirmation for infinite Peace. As a gesture of goodwill between two countries, namely by the City of Osaka, San Francisco’s sister city in Japan, the Peace Pagoda was donated to “the people of the United States by the people of Japan in 1968” with plaques commemorating the gift. The historic Peace Pagoda has since become one of San Francisco’s iconic structures.

Now, the Peace Plaza, under the management of San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, in partnership with SFMTA, Japan Center Garage, SF Public Works, SF Planning, the Japantown community and businesses, hosts many annual traditions of this historic neighborhood, including the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, Nihonmachi Street Fair, the Summer Obon Festival and Fall & Year-End Festivals.

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Join us and Supervisor Ahsha Safai for a gathering of neighbors and their pooches at our newest off-leash dog play area! Opening night will take place on Thursday, March 22 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. It is located off of Havelock Street, just behind the Balboa Pool. For more information, contact Gary McCoy at gary.mccoy@sfgov.org

– Your SF Recreation and Barks Department

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department will start its annual maintenance of the Coastal Trail located on the berm west of the Sharp Park Golf Course starting Monday, March 19^th if weather permitting.  The work has been permitted and approved by the California Coastal Commission (Costal Development Permit 2-17-0702).  The maintenance efforts will be focused in the two specific areas and all work will take place on top of the berm.  Biological monitors from SF Rec & Parks’ Natural Resources Division will be on site to ensure the protection of biological and coastal resources.

The purpose of this maintenance work is to improve public safety and increase access to the Coastal Trail by creating a walkable surface throughout the trail path.  The work includes the removal of rocks and ruts and efforts to minimize some areas of concentrated runoff and erosion.  The work will also require the use of heavy equipment such as a dump truck and excavator and will involve the importation of approximately 100 cubic yards of natural surfacing material that is similar in color and texture to the existing surface.

Depending on weather, the duration of the maintenance efforts will take approximately two weeks to complete and is expected to occur between 7AM and 4PM Monday through Friday.  During construction, recreational use of the trail may be temporarily interrupted to ensure park user safety.

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SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (SF Rec & Parks) announced today the commission approval of conceptual design to convert 4.5 acres of former reservoir to a brand new park located atop of Russian Hill.  The Park, bounded by Bay, Hyde and Larkin Streets and is intersected by Francisco Street, was once a reservoir managed by SF Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) in 1930s, the property was closed down by 1941.

In 2014, Rec & Parks acquired Francisco Reservoir from SFPUC for $9.9 Million in order to develop the site into a park. Under an agreement spearheaded by Mayor Mark Farrell, a group of residents formally known as The Francisco Park Conservancy, agreed to raise the money to develop the site into a park.  The project is expected to cost $25 million to complete.

In 2016, the Conservancy, SF Rec & Parks and then-Supervisor Mark Farrell’s office lead an extensive community planning and design process to create the plans for the new park.

Once completed, the Park will provide recreation opportunity for a wide cross-section of visitors, including a multi-use main lawn, children’s playground, dog park, community garden, and several view terraces set along meandering paths.  Steeper slopes will be planted to increase bird and insect habitat as well as visitor enjoyment of native plant communities.

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SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today the groundbreaking of the $14 million Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse renovation.  The Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse (also known as the Car Barn) will become the latest addition of recreation space in Excelsior neighborhood.  A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Monday, March 19^th at 11AM inside the Powerhouse area located at 2301 San Jose Ave.

“The Geneva Car Barn is an historical landmark in a part of the City that doesn’t always get its fair share. I was proud to fight for $3.5 million in state funds to help complete the first phase of its rehabilitation,” said Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee. “Our investment in this neighborhood means generations of local talent will have a place to grow and showcase their work.”

Currently, the Car Barn is comprised of two adjoining structures: a two-story office building containing approximately 13,000 square feet of space that is “the Car Barn” and a single-story approximately 3,000 square feet of space that is “the Powerhouse”.  The $14 million will fund the first phase of the renovation of the Powerhouse area.  The improvements include seismic upgrade, installation of modern utility systems, the restoration of historic features, hazardous materials remediation, increase access to meet American Disability Act (ADA) standards, streetscape improvements, improved entrance, new roof and restored windows, as well as new floor with radiant heating.  The renovation will achieve a LEED Gold Standard, and is expected to be completed by early 2019.

“When this project is completed, it will be the centerpiece of the community, offering a place where our youth and families can congregate in a healthy, productive and positive way,” said Mayor Mark Farrell. “The neighborhood has been eagerly awaiting this project and I am grateful for all the partners who helped lead this process throughout the years. Today marks the start of an exciting new future in the Excelsior.”

While the Car Barn is under the jurisdiction of SF Rec & Parks, the renovation and activation of the space is part of a multi-agency coalition which includes the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), the Office of District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai, and the San Francisco Arts Commission. The renovation is made possible by the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond Parks Bond, State funding allocated by District 19 Assemblyman Phil Ting, general fund secured by former District 11 Supervisor John Avalos and current District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai, and Historic Preservation and New Market Tax Credit Funds and grant funding through the partnership with the Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST).

“The Geneva Car Barn renovation is the result of 20 years of advocacy work and a strong partnership between the community, Recreation and Parks, and the Mayor’s Office,” said District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai whose district includes the Car Barn.  “This project will transform unused, blighted public property into community serving space, creating the premiere performing arts education center in San Francisco.”

“We are thrilled to break ground on this project and transform the historic Car Barn into an artistic and recreational hub for a community of young creators and performers,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec & Parks General Manager. “By revitalizing this San Francisco landmark, we are preserving our past while investing in our future. Alongside the new Geneva Community Garden, we are looking at one of the best neighborhoods in the City, right here in District 11.”

Since 2008, after extensive City planning and community input, the Car Barn has been identified as a key element of the economic development of the Balboa Park Station in the Balboa Station Area Transit Oriented Development as presented by the City’s Planning Department. The Plan has indicated that the restoration of the Car Barn “will serve as an anchor for the revitalization of the entire Transit Station Neighborhood.”

“The rebirth of the Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse not only will ensure the preservation of this historic property, but it also will serve the next generations of San Francisco residents and visitors as an arts hub and help spark a neighborhood renaissance,” said San Francisco Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, whose department is providing construction management services for the project.

Once the renovation is complete, the Powerhouse will host a variety of youth arts classes in dance, theater, music, spoken word, and more. The programming will be provided by Performing Arts Workshop (The Workshop), a highly-respected arts education nonprofit that has been serving children and teens in San Francisco for more than 52 years. The Workshop will also helm rental of the Powerhouse for broad use by the community for meetings, events, rehearsals, performances, arts classes for adults, and exhibitions.

“Though it was built to house machinery, this space feels like it was destined to be a performing arts center in its second life. The sheer volume of the Powerhouse is breathtaking, and at first look we hoped immediately that this would be our future home. As an organization with deep roots in San Francisco, we resonate with the Powerhouse’s rich history,” said Emily Garvie, Executive Director of Performing Arts Workshop.  “And, as a youth-serving organization, we are thrilled to be in this district with so many children and families. It’s an honor to take the baton in the final lap from the City and community, which has been fighting for this restoration for almost 30 years.”

In addition, through partnership with CAST, the Department has received new market and historic preservation tax credits partnering to provide capital funding for the Car Barn, as a result, CAST will serve as a partner to manage the space.

“We are excited about our Geneva Car Barn collaboration with the Recreation and Park Department and Performing Arts Workshop in helping to revitalize a historic space for arts and education in the heart of the Excelsior,” said Moy Eng, Executive Director of CAST.

CAST was founded on the belief that the arts drive strong, vibrant, diverse communities. CAST secures space and works with community arts organizations to help develop and strengthen their financial and organizational capacity to purchase permanent facilities and navigate complex real estate issues. Through CAST, San Francisco as well as other major metropolitan cities will remain a vibrant and thriving home for arts organizations that will foster creativity, community participation, economic development and neighborhood well-being.

Located in District 11, Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse is the last physical reminder of the City’s first electric railway system. First owned by private railway companies and then by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority (SFMTA), it was occupied until 1989, at which time it was heavily damaged in the Loma Prieta earthquake. When it was scheduled to be demolished in 1998, the community organized to convince then Mayor Willie Brown to save the building. In 2004, ownership was transferred to SF Rec and Park with the goal of creating a recreational space for youth and families, especially for arts-related youth development.  In 2010, the Car Barn and Powerhouse was recognized as a historic landmark by the National Register of Historic Places.

“The ground breaking for the Powerhouse is a victory for the children, youth and families of the OMI and Excelsior neighborhoods. The Friends of the Geneva Office Building and Powerhouse has worked for nearly 20 years on this project, and our day has finally come,” said Dan Weaver, long-time community and park advocate in District 11.

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SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announces the opening of the Geneva Community Garden today. The 10,427-square-foot community garden, located at Geneva and Delano Ave, is the 40^th addition to the Department’s citywide community garden program. Last spring, the Department opened In Chan Kaajal at 17^th and Folsom — the 39^th garden in the system. Meanwhile, there are still over 1,000 San Francisco residents on the waitlist hoping to be a part of the Department’s Community Garden Program across the City.  The Geneva Community Garden Grand Opening is scheduled for 10:00AM on Saturday, February 24th and will feature an inaugural tree planting, raffles and potluck lunch.

“We want to encourage San Franciscans to spend more time in nature because we have learned that in doing so our physical and mental health significantly improves,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec & Park General Manager. “Our Department is proud to lead our citywide Urban Agriculture Program, and in concert with the communities, make edible gardens a place where residents can grow food in a fun and sustainable way. Neighborhood gardens like the Geneva Community Garden encourage green space stewardship and foster a community bond.”

There are many benefits to community gardens, including a recent study that looks at “ecosystem services” associated with urban agriculture, including reduction of the urban heat-island effect, avoided storm water runoff, nitrogen fixation, pest control, and energy savings.  San Francisco is leading the urban agriculture movement by recognizing the value of community gardens as recreational and green spaces.

In 2008, Cayuga Terrace and Outer Mission communities already had the vision that they would benefit from having a community garden at the Geneva Ave plot because growing produce for home consumption would help defray grocery costs, a particularly significant consideration for low-income families in their communities.

The $1.6 million Geneva Community Garden project converted an undeveloped, overgrown open space into a 60-plot garden for the community.  The capital improvement project was funded by the 2008 Parks Bond, which was approved by more than 71% of San Francisco voters.

In addition to the Parks Bond, the community-driven project was supported by State Housing Related Parks Program Grants, the Open Space Fund, and additional City General Fund provided by former District 11 Supervisor John Avalos. Other community stakeholders include District 11 Council, New Mission Terrace Improvement Association, Cayuga Improvement Association, Friends and Advocates of Crocker Amazon and the Excelsior (F.A.C.E.), and Martha Arnaud, who submitted the project application for the Community Opportunity Fund.

“This is an opportunity to teach the practice of healthy organic gardening as a recreational activity and to build community at the same time,” said Community Opportunity Fund (COF) Applicant Martha Arnaud. “I would like to thank our community, Rec and Park staff, and everyone else who came together to create this beautiful garden, and I look forward to watching it grow.”

The new garden features raised garden boxes with space for 60 garden plots, including nine planter boxes that are in compliance with the Americans Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. Additional components include perimeter walls, fencing, gates, standard park identification sign, seating, gathering areas, and ADA-accessible common areas such as the herb garden and orchard space with plum, apple and lemon trees planted.  As part of an introductory community-building activity, volunteers with plot assignments planted native and pollinator plants along the new perimeter walls and primary entrance at Delano Avenue to attract pollinators to the garden.  In addition, the Department invested funding to ensure healthy and safe soil for an edible garden through the environmental remediation process. San Francisco Public Works’ landscape architecture and engineering teams created the design plans for the new garden and worked with the local contractor Giron, to oversee its construction.

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SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (SF Rec & Parks), The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the Helen Diller Family Foundation, to officially open the newly renovated Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds, located in the heart of San Francisco’s Civic Center Historic District, on Valentines Day this Wednesday, February 14.

The Helen Diller Family Foundation generously donated $10 million through The Trust for Public Land to fund the innovative design and construction of these two vibrant playgrounds.  San Francisco Recreation & Parks, members of the Helen Diller Family Foundation, The Trust for Public Land, city officials, and members of the public will celebrate the opening of the new playgrounds on Wednesday, February 14^th.  The community celebration will begin at 4PM with a special interactive light feature ceremony at 5:45PM.

“These new state-of-the-art playgrounds and street café will serve the growing families in the densely populated Civic Center and Tenderloin neighborhoods, creating a fun, lively plaza space for all to enjoy.  We’re proud and honored to officially open these new playgrounds in the late Mayor Lee’s memory whose career was exemplified by his kindness to San Francisco’s children and families,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec & Parks General Manager.  “In partnership with the Helen Diller Family Foundation and The Trust for Public Land, we are transforming Civic Center Plaza into a joyful neighborhood park that will continue to build and strengthen the communities around the area.”

In recent years, with the support of city leaders, park advocates, community members, and San Francisco voters, SF Rec & Parks has invested more than $30 million park improvements in Civic Center, Tenderloin, and South of Market neighborhoods.  In addition to the $10 million Helen Diller Civic Center Playground renovations, the improvements included Boeddeker Park reopened in 2014 after $9.3 million renovation; South Park reopened in 2017 after $3.8 million renovation; brand new batting cage at Victoria Manalo Draves Park; and upcoming $2.5 million renovation for Sgt. John Macaulay Playground, and $1 million renovation for Turk and Hyde Mini Park.

“The Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds elevates the importance of art and children in the urban landscape in the country and serves as a national model for public engagement in our central cities,” said The Trust for Public Land’s California State Director Guillermo Rodriguez.  “Thanks to the generosity of the Helen Diller Family Foundation and working in partnership with the amazing staff at Recreation and Park Department, we completed this world class project in just a year for everyone’s enjoyment.”

Civic Center Plaza, across from City Hall, is the hub of the City’s cultural life, surrounded by its most notable cultural institutions, including the Main Library, the Asian Art Museum, the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Ballet, and many other institutions that have active programming for children.  With the increasing number of people and families visiting and moving into the neighborhood, Civic Center Plaza has evolved into an area with many functions that serve the diverse needs of those who live and work in the area.

Designed by the award-winning San Francisco based firm Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture (ACLA) in partnership with The Trust for Public Land, the new playgrounds are symmetrically aligned with City Hall, and inspired by nature and weather themes. The new playgrounds come with custom designed play features such as “Sky Punch”, a treehouse structure that is designed to challenge children as they climb up through the clouds of nets, and “Lenticular Cloud”, a spiraling play structure connects the ground path for children to roam along the colorful catwalk or explore using the twisting net. It also includes “Fog Valley”, series of inverted semi circles that created a multi-use play structure to swing on the climbing cars and balance on the stretched membrane; and “Cumulus City”, a little city of climbing structures which makes little play houses for children to escape and find a little retreat for imaginative games.

To complement the new playgrounds and activate the adjoining space is the installation of the “Pole Forest” and “KARL,” the largest interactive floor light display in the country created by a team of talents including Cory Barr, Chris Cerrito, Paul Mans, Pete Scheidl, Matt Thomas, George Zisiadis, and ACLA.

The “Pixel Poles” connect the two playgrounds with a forest of 52 lighting fixtures spread across both playgrounds. Animated light patterns integrate the two playgrounds along with the projected light on the Plaza in between. The installation gives a feeling of surprise with bursts of color as they respond to people’s movement, highlighting the level of civic activity and encouraging inclusive play for all ages.

“KARL” spans the 140 x 50 feet plaza between the playgrounds.  It uses heat sensors to project light to create fog droplets and ripples of light that interact and change with passersby.  Cory Barr’s algorithm for “KARL” incorporates computer-vision techniques as well as a fluid simulation based on characteristics of San Francisco’s iconic fog. The interactive lighting element is one of the largest public display installations in the country and represents the next generation of integrating public art in public spaces.

Last summer, the Helen Diller Family Foundation expanded its $10 million playground gift to create a street café and central gathering place at Civic Center Plaza to be administered by the Civic Center Community Benefit District (CCCBD).    The street café, located at the corner of Grove and Larkin Streets, will be housed in a new kiosk, and the CCCBD selected Bi-Rite to operate the café and will offer a variety of fresh food and drink selections as well as movable tables and seating for the public to relax and enjoy recreational activities at Civic Center Plaza.  The Street Café is expected to open in summer, 2018.

“On Valentine’s Day, the Helen Diller Family Foundation has made a loving gift to the children and families of San Francisco of not one but two of the coolest, most inventive and interactive playgrounds in America and serves as a national model for public reengagement in our central cities,” said The Trust for Public Land’s California State Director Guillermo Rodriguez.  “These playgrounds feature unprecedented collaboration between a renowned landscape architect, Andrea Cochran, and an international play equipment company, Kompan, to create an unprecedented play experience for children.  The Trust for Public Land was honored to partner with Jackie Safier and the Diller family and with San Francisco Recreation & Park Department to bring this significant project to completion for all of San Francisco.”

This project is part of an ongoing partnership between the Recreation and Park and TPL, which has recently resulted in renovations of Hilltop Park, Hayes Valley Playground and Clubhouse, Balboa Park, and Boeddeker Park and Clubhouse. This partnership has delivered more than $30 million in investments to the parks in San Francisco.

For past several years, the Department has been offering Zumba classes, youth soccer, adult bocce ball, adult kickball, and volleyball games as well as food trucks in partnership with Off-The-Grid on a weekly basis.  However, now building upon the momentum championed by the Department, the City has launched the Civic Center Commons Initiative, a collaborative effort to breathe new life into the city’s central civic spaces so that people who live, work and visit can celebrate the best of San Francisco every day.

Led by the City of San Francisco in partnership with neighbors, community organizations, and cultural institutions, the initiative is transforming Civic Center Plaza, UN Plaza, and Fulton Street between the Main Library and the Asian Art Museum with San Francisco-style attractions such as Living Innovation Zone installations by the Exploratorium and the Asian Art Museum; innovative workforce development partnerships that help keep the area clean and safe while providing jobs for people facing barriers to employment; and frequent free events, recreational activities, and whimsical art installations that are changing how people engage with the space and each other.

Major capital investments at Civic Center Plaza and the Civic Center Public Realm Plan’s long-range vision for design improvements will catalyze the continued development of the Commons and help it become a powerful symbol of San Francisco’s inclusive values and a model for public spaces around the world.

Photos and video are available for news broadcasting and publication courtesy of CopterOptics Aerial Films.

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Get ready for the Reopening of the Randall Museum (199 Museum Way) on Sunday, February 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.! Bring your curious minds to this opening as we bring science, nature and the arts back to this newly renovated facility. The event will feature kids’ activities and entertainment, including live music from Grammy-award-winning musical artist Mister G! For more information about the project, click here

<3 your parks? Well Cupid is coming to the Civic Center! Everyone is invited to celebrate the opening of these creative play spaces with interactive lighting in the heart of the city with Love Your City – Love Your Parks!  This fun for all ages event will include crafts, facepainting, Mobile Rec, Food & Refreshments, the Bubble Smith and DJ Wonway Posibul! The event will occure on Wednesday, February 14 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza at Larkin and Fulton Streets. For more information, contact Philip Vitale at the Trust for Public Land (TPL) at philip.vitale@tpl.org or (415) 800-5279.

The timline for the event is as follows:

A special thanks to the Helen Diller Family Foundation and the TPL for your partnership on this project!

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and Randall Museum Friends (RMF) proudly announce the opening of the Randall Museum after its recent $9 million renovation. The Randall Museum, a one-of-a-kind art and science education center, reopens to the public on Sunday, February 11th, 2018. The renovation project brings new features to the museum including a state-of-the-art STEM lab, geology and zoology exhibits, an elevator, and a cafe, as well as updates to the live animal exhibit, science and ceramics studios, classrooms, and the first floor lobby. To celebrate this occasion, the Department and RMF will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a special family festival with free art and science activities, live entertainment, and more.

“The Randall Museum offers an amazing experience for our City’s youth, and I am excited to see its doors open to the public once again,” said Acting Mayor London Breed. “For more than 65 years, this museum has provided a place where children can foster their love for science, natural history and the arts. With these new renovations, it will continue that wonderful tradition for generations to come.”

“The Randall Museum is a community treasure, especially for San Francisco’s children and their families, and I’m so happy that it’s reopening after its well-deserved renovation,” said State Senator Scott Wiener, who secured the City’s general fund to help support Randall Museum’s renovation as a former member of the Board of Supervisors.  “Congratulations and thank you to everyone involved in this true team effort, especially the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and the Friends of the Randall Museum, who I recently honored in the State Legislature for their tremendous work to support this wonderful museum.”

Under the jurisdiction of the Recreation and Park Department, the Randall Museum is a free-of-charge nature and culture museum located in Corona Heights Park that receives over 100,000 visitors per year. The Randall is intended to be a place that inspires an interest and curiosity in the sciences, arts, and natural history. As part of this mission, the museum provides exhibits, classes, workshops, presentations, special events, and many other hands-on learning activities for children and adults.

“We are excited to celebrate this amazing transformation of Randall Museum thanks to the support from RMF, our city leaders, and community members,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Parks’ General Manager.  “We welcome kids and their families from all neighborhoods across the City to join us, and enjoy all the great learning opportunities that we offer.”

In partnership with Randall Museum Friends, SF Rec & Park Department renovated Randall Museum facilities with the help of a $5.5 million grant from the California State Parks’ Nature Education Facilities Program (NEFP), significant Rec and Park support along with additional funding from the City’s General Fund secured by former District 8 Supervisor, now State Senator Scott Wiener, and private and public donations from RMF’s Revitalize the Randall campaign. Through the Friends’ campaign, support came from hundreds of community members, including families, neighbors, and the philanthropic community. Local and national foundations and corporate donors include: the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, the Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, Google.org, the Bothin Foundation, and the San Francisco Community Challenge Grant program.

“The Friends have been proud to collaborate with RPD on such an important project and are thrilled to have the Randall reopen its doors to the public after much anticipation,” said Randall Museum Friends Board President Tara Holmes. “We know the San Francisco community will enjoy the new and improved facility, and we look forward to this next chapter in the museum’s history.”

NEFP Grant funding provided seismic upgrades for portions of the facility and brought the site up to American Disability Act (ADA) standards. The interior renovation included the consolidation and rearrangement of interior rooms in compliance with ADA measures. A concession area was added to allow visitors to extend their stay at the facility. Building systems such as mechanical, plumbing and electrical, including low voltage system also were modernized. Interior equipment, materials and finishes have been upgraded.

Moreover, located in the lobby is a new kinetic sculpture by local artist Ben Trautman. Commissioned by the San Francisco Arts Commission with Art Enrichment funds generated by the Museum renovation, Flight is a counterweighted mobile that is a delicate balance of organic and mechanical forms. The physics of structure and balance allow it to capture a small amount of energy causing it to move with fluidity and grace, like a bird in flight soaring seemingly without effort.

“Ben Trautman’s mobile is the perfect marriage of art, science and design and a wonderful new addition to the beautifully renovated Randall Museum,” says Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny.

Designed through a joint venture between two noted San Francisco architecture firms, Pfau Long Architecture and Kuth/Ranieri, the renovation has increased programmable space by 30% within the same footprint while incorporating interactive habitat-based exhibits and dramatically transforming every community gathering place and classroom. Honoring the Randall Museum’s environmental mission, sustainable and green building design elements were implemented throughout the process. These environmentally responsible practices include using recycled/reclaimed materials and certified wood, installing low-flow plumbing fixtures and energy-efficient lighting, sourcing materials from local manufacturers, repurposing onsite materials within the project site, and recycling 75% of construction debris.

“I love this community museum and the way it has served generations of San Franciscans,” said Liz Ranieri, principal of Kuth/Ranieri. “It was really about enhancing what the museum already had: we reconfigured the building to nearly double the size of the exhibit space. It’s been a real pleasure to revitalize this rich local resource and help bring its unique hands-on learning approach into the 21st century for many more generations to enjoy.”

###Background and Contact Info

Randall Museum Upon Reopening
The Randall Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm. Admission is free. The mission of the museum, a facility of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, is to inspire creativity, curiosity, and a love of learning about the world around us. To advance this mission, the museum offers an integrated program of arts and sciences to children, youth, and adults, with opportunities for hands-on learning and recreation focused on the cultures and environments of the San Francisco Bay Area. Learn more at www.randallmuseum.org or by calling (415) 554-9600.

San Francisco Recreation and Park Department
The mission of SFRPD is to provide enriching recreational activities, maintain beautiful parks, and preserve the environment for the well-being of our diverse community. Learn more at www.sfrecpark.org.

Randall Museum Friends
Randall Museum Friends (RMF), incorporated in 1958, is the private non-profit partner of the Randall Museum. Its mission is to raise funds and advocate on behalf of the Randall Museum. RMF and SFRPD, with a memorandum of understanding codifying their relationship, provide a shining example of a public-private partnership that truly works. To contact RMF Administrative Director Nathan Robinson, call (415) 554-9681.

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and Randall Museum Friends (RMF) proudly announce the opening of the Randall Museum after its recent $9 million renovation. The Randall Museum, a one-of-a-kind art and science education center, reopens to the public on Sunday, February 11th, 2018. The renovation project brings new features to the museum including a state-of-the-art STEM lab, geology and zoology exhibits, an elevator, and a cafe, as well as updates to the live animal exhibit, science and ceramics studios, classrooms, and the first floor lobby. To celebrate this occasion, the Department and RMF will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a special family festival with free art and science activities, live entertainment, and more.

“The Randall Museum offers an amazing experience for our City’s youth, and I am excited to see its doors open to the public once again,” said Acting Mayor London Breed. “For more than 65 years, this museum has provided a place where children can foster their love for science, natural history and the arts. With these new renovations, it will continue that wonderful tradition for generations to come.”

“The Randall Museum is a community treasure, especially for San Francisco’s children and their families, and I’m so happy that it’s reopening after its well-deserved renovation,” said State Senator Scott Wiener, who secured the City’s general fund to help support Randall Museum’s renovation as a former member of the Board of Supervisors.  “Congratulations and thank you to everyone involved in this true team effort, especially the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and the Friends of the Randall Museum, who I recently honored in the State Legislature for their tremendous work to support this wonderful museum.”

Under the jurisdiction of the Recreation and Park Department, the Randall Museum is a free-of-charge nature and culture museum located in Corona Heights Park that receives over 100,000 visitors per year. The Randall is intended to be a place that inspires an interest and curiosity in the sciences, arts, and natural history. As part of this mission, the museum provides exhibits, classes, workshops, presentations, special events, and many other hands-on learning activities for children and adults.

“We are excited to celebrate this amazing transformation of Randall Museum thanks to the support from RMF, our city leaders, and community members,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Parks’ General Manager.  “We welcome kids and their families from all neighborhoods across the City to join us, and enjoy all the great learning opportunities that we offer.”

In partnership with Randall Museum Friends, SF Rec & Park Department renovated Randall Museum facilities with the help of a $5.5 million grant from the California State Parks’ Nature Education Facilities Program (NEFP), significant Rec and Park support along with additional funding from the City’s General Fund secured by former District 8 Supervisor, now State Senator Scott Wiener, and private and public donations from RMF’s Revitalize the Randall campaign. Through the Friends’ campaign, support came from hundreds of community members, including families, neighbors, and the philanthropic community. Local and national foundations and corporate donors include: the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, the Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, Google.org, the Bothin Foundation, and the San Francisco Community Challenge Grant program.

“The Friends have been proud to collaborate with RPD on such an important project and are thrilled to have the Randall reopen its doors to the public after much anticipation,” said Randall Museum Friends Board President Tara Holmes. “We know the San Francisco community will enjoy the new and improved facility, and we look forward to this next chapter in the museum’s history.”

NEFP Grant funding provided seismic upgrades for portions of the facility and brought the site up to American Disability Act (ADA) standards. The interior renovation included the consolidation and rearrangement of interior rooms in compliance with ADA measures. A concession area was added to allow visitors to extend their stay at the facility. Building systems such as mechanical, plumbing and electrical, including low voltage system also were modernized. Interior equipment, materials and finishes have been upgraded.

Moreover, located in the lobby is a new kinetic sculpture by local artist Ben Trautman. Commissioned by the San Francisco Arts Commission with Art Enrichment funds generated by the Museum renovation, Flight is a counterweighted mobile that is a delicate balance of organic and mechanical forms. The physics of structure and balance allow it to capture a small amount of energy causing it to move with fluidity and grace, like a bird in flight soaring seemingly without effort.

“Ben Trautman’s mobile is the perfect marriage of art, science and design and a wonderful new addition to the beautifully renovated Randall Museum,” says Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny.

Designed through a joint venture between two noted San Francisco architecture firms, Pfau Long Architecture and Kuth/Ranieri, the renovation has increased programmable space by 30% within the same footprint while incorporating interactive habitat-based exhibits and dramatically transforming every community gathering place and classroom. Honoring the Randall Museum’s environmental mission, sustainable and green building design elements were implemented throughout the process. These environmentally responsible practices include using recycled/reclaimed materials and certified wood, installing low-flow plumbing fixtures and energy-efficient lighting, sourcing materials from local manufacturers, repurposing onsite materials within the project site, and recycling 75% of construction debris.

“I love this community museum and the way it has served generations of San Franciscans,” said Liz Ranieri, principal of Kuth/Ranieri. “It was really about enhancing what the museum already had: we reconfigured the building to nearly double the size of the exhibit space. It’s been a real pleasure to revitalize this rich local resource and help bring its unique hands-on learning approach into the 21st century for many more generations to enjoy.”

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Background and Contact Info

Randall Museum Upon Reopening
The Randall Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm. Admission is free. The mission of the museum, a facility of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, is to inspire creativity, curiosity, and a love of learning about the world around us. To advance this mission, the museum offers an integrated program of arts and sciences to children, youth, and adults, with opportunities for hands-on learning and recreation focused on the cultures and environments of the San Francisco Bay Area. Learn more at www.randallmuseum.org or by calling (415) 554-9600.

San Francisco Recreation and Park Department
The mission of SFRPD is to provide enriching recreational activities, maintain beautiful parks, and preserve the environment for the well-being of our diverse community. Learn more at www.sfrecpark.org.

Randall Museum Friends
Randall Museum Friends (RMF), incorporated in 1958, is the private non-profit partner of the Randall Museum. Its mission is to raise funds and advocate on behalf of the Randall Museum. RMF and SFRPD, with a memorandum of understanding codifying their relationship, provide a shining example of a public-private partnership that truly works. To contact RMF Administrative Director Nathan Robinson, call (415) 554-9681.

What better way to anticipate all of the great things to come 2018 than a look back at 2017. To all of you who play in our parks, who volunteer in our parks and who advocate for our parks, we present you with our 2017 Community Report. Get out and play in 2018

Mayor Ed Lee was a fierce proponent and advocate for our City’s parks. Under his leadership, San Francisco made parks and recreation programs more accessible than ever, acquiring more park land, renovating parks, playgrounds and ball fields and providing more than $1 million in scholarships to city families. Earlier this year, Mayor Lee announced that San Francisco was the first and only city in the nation where all its residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park: http://bit.ly/2AhIRbS

We lost our park champion in chief. Mayor Lee loved this City and he loved our parks. Our thoughts are with the Mayor’s family. We will do all we can to offer support and comfort during this time of transition for Acting Mayor Breed and our beloved City. May the Mayor’s memory be a blessing.

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today the launch of a series of free holiday sports at Embarcadero Plaza. The Plaza already features the Holiday Ice Rink, located at heart of the Embarcadero Plaza.  Now the Department is adding free, fun, drop-in, sports including Disc Golfing, Skateboarding, Rock Climbing, Slacklining, and Bocce Ball games on the south side of the Plaza.  The goal is to offer free fun recreation for park constituents living, working and visiting the City’s open space in the waterfront area.

“We are fortunate to live in a City where we can enjoy winter traditions such as ice skating at the same time as we bike, roller skate and rock climb,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “As the heart of both or our downtown and waterfront areas, the Embarcadero Plaza is a perfect spot to host such a wide array of activities and athletic events. Our residents and visitors will be able to enjoy a truly unique experience when they come to the Embarcadero this holiday season.”

While there are permitted events celebrating special occasions and Artist Market at the Plaza year-round, Ferry Bocce League hosts fun and competitive games from Spring through Fall in the evening hours each year.

“We are so excited to be offering fun sports daily at the Embarcadero Plaza this holiday season,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Parks’ General Manager.  “We look forward to seeing everyone playing with their friends and families in the outdoors and enjoying the warmth of California winter sun.”

The free sports activities will be available during the month of December from 11AM to 3PM, with the exceptions of rain, and the following dates: December 7^th, 24^th, 25^th, 26^th, 31^st and January 1^st.  From 11:00AM to 1:00PM, Tuesdays are Disc Golfing, Wednesdays are Skateboarding, Thursdays, Rock Climbing, Fridays, Skateboarding, and Saturdays are Slacklining.  And from Tuesdays through Saturdays 1:00PM to 3:00PM, Bocce Ball games will be available to everyone.  All free activities are available at first-come-first-serve basis.

According to Christopher Pollock, SF Rec and Parks’ Historian-in-Residence, in the late 1800s, the Plaza area was an early hub for Union Depot and Ferry House in San Francisco.  The Embarcadero was the focus of the City’s port for all cargos arriving and being shipped via sea.  Later, in 1956, the board plaza was built as part of Redevelopment Agency’s waterfront design efforts, and initially known as Ferry Building Park, the name was changed to Embarcadero Plaza during the project planning stage.  Finally, in 1972, the Plaza construction was completed, a primarily brick and concrete hardscape, was designed by landscape architect Lawrence Halprin association with architects Mario Ciampi and John Bolles and Associates.

And just as the Plaza was about to open, the City’s Recreation and Park Commission approved a resolution during their meeting in April of 1972, to rename the area formerly known as Embarcadero Plaza (Ferry Park), to “Justin Herman Park”, and later formally changed to Justin Herman Plaza in October of the same year.  At the time, Justin Herman was recognized for his work as the City’s Redevelopment Agency executive director.  Then in September of 2017, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors legislated and voted unanimously to urge the Recreation and Park Commission to rename the Plaza back to Embarcadero Plaza.  Subsequently, in November, the Commission voted to support the Board of Supervisors’ resolution, and officially renamed Justin Herman Plaza to Embarcadero Plaza.

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SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department announced today a free special event, “Winter Lights in Golden Gate Park” that will take place on Thursday, December 7^th, 2017.  The “Winter Lights in Golden Gate Park” event will begin with the City’s 88^th Holiday Tree lighting tradition, and is scheduled to start at 4:00PM at John McLaren Lodge located at the east entrance of Golden Gate Park.  There will be many free activities including carnival rides, a cookie factory, arts and crafts for kids, a visit from Santa, music, and live entertainment.  Santa will arrive shortly before the official Tree Lighting ceremony currently scheduled to begin at 6:00PM.

The official City Tree will be adorned with more than 550 multi-colored lights and surrounded by a decorated train.  The Tree is a more than 100 year-old Monterrey Cypress planted by the City’s first park Superintendent, John McLaren.

For the first time, this event will culminate with a stunning new light art installation at the Conservatory of Flowers, scheduled to shine at 7:00PM.  The beloved landmark first became the canvas for Photosynthesis, an elegant public art installation honoring San Francisco’s citywide celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love.

Now, the Recreation and Park Department and Conservatory of Flowers will celebrate the natural wonders of Winter with “Photosynthesis: Love for All Seasons”, a new series of artistic illuminations on the Conservatory’s iconic façade.  This program completes a cycle, transforming the Conservatory into an elegant illuminated canvas of Fall, Winter and Spring scenes nightly from December through Spring, 2018.

Developed in partnership with San Francisco Recreation and Parks, the Conservatory and the San Francisco Parks Alliance, the light art installation, conceived by Ben Davis of Illuminate, the nonprofit arts group behind The Bay Lights, together with Obscura Digital, a world-renowned creative studio specializing in large scale light-based art, uses gobo projectors to transform the all-white landmark with a series of exquisite scenes inspired by the rare tropical flowers within and the magic of nature’s regenerative force.

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About Conservatory of Flowers
The Conservatory of Flowers is a spectacular living museum of rare and beautiful tropical plants under glass. From Borneo to Bolivia, the 1,750 species of plants at the Conservatory represent unusual flora from more than 50 countries around the world. Immersive displays in five galleries include the lowland tropics, highland tropics, aquatic plants, potted plants, and special exhibits. Opened in 1879, the wood and glass greenhouse is the oldest existing wood and glass conservatory in North America and has attracted millions of visitors to Golden Gate Park since it first opened its doors. It is designated as a city, state and national historic landmark and was one of the 100 most endangered sites of the World Monuments Fund.

About San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (SF Rec & Parks)
SF Recreation and Park Department overseen by the Recreation and Park Commission stewards more than 4,000 acres of recreation and open space that includes more than 220 parks, playgrounds, and open spaces, in addition to Sharp Park and Camp Mather located outside the city limits.  The park system includes 25 recreation centers, 9 swimming pools, 5 golf courses, and numerous tennis courts, ball diamonds, soccer fields and other sports venues.  Includes in the Department’s responsibilities are iconic landmarks such as Coit Tower, Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Park, as well as the Marina Yacht Harbor, Lake Merced, and the San Francisco Zoo.  The Department’s mission is to provide enriching recreational activities, maintain beautiful parks, and preserve the environment for the well-being of the City’s diverse community.  More about SF Rec & Parks, please visit: https://sstasio.wpengine.com/.

About San Francisco Parks Alliance
The mission of the San Francisco Parks Alliance (SFPA) is to inspire and promote civic engagement and philanthropy to protect, sustain, and enrich San Francisco parks, recreation, and green open spaces.

The Organization will be dedicated to fulfill a vision of parks that acknowledges and supports their critical environmental functions while striving to ensure that they are accessible, beautiful, safe, clean, and fun and managed in a manner that makes them accountable, open, and welcoming to all.

The San Francisco Parks Alliance’s goal is to ensure that stewardship, philanthropy, and policy are coordinated and leveraged for the best possible outcome for parks and park users. Through coalition-driven advocacy, the new organization, based on some of the best practices of both organizations and those around the country, can better ensure that the needs of parks and all park users are equitably met. Learn more: www.sfparksalliance.org.

About Illuminate
Illuminate’s flagship project is The Bay Lights by artist Leo Villareal.  The nonprofit arts group is currently leading the effort to honor Harvey Milk’s life and legacy and will be unveiling two new works of public art on November 8 in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood. For more information about Illuminate, please visit: http://illuminate.org/.

About Obscura
Obscura is a creative studio in the heart of San Francisco’s Dogpatch district.  The firm creates one-of-a-kind immersive experiences that will change the way people think about the world around.  For more information about Obscura Digital, please visit: http://obscuradigital.com/.

The Technology Behind the Illumination
Gobo projectors, chosen for their ability to withstand the rigors of a long-term installation, are one of the oldest forms of projection — akin to creating shadow puppets on a cave wall — though today’s gobos use full color. They were in heavy use during the heyday of the light show in the 1960s.

Images are printed on 23mm glass gobo lenses, and a light is shone through them to “project” on the surface. Obscura Digital had to go to extraordinary lengths to compress the large-scale work that the studio normally does with the advantage of cutting edge technologies on to static lenses that are about the size of a quarter.

To that end, Obscura Digital has pushed gobos farther than ever before by applying video projection mapping techniques to the glass slides. The Conservatory building was laser scanned to create a 3D model, on which the studio used image warping and masking to conform the images to the details of the architectural geometry. The final image printed on the gobo takes those considerations into account.

Each of the ten projectors has six gobo slots, so there are six themes made up of ten images each. These are mixed with classic built-in gobo effects like focus shift, rotation, filters, and background colors, as well as six LED floodlights to illuminate the building with a color wash.

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department and Recology announced today that the Eco Pop-up at Dolores Park diverted over 42,840 gallons of recyclables and composts from landfill from May through October this year.  That is equivalent to 48.8% of the total waste collected from the entire park for the same time period. The seasonal pop-up recycling and composting spots at Mission Dolores Park, also known as the Eco Pop-ups, have staff stationed onsite to encourage park constituents to recycle and compost waste generated during their visits at the Park.  In 2011, before the Park’s most recent renovation, and the launch of Eco Pop-ups, Dolores Park only recycled and composted 2% of total waste collected.

The Dolores Park Eco Pop-ups operate from 12pm to 7pm on the weekends and special events.  At the pop-ups, staff and volunteers help park constituents to separate beverage containers, pizza boxes and other picnic discards into separate metal bins designated for recycling, compost, and trash.

On a busy weekend, park-goers at Dolores Park generate up to 7,000 gallons of trash.  Prior to the Eco Pop-ups, all of that went to landfill.  It is widely known that proper source separation of materials before collection leads to greater processability of recyclable and compostable items as well as decrease of landfill materials.  As such, SF Rec and Parks in partnership with Recology, have provided the Eco Pop-ups, a staffed, large-scale recycling and compost disposal area, completed with signage, directive for use, and educational material throughout the Park to encourage park visitors to recycle and compost their waste.

The Eco Pop-up Program is one of the many steps that the City and Recology have taken to improve the trash culture at Dolores Park.

In 2016, Dolores Park reopened after a major two-year renovation to better accommodate the thousands of weekly park visitors. Funded by the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks bond, the Park was renovated with modern infrastructure, including ADA-complaint facilities and pathways. New bathrooms increased restroom capacity to 27 toilets; previously, there were only four.  Waste management capacity was expanded from 35,000 gallons weekly to nearly 60,000 gallons per week.  Recycling capacity increased dramatically, to 28,000 gallons per week, up from 1,344 gallons prior to the renovation.

The Love Dolores Campaign was also launched alongside the complete reopening of the Park in 2016. Established on Leave No Trace principals, the campaign aims to promote packing out trash and eliminating the presence of glass in the Park. Ambassadors from the Love Dolores Campaign organize weekend outreach to educate park visitors, and collaborate with local merchants and other stakeholders to promote proper ways to love Dolores Park. This combined effort has produced improvements to the trash situation.

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SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department announced today the reopening of the playfields at West Sunset Playground after $13.6 million renovation funded by the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond.  West Sunset Playground, 18 acres in size, features a children’s playground, athletic courts, two baseball fields, one softball field, four soccer fields, two formal bleacher stadium structures, and a parking lot. The Playground also has a clubhouse immediately next to the Ortega Branch Library.  The Playground is located in the Outer Sunset neighborhood, between 39^th and 41^st Avenues, and Ortega and Ouintara streets.  It is popular and beloved by the children, youth and families in the neighborhood as it is situated between three schools, Sunset Elementary School, A.P. Giannini Middle School, and Saint Ignatius High School.  The playfields at West Sunset Playground are heavily used by athletic programs citywide.

“We are thrilled that home runs, bicycle kicks and base hits will be back at the West Sunset Playground,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “As a central location for numerous schools and local families, this playground provides an accessible place for our young athletes to take part in safe, healthy and fun activities. Parks and open spaces are the cornerstones of San Francisco communities, and we are proud to invest in projects that improve and upgrade them for our residents.”

“The West Sunset playfields are such an asset to our community, being surrounded on all sides by schools, a library, and a playground,” said District 4 Supervisor Katy Tang whose district includes West Sunset Playground. “This investment in their renovation means that many generations of children and families will enjoy clean, safe, and accessible playfields right in their own backyard.”

The $13.6 million playfield renovation included overall site accessibility improvements to the perimeter and pathways of the Park that involved replacement of the sidewalk, fencing, and retaining wall to meet current American Disability Act (ADA) standards.  The renovation also included new sod for the playfields; upgrades to the irrigation system and the field and court lighting; new bleacher seating; and new bleachers storage to provide additional storage, restrooms and administrative space for field management.  All improvements to park features have remained in their previous locations and configurations.

“West Sunset Playground represents what we sought to accomplish with our parks bonds: to make our parks clean and safe for everyone to enjoy,” said Phil Ginsburg, San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s General Manager. “With input from neighbors and contributions from our city partners, we have rejuvenated a community space that has served three schools, local families, and citywide athletic clubs for 60 years. We look forward to having everyone get out and play!”

In September 2015, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, a joint initiative of Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players, awarded the Department a $40,000 grant to support the West Sunset playfield renovation.  The grant funds supported construction of two batting cages for the baseball diamonds.  The addition of batting cages will increase usage by allowing kids to practice their swing while others are developing skills on the field.  The San Francisco Giants, the City’s professional baseball team, supported the Department’s effort during the grant application process.

“On behalf of Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association, we are pleased to support the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department and its efforts to provide opportunities for kids to learn the game in safe, accessible facilities,” said Cathy Bradley, executive director of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund. “We hope that the community’s youth baseball and softball programs take full advantage of this top-quality complex at West Sunset Playground.”

West Sunset Playground was built in 1957 with various minor renovations completed in the early 1970’s and mid 1980’s.  Most recently, in 2011, the Recreation and Park Department in partnership with the San Francisco Public Library and Public Works, renovated West Sunset children’s playground and the Ortega Branch Library.  A small single room clubhouse located between the playground and the library, is currently leased to the Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center where they provide programs to support healthy development of children and youth in the Sunset District.

“Having a library and playground next to each other creates a great community gathering place,” said Luis Herrera, City Librarian who oversees the City’s public library system including Ortega Branch Library. “With the improvements to the playfields, even more families will be able to learn, play and have fun together in the Sunset.”

“Whether you’re playing on the fields or sitting in the bleachers to watch a game, the experience will be much better all-around with these upgrades,” said San Francisco Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, whose team provided construction management and design services for the project.  “Thanks to the generosity of San Francisco voters, we’re seeing improvements to our parks, playgrounds and rec centers across the City, with the Sunset now the most recent beneficiary.”

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Please see link for opening event photos and video courtesy of SF Rec and Park Department: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/co5ld5v4gi3mvev/AABfdZ03Pdx7SHHUAa6riGvVa?dl=0

Congratulations to the San Francisco Deltas for bringing home the City’s first Northern America Soccer League Championship!

It was an amazing experience to watch this team coming together from their first game to the championship. Their greatest measure of growth can be seen in their performances against Miami FC, arguably the most dominant team this season. To finish the spring season, the Deltas were outscored 10-1 in their final two games by top seeded Miami FC. This fall, they faced that same team for back to back games in Miami, where they fought to a 1-1 draw before handily beating them 3-0 a few days later.

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today celebrity photographer Jay Blakesberg, who has photographed legendary musicians such Jerry Garcia, Tom Waits, Santana and more, will be showing his work for the first time in San Francisco. The longtime San Francisco resident has chosen SF Rec and Park Department’s Harvey Milk Photo Center for his latest photo exhibit, “Dark + Light – The Rock and Roll Photography of Jay Blakesberg”.  The opening reception will take place on Thursday, November 9^th starting from 5:30PM.

The show features over 120 images. These iconic photos have been culled from Blakesberg’s 39-year photography career and focus on his rock-and-roll adventure.  “Dark + Light – The Rock and Roll Photography of Jay Blakesberg” at Harvey Milk Photo Center – which will be Blakesberg’s first major solo show in his hometown –  will feature images taken back in the late 1970’s that include blues legends like Muddy Waters, BB King, James Cotton and Johnny Winter, taken two weeks after Blakesberg’s high School graduation.  Iconic portraits of Tom Waits, Joni Mitchell, Jerry Garcia, Carlos Santana, many other titans of rock and roll who were shot on assignment for rock magazines such as Rolling Stone, Guitar Player, and Bay Area Music Magazine (BAM) as well as high energy performance photographs from the likes of the Grateful Dead and Neil Young.

“I have felt for a long time that what I was doing is visual anthropology.  I truly believe that the modern day rock- and-roll scene, both the artists and fans, are a unique tribe whose tale should continue to be documented and told, said Jay Blakesberg.  “When the conversation first started with Dave at Harvey Milk, I knew this was the perfect location to show this body of work. Without the constraints of a commercial gallery I am able to stretch out and tell my story, which spans 4 decades.  Everything is printed on “Chromaluxe Metal”, which creates a new vibrant viewing experience.  Harvey Milk Photo Center is a crown jewel with San Francisco Recreation and Parks, and I’m thrilled to align with the City of San Francisco on this project.”

According to SF Rec and Park Department’s Historian-in-Residence, Christopher Pollock, San Francisco’s first camera room facility was located at Hayes Valley Recreation Center and was created in 1949 by Clifford Nelson who managed the Department’s Visual Recreation division.  Throughout the years, the Photo Center moved to various locations, and in 1954, the City dedicated the three-story building located at 50 Scott Street to be the Recreation Arts Center that included the separate photo center containing 7,800 square-feet and a huge public darkroom, the largest in the West Coast.  The Center opened on December 19, 1957.  In December, 1978, SF Rec and Park Commission approved to rename the Recreation Arts Center after Supervisor Harvey Milk who was slain on November 27^th and in honor the Supervisor who also owned and operated the Castro Camera Shop between 1972 until his death in 1978.

“SF Rec and Park is proud to be providing access to diverse recreation programming for San Franciscans,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Park General Manager.  “And we are excited that our Harvey Milk Photo Center provides a great environment as a creative outlet for professional photographer like Jay Blakesberg as well as just about anyone who enjoys photography.”

The Dark + Light  — The Rock and Roll Photography by Jay Blakesberg at Harvey Milk Photo Center located 50 Scott Street in San Francisco will start on November 9^th, 2017 through January 6^th, 2018.  The exhibit ranges from moments backstage and onstage at festivals and concerts, to portrait assignments for magazine features, record companies and the artists themselves.  This exhibition explores the arc of Blakesberg’s career which he unwittingly began in 1978 at age 16.  Back then Blakesberg’s father had loaned him a Pentax camera to take pictures at a Grateful Dead concert in their home state of New Jersey.  Blakesberg’s first paid photography assignment came at age 17, in September 1979 when the Aquarian Weekly paid him $15 to run two photographs in the free periodical. In November 1987, Blakesberg landed his first assignment with Rolling Stone Magazine, photographing a free U2 concert in downtown San Francisco.

Harvey Milk Photo Center offers many courses in various subjects to meet the needs of aspiring and established photographers alike.  The Center also provides its members full access to the oldest and largest darkroom in the west, full feature film processing areas, and state-of-the-art digital lab.  Members also have the opportunity to take part in its annual “Members, Staff & Volunteer Exhibit” each year, located in the Photo Center’s large studio space, which is perfect venue for some of the best exposure in San Francisco.

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SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today the construction of a new free-standing restroom at Golden Gate Park’s Boat Playground located at 45^thAvenue and Lincoln Way.  The $ 2 million restroom construction is a community driven project, advocated for by an Outer Sunset community group called the 45^th Avenue Neighborhood Association.  The majority of the funding was secured by District 4 Supervisor Katy Tang through the City’s General Fund.  In recent years, Supervisor Tang has continued her efforts to secure funding to improve parks and open space in District 4, including improvements along Great Highway, Sloat Boulevard, and South Sunset Recreation Center.

“Sunset residents have never been more excited about a restroom project in our neighborhood,” said District 4 Supervisor Katy Tang whose district boarders Golden Gate Park Boat Playground. “Children and families should be able to spend time at our City’s playgrounds without worrying about having to leave to find a restroom. I thank our neighbors for identifying this need and working with the City to get this project off the ground.”

Given the fact that there is no public restroom within 15-minute walk in the area, the 45^th Avenue Neighborhood Association requested the free-standing restroom be constructed.  The group has expressed concerns that the absence of a restroom at the popular and often-used Boat Playground and surrounding recreation area, has created challenging conditions for children and their families, especially now the area has become a vital part of the daily life of the Outer Sunset community.

“When we surveyed residents of the Sunset four years ago to see if they would support an effort to build a restroom in the ‘Boat Park’, the response was overwhelmingly positive, especially from parents, grandparents, and elderly residents. Now, people who hold parties, family reunions, and other gatherings in the playground don’t have to cut their activities short, or use the bushes. We really appreciate Supervisor Katy Tang and her staff’s support and guidance on getting this project approved and under way,” said Ginger Tulley, leader of the 45th Avenue Neighborhood SAFE Association.

According to Recreation and Park Department’s Historian-in-Residence, Christopher Pollock, a small flat-bottomed boat with high flaring sides, also known as a dory, placed in the Boat Playground is a unique form of boat that was used by the United States Coast Guard formerly known as the United States Life-Saving Service.  The agency’s station was located at the northwest corner of the Golden Gate Park from 1878 until 1951.  During this period, the agency used this type of boat to save shipwrecked people off the Ocean Beach.  Mr. Pollock concluded that while it has not been verified if the dory at the Boat Playground directly came from the station when the agency relocated, it is likely the case.

“We are thankful that Supervisor Katy Tang is responsive to the needs of our community, and for all the support and advocacy from the 45^th Avenue Neighborhood Association.  Because of their efforts, we are able to provide this important amenity in Golden Gate Park so everyone can get out and play with no interruption,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Park Department’s General Manager.

Based on feedback provided by park users, the Department’s capital and operation teams developed the project in partnership with SF Public Works.  The proposed project will install a free-standing, all-gender restroom building that is consistent as the traditional deign restroom design prototype that has been approved by the Rec and Park Commission previously.  The project will also include new water, electrical and sanitary utilities services to Lincoln Way as well as to improve pedestrian path that would meet ADA access requirements.  New landscape will be added in the area and the irrigation system will be adjusted to adequate maintain and care for all existing and new planting.

The construction is expected to begin by November this year.

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Join us for the opening of the newly constructed park space at St. Mary’s Square (650 California Street) with a movie night! The event will take place on Saturday, October 28 from 5 to 8 p.m. and will feature the film Kung Fu Yoga starring Jackie Chan at 6 p.m.! This FREE event will additionally have face painting, a tai chi class and food for sale. For more information about the project, click here. We look forward to seeing you there!

SAN FRANCSICO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today the opening of the McLaren Bike Park in McLaren Park, the first Bicycle Motocross (BMX) and Mountain Biking Park in San Francisco.  Designed by Alpine Bike Parks, the $1,131,921 project features a beginner bikes skills trail, youth BMX and mountain biking pump park, and multi-use plaza and lawn among other features.  Funded by the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, Parks Bonds, in-kind gift from the McLaren Bike Park Founders through the San Francisco Parks Alliance, and the City’s general fund, the Bike Park, formerly an underutilized space, will now introduce people of all ages to biking and mountain biking, a new form of recreation for many.  An opening celebration will take place on Saturday, October 21^st starting at 10:30AM with ceremonial bike race to cut ribbon, bike giveaway, friendly competition, and everything about bike and bike safety.

The McLaren Bike Park will create a unique recreation experience contributing to the physical and mental health of the communities living and working around McLaren Park.  Because the Bike Park, first of its kind in San Francisco, is designed to accommodate riders of all skill-levels, along with experienced Recreation staff on site to offer free skills training so unlike any other parks, the Bike Park provides an especially safe and fun environment for kids to learn and practice riding bikes.

“The McLaren Bike Park transforms a parking lot into a community paradise,” said Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.  “This initiative is an exciting addition to our city and a strong testament to the importance of a fully-funded Land and Water Conservation Fund. My colleagues and I congratulate the people of San Francisco on this all hands-on-deck success.”

“As the birthplace of mountain biking, the Bay Area deserves a first-rate bike park, and we are proud to host such a resource in McLaren Park,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “This course will bring a new set of patrons to McLaren Park, whether it is the novice biker looking to improve their skills, or the talented cyclist seeking to perfect their craft. We are grateful for the dedicated efforts of our local community members, cycling advocates and all other stakeholders who helped make this bike park a reality.”

“The California Department of Parks and Recreation congratulates the City and its partners for the vision and drive to create San Francisco’s first bike park.  This project is a positive step to promoting public health and wellness” said Lisa Mangat, Director of California Department of Parks and Recreation.  “The McLaren Bike Park is a testament to the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant program, which has supported the creation and improvement of over one thousand parks in California since 1965.”

In 2008, community members from McLaren Park neighborhoods and San Francisco Urban Riders approached the Recreation and Park Department about the needs for a safe and fun environment for kids to learn to bike.  Thereafter, initially associated with the San Francisco Urban Riders, McLaren Bike Park Founders members spun off from the Urban Riders in 2014 to create a community group focused solely on the development of the McLaren Bike Park.

“This space will add greatly to the quality of life in the entire community,” stated McLaren Bike Park Dustin Smith, co-founder of McLaren Bike Park Founders. “The Bike Park will create a functional and positive environment that provides a strong sense of place that is attractive and contributes to a vibrant community. The community and youth have been integral in championing this project and the completion of the Park will create an enormous sense of community ownership and pride.”

And in partnership with McLaren Bike Park founders and park advocates, the Department identified a decaying asphalt space in McLaren Park that the Department can remove the asphalt, mitigate any illegal trash dumping and turn it into a Bike Park that could contain elements appealing to families with children just getting comfortable on two wheels, young adults seeking the thrills of a jump park or wanting to improve their technical skills and anyone that wants to experience the joy of riding a bicycle in an off road environment.

In 2011, McLaren Bike Park Founders hosted three community meetings in partnership with the Department to gather public input and develop the first Bike Park conceptual design.  The Group also submitted a petition over 600 signatures in support of the Bike Park as part of their community outreach for the application for the Community Opportunity Fund, a city’s parks bond neighborhood grant program.

Then in 2013, SF Recreation and Park Commission authorized the Department to process with design development and submission of environmental review applications for the McLaren Bike Park.  After the public approval process, the McLaren Bike Park that included a youth-focused bicycle skills area for young children to learn and improve their basic bike handling skills began to build momentums toward reality.

“McLaren Park has long been the undiscovered gem of the SF Rec and Park system, and I’m glad that it is finally receiving the attention it deserves,” said District 10 Supervisor Malia Cohen whose district includes McLaren Bike Park.  “With a beginner’s trail for those just starting on training wheels, to BMX jumps and downhill slalom for after-work mountain bike enthusiasts, McLaren Bike Park is a perfect example of how activated open spaces can unite San Franciscans from all walks of life.  I’m proud to have Phase I open in District 10, and look forward to the next phase for all SF bikers.”

The McLaren Bike Park is situated east of Sunnydale Avenue and west of the Gleneagles Golf Course, across from San Francisco Unified School District’s Science Resource Center.  The Bike Park is located in Supervisorial District 10 and closely bordered District 11.  However, the entire McLaren Park connects all three supervisorial districts which includes districts 9, 10, and 11.

The SF Human Services Agency’s data shows about 12% of children population reside in Portola, Excelsior and Visitacion Valley neighborhoods surrounding McLaren Park. There are seven public schools, including three high school, one community center, two non-profit youth centers, two Boys & Girls Clubs of America Clubhouses, and a community based child and family development center.

“The McLaren Bike Park is one of the most unique amenities throughout the entire San Francisco Recreation and Parks system,” said District 11 Supervisor Ahsah Safai whose district includes McLaren Park.  “I applaud General Manager Ginsburg for placing this world class bike park in McLaren, the “backyard” for Districts 10 and 11, home to the largest population of children in San Francisco.  Now neighborhood kids can learn to ride safely using the protected bike lane on Mansell and hone their trick riding skills at McLaren Bike Park.”

The Park is expected to open from 9AM to 7PM during Spring and Summer, and from 9AM to 5:30PM during Fall and Winter, for drop-in riding where staff will be on site to provide free bike riding skill trainings.  Starting Spring, 2018, Recreation and Park Department will begin bike programming onsite.  The programming includes Bike Park Etiquette – Introduction to Park Riding; Bike Park Basics – Introduction to Pump Tracks; Bike Skill Building – Introduction to Riding Elements; Bike Camp – Summer Bike Riding Program.  There will also be special riding events in partnership with community groups.

“Access to safe places to play is a vital component of vibrant communities and healthy active life style,” Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Park Department’s General Manager added. “The McLaren Bike Park will help connect the local communities to their neighborhood park and most importantly, it will provide a fun and easily accessible recreation space for riders of all ages and skill-levels, especially for those who are beginners and in need a safe place to learn and practice riding.  We are excited to see youth from all the neighborhoods to come out and ride!”

“The City’s first Bike Park is a great addition to San Francisco’s diverse portfolio of recreational opportunities, offering our residents and visitors a new way to get fit, have fun and enjoy our wonderful parks,” said Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, whose agency was part of the construction management team

The Recreation and Park Department has been prioritizing its resources to invest in open space and recreation programming project that could provide public open space for free healthy recreation.  Other recent capital improvement projects in McLaren Park include the pedestrian safety improvements to Prague Street Steps as well as the renovation of the Mansell Streetscape, which turned two vehicle traffic lanes into a permanent pedestrian and bicycle only pathway. Other future improvements in the park include the trail improvements, and sports courts surfacing in the park.  Overall, the City has invested more than $13 million to make capital improvements and create diverse recreation opportunities in McLaren Park since 2008.

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Please see link for video of test ride at McLaren Bike Park curtesy of SF Rec and Park Department: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ5yv6-hhpw and attached document for details of the opening event. 

Strap on your helmets! You’re invited to the opening of San Francisco’s first bike park, McLaren Bike Park, on Saturday, October 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a ceremonial first bike ride at 10:30 a.m. The brand new park is located in McLaren Park at 2050 Sunnydale Avenue, next to Gleneagles Golf Course. The event will feature a ribbon cutting, pump-style bike competition, kids’ races, food, raffles, bike demos and more! In addition, there will be 22 vendors on site that will be offering items and services such as free bike repairs, food, swag and more! See the event schedule here:

10:00 AM        Event Begins

10:30 AM        First Ride Ceremony

10:45 AM        Begin Programming

• Beginner bike lessons for kids
• Open ride on the track and bowl
• Vendor tents with giveaways and services
• Food for sale at Carribean Spices Food Truck
• Raffle Tickets

12:45 PM         Announce Kids’ Race and Raffle Winners

12:50 PM         Professional Competition

1:45 PM           Awards Ceremony

2:00 PM           Programmed Event Ends

• Open ride until 5:30 p.m.

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today that the popular illumination of the historic Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park will be extended through November 26th this year.  The beloved landmark became the canvas for Photosynthesis, an elegant public art installation to honor San Francisco’s citywide celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love.

Photosynthesis is a special project presented by Illuminate, the nonprofit arts group behind The Bay Lights, in partnership with San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, and Obscura Digital, a world-renowned creative studio specializing in large-scale light-based art.  The installation at Conservatory of Flowers represents the world’s most sophisticated use of gobo projectors to transform the all-white 138-year-old structure with a series of exquisitely illuminated scenes inspired by the rare tropical flowers within and the legacy of San Francisco’s flower children.

Illuminate founder Ben Davis and the Obscura creative team delivered a nightly spectacle of spinning flower mandalas, animated butterflies, and much, much more. The free public installation went live on June 21st during the 2017 Summer Solstice. The artwork has been on view nightly from sundown until midnight and was scheduled to conclude on October 21st.  However, due to popular demand, Photosynthesis has been extended through the Thanksgiving weekend, until November 26th.

More information is available at conservatoryofflowers.org. Visitors should check the website often for updates on special events and opportunities to share images on their favorite social media channels.  For more images of Illuminated Artwork at Conservatory of Flowers, please visit: http://conservatoryofflowers.org/special-exhibit-photos-illumination/.

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About Conservatory of Flowers
The Conservatory of Flowers is a spectacular living museum of rare and beautiful tropical plants under glass. From Borneo to Bolivia, the 1,750 species of plants at the Conservatory represent unusual flora from more than 50 countries around the world. Immersive displays in five galleries include the lowland tropics, highland tropics, aquatic plants, potted plants, and special exhibits. Opened in 1879, the wood and glass greenhouse is the oldest existing wood and glass conservatory in North America and has attracted millions of visitors to Golden Gate Park since it first opened its doors. It is designated as a city, state and national historic landmark and was one of the 100 most endangered sites of the World Monuments Fund.

About San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (SF Rec & Parks)
SF Recreation and Park Department overseen by the Recreation and Park Commission stewards more than 4,000 acres of recreation and open space that includes more than 220 parks, playgrounds, and open spaces, in addition to Sharp Park and Camp Mather located outside the city limits.  The park system includes 25 recreation centers, 9 swimming pools, 5 golf courses, and numerous tennis courts, ball diamonds, soccer fields and other sports venues.  Includes in the Department’s responsibilities are iconic landmarks such as Coit Tower, Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Park, as well as the Marina Yacht Harbor, Lake Merced, and the San Francisco Zoo.  The Department’s mission is to provide enriching recreational activities, maintain beautiful parks, and preserve the environment for the well-being of the City’s diverse community.  More about SF Rec & Parks, please visit: https://sstasio.wpengine.com/.

About Illuminate
Illuminate’s flagship project is The Bay Lights by artist Leo Villareal.  The nonprofit arts group is currently leading the effort to honor Harvey Milk’s life and legacy and will be unveiling two new works of public art on November 8 in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood. For more information about Illuminate, please visit: http://illuminate.org/.

About Obscura
Obscura is a creative studio in the heart of San Francisco’s Dogpatch district.  The firm creates one-of-a-kind immersive experiences that will change the way people think about the world around.  For more information about Obscura Digital, please visit: http://obscuradigital.com/.

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department announced today that the Department has received a cash grant of $864,000 from San Franciscans for Sports and Recreation (SFFSR) to resurface tennis courts in the City’s park system.  Throughout 2016, the Department and SFFSR worked together to identify a list of 24 courts located in parks throughout the City, that are top priority and in need of resurfacing. This grant will repair as many of these sites as possible, over the next two to three years, and the Department has selected tennis courts in four different sites to be the first of the series for repairs.

Meanwhile, for the last two fiscal years, the Department has allocated $1.5 million of its general fund budget to resurface sports courts citywide, out of which, more than $1 million have gone toward resurfacing tennis courts that are in most dire need of repair and located in neighborhood with high recreation needs and demands, also known as “Equity Zone”.  The tennis courts that are selected for resurfacing and funded by public dollars are located in Tenderloin Recreation Center, Hayes Valley Playground, Merced Heights, Oceanview Playground, Minnie & Lovie Ward Recreation Center, Jose Coronado Playground, Alice Chalmers Playground, Crocker Amazon Park, and Alamo Square.  Tennis courts at Excelsior Playground and Ralph Playground were recently resurfaced as well as part of this program.

“This public-private partnership helps leverage the Department’s current resources to resurface tennis courts citywide program, and with this grant, we are able to allocate public funds to resurface tennis courts that are located in areas in need of equitable recreation opportunity,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Park Department’s General Manager.  “We thank SFFSR for their generous contribution towards making our tennis courts more accessible and meeting the diverse recreation needs of our communities.”

The first series of tennis courts to be resurfaced through grant funds are located at McLaren Park, Moscone Recreation Center, West Portal Playground, and Golden Gate Heights Park.  The resurfacing construction is expected to begin starting the week of October 16^th, 2017, and each court resurfacing is expected to take about 4-8 weeks.

“There are over 150 public tennis courts in San Francisco.  San Franciscans for Sports and Recreation is excited to be collaborating with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department to resurface tennis courts throughout the city,” said Seth Socolow, Vice President of SFFSR.  “We have focused on providing grant funding to resurface tennis courts that were in the most need of resurfacing, and for which other sources of funding were not readily available.  This year we have collaborated with SF Rec and Park to begin resurfacing nine courts at four different locations and we look forward to completing a similar number of projects in 2018.”

The City’s park system has 151 tennis courts citywide, and 21 of them are located in the beloved Golden Gate Park.  Public tennis courts around the City provide free recreation space for many residents and park visitors.

“It’s so exciting to learn that some of the public tennis courts at our San Francisco neighborhood playgrounds will be resurfaced! My siblings and I grew up playing tennis at Golden Gate Park tennis courts but also played at some of the neighborhood playgrounds’ courts,” said Peanut Louie Harper, Co-Founder of Harper for Kids.  “Being able to play tennis every day at public courts with my siblings and a lot of other kids and regulars at GGP tennis courts made for a great childhood experience. Tennis is truly a sport for a lifetime and it’s so important that there are public courts for kids, families and the community to play on.”

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About San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (SF Rec & Parks)
SF Recreation and Park Department overseen by the Recreation and Park Commission stewards more than 4,000 acres of recreation and open space that includes more than 220 parks, playgrounds, and open spaces, in addition to Sharp Park and Camp Mather located outside the city limits.  The park system includes 25 recreation centers, 9 swimming pools, 5 golf courses, and numerous tennis courts, ball diamonds, soccer fields and other sports venues.  Includes in the Department’s responsibilities are iconic landmarks such as Coit Tower, Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Park, as well as the Marina Yacht Harbor, Lake Merced, and the San Francisco Zoo.  The Department’s mission is to provide enriching recreational activities, maintain beautiful parks, and preserve the environment for the well-being of the City’s diverse community.  More about SF Rec & Parks, please visit: https://sstasio.wpengine.com/.

About San Franciscans for Sports and Recreation (SFFSR)
SFFSR is a 501c4 social welfare organization whose mission is to preserve, protect, and promote recreation facilities and activities in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Many of SFFSR’s members are avid tennis players from neighborhoods throughout San Francisco.

About Harper for Kids (HKF)
Harper for Kids (HFK) is a nonprofit organization founded by Tim and Peanut Harper with the vision to foster a healthy community by helping children to develop life skills and achieve their personal best in life.  Peanut Louie Harper is also a Chinese American born and raised in San Francisco and a former professional woman tennis player with a career high ranking of #19 in the world.  More about Harper for Kids, please visit http://www.harperforkids.org/HFK/home.html .

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and Mayor Edwin M. Lee announced today that the City of San Francisco is the model city for cities across the nation as The Trust for Public Land (TPL), National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), and Urban Land Institute are launching an historic “10-minute walk” parks advocacy campaign.  The campaign is set to establish the ambitious goal that all Americans, and all residents of these 134 cities should live within a 10-minute walk (or half-mile) of a high-quality park or green space.

This bipartisan group includes mayors from all across the country and represents cities large and small, including America’s largest cities (New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston) and diverse communities across the country. The U.S. Conference of Mayors, which represents more than 1,000 U.S. mayors, also unanimously passed a resolution at the 85^th Annual Meeting urging all mayors to actively pursue the 10-minute walk to a park goal.

In May this year, Mayor Lee and the Recreation and Park Department announced that San Francisco is the first and only city in the United States where all residents have access to a park within a 10-minute walk.  The findings were part of TPL’s Park Score, an assessment of the nation’s 100 largest cities.

“We want all of our residents to take part in the prosperity and beauty of our city, which is why it is particularly meaningful that we have a parks system that is accessible and enjoyable for everyone,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “We have dedicated record funding levels into our parks, and that investment is reflected by San Francisco becoming the first city in the country where everyone lives within 10 minutes of an open space. Our families are healthier and happier when they can easily enjoy our local parks.”

During Mayor Lee’s tenure, the City has invested $335 million in parks and open space projects.  For his 2017-2019 budget, Mayor Lee has included $84.4 million in capital projects for the Recreation and Park Department, maintaining record levels of investment in the City’s parks and open spaces.  The $84 million investment in capital projects represents an 81% increase from 2015 levels.

“To achieve the distinction as the nation’s first city with every resident living within a 10-minute walk of a park or open space, our Department has been actively maximizing the recreational use of park land citywide as well as acquiring new land to develop into public parks,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Park Department’s General Manager.  “But we know that we couldn’t have achieved this great milestone if it were not for the support from Mayor Lee, our elected leaders, and park advocates.  This impactful accomplishment belongs to all of us.”

In recent years, San Francisco has added the Golden Gate Park CommUNITY Garden, Interior Greenbelt, Geneva Community Garden, Noe Valley Town Square, 17^th and Folsom Street Park, Francisco Reservoir, and 900 Innes Ave, also known as Indian Basin, to the City’s list of new parks.

And in addition to planning, developing, and maintaining lands under its jurisdiction, the Department continues to work with fellow city agencies to address open space needs around the City.  The Department brings park expertise and perspective to emerging open space projects, working closely to advise on open space needs.  As a result, parks such as the SOMA West Skate and Dog Park, Tunnel Top Park, Progress Park, Playground at 43^rd Avenue, and others have become neighborhood parks that serve San Francisco residents.

Studies show that high-quality parks provide a wide range of benefits to urban residents and cities themselves.

These include physical and mental health benefits, by providing opportunities to be physically active and to interact with nature; economic benefits by boosting business and helping to revitalize neighborhoods; community-building benefits by providing opportunities for neighbors to interact with each other and work together to improve their surroundings; and environmental benefits by cleaning and cooling the air, improving climate resilience, and providing opportunities for environmental education.

The full list of 134 mayors; cities endorsing the 10-minute walk standard can be found at 10minutewalk.org.

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About The Trust for Public Land (TPL)
The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Millions of people live near a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year.

About the Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the institute has more than 40,000 members worldwide representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines.

About the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)
The National Recreation and Park Association is the leading non-profit dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have access to quality parks and recreation. Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation, and equitable access to parks.

The design team will be presenting 3 different playground designs for your review.

* Food will be provided *

RSVP by noon October 18 appreciated to help us with planning: tinyurl.com/panhandleplayground2

WHEN: Thursday, October 19, 6:00-7:30 pm
WHERE: Park Branch Library
1833 Page Street

We will have an online survey up for one week following the workshop to gather input from folks who are unable to make it on Thursday evening. Please stay tuned for more info.

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today its 5^th year of partnership with Healthy Parks, Healthy People Bay Area (HPHP Bay Area), a collaborative initiative of over 30 parks, public health, and community based agencies working to improve the health and well-being of all Bay Area residents through the regular use and enjoyment of parks and public lands.  A special celebration hosted by the Department will take place at Heron’s Head Park on Saturday, September 23^rd.

The celebration will kick off with a Nature Walk at 10:00AM where participants will first enjoy a special performance by “Rare Birds”, a troupe of family-friendly entertainers and artists who will be stationed around the park exhibiting their performing arts, and artistic interpretation of rare birds.  Then the Department staff will give a beginning lesson on the basics of bird watching before heading for a hike along the Bay Trail.  The hike will end at noon as the group will return to Heron’s Head Eco-Center for a party with food and games.

“Our Department has been a proud partner of the Healthy Parks, Healthy People Bay Area Initiative since 2013,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Park Department’s General Manager.  “Our local program is designed to encourage San Franciscans to spend more time in nature because we have learned that in doing so our physical and mental health significantly improves.”

Since 2013, 766 people have attended the Department’s Saturday HPHP program at four different sites, and short interpretive programs are customized and provided to participants at each site.  Before participants begin to explore in nature, at Stow Lake, they learn about the history of Golden Gate Park; at Lake Merced, they practice Qigong; at McLaren Park, they experience the labyrinths and redwoods; at Heron’s Head Park, they study bird watching and wetlands.

According to HPHP Bay Area, there are significant mental, physical and social benefits to being active in the outdoors and especially in the nature.  In one survey where 450 parents nationwide ranked their children’s ADHD symptoms after taking part in various activities, many parents ranked activities conducted outside in green space as being particularly helpful with the management of the children with attention deficits (ADD and ADHD).  Similarly, in regards to anxiety, a Norwegian study where 345,000 individuals were examined found that those with lower rates of anxiety disorders were those who lived near parks, agricultural land, and other types of green space regardless of income.  And in another survey conducted of 3,000 elderly Tokyo residents, those who lived in close proximity to a park or green space had lower rates of mortality as a result of cardiovascular disease.  Moreover, it has also been reported that time spent in nature is not only linked to improved nearsightedness, but also increased physical resilience.  Even a seminal study conducted decades ago, in1984 found that recovering patients who were kept in rooms with views of trees and grass recovered faster and required overall less medication than those who were kept in rooms without access to trees and grass.  Furthermore, outdoor exposure also has been associated with an increased intake of vitamin D. Regular instances of outdoor exposure have been found to help children remain alert throughout the day, maintain elevated moods, and fall asleep easier in the evening.  In addition to providing individual physical and mental health benefits, studies conclude that spending time and exercising in nature also provide social benefits. This is because many activities conducted in the outdoors—such as walking with others, picnicking, and sitting in a park—can done with one or many individuals.

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SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today a newly constructed park space in Chinatown is now scheduled to open early in October, 2017.  The 6,000 square-foot Rooftop Park, which is connected to St. Mary’s Square, contains planted areas, seating and an open plaza.  It was built as a condition of approval from San Francisco Planning Department for the development of 500 Pine Street and 350 Bush Street.  Accessible to the public through St. Mary’s Square, the new plaza is located at Quincy Street between California and Pine Streets.

“Rooftop Park is our latest effort to provide more open green spaces for our Chinatown residents,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “As one of the densest neighborhoods in San Francisco, we need to ensure that Chinatown has places where children can play and exercise, families can congregate and communities can gather together. That is why we have invested more than $30 million in park projects in Chinatown in recent years and while we will continue to support projects that encourage safe, healthy activities.”

In 2003, San Francisco Rec and Park Commission approved the construction of park improvements and the transfer agreement of which the Park will be transferred to Rec and Park Department once construction is completed.  The Commission recommended the Board of Supervisors to approve and authorize the execution of the transfer, and accept the rooftop park, the expansion area parcel as a gift to the City and County of San Francisco.

“This expansion is something I have been working on with the community since my first term in office,” said Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who represents District 3. “Chinatown, the densest neighborhood in the City, has long fought for a modicum of open space and recreational programming as development continues to increase around it. I’m delighted to see the community’s victory manifested in this public park expansion for all to enjoy.”

According to research conducted by Rec and Park Department’s Historian-in-Residence, Christopher Pollock, Mr. George D. Shadburne, an attorney for the Paulist Fathers, organized and presided the St. Mary’s Square Association, and in the year of 1898 began the effort to build a public square across from the Old St. Mary’s Church located at California Street.  Then in 1957, Landscape Architect Robert Royston took on the task to bring St. Mary’s Square into a fully designed park.  According to Cultural Landscape Foundation, the design includes rigid geometry imposed on ground plane with playful grid pattern in two tones of concrete for the pavement and separate the pedestrian spaces by using curved planting beds.  The Square has low seat walls with benches that define mowed lawn areas while raised planting beds support large trees, shrubs, and perennial plantings.  The Square has access to the street from a wide concrete staircase on one end and an at-grade entrance at the other.  The Square also has a playground, with row of trees as the background, and a sculpture of Mr. Sun Yat-Sen as the focal point for the space.

In March this year, in partnership with SF Public Works, the agencies planted a Ginkgo biloba at St. Mary’s Square in honor of Chinatown community leader Rose Pak, during the Public Works’ annual signature tree on Thursday, May 16 as part of the San Francisco Arbor Week 2017 celebrations.  The historic species awes with beautiful fan-shaped leaves that turn a stunning yellow color in autumn. Like Pak, the species is a native of China.

“The St. Mary’s Square Extension is the realization of a vision made in 2003 by then Recreation and Park Commissioner Gordon Chin and Supervisor Aaron Peskin during his first tenure.  After two real estate cycles, a confluence of efforts made this vision happen by the community advocacy of the late Rose Pak, Chinatown Community Development Center, and the Committee for Better Parks and Recreation in Chinatown, the capital investment by Lincoln Properties and Gemdale USA Properties, and the urban planning of Heller Manus Architects,” said Allan Low, SF Rec and Park Commission Vice President.  “Chinatown is a high-needs neighborhood with a scarcity of open space, and the St. Mary’s Park Extension is a creative solution not just to create an extension but to expand a sense of place.”

In recent years, the City has invested in improving and constructing park spaces in Chinatown.  In 2012, the Rec and Park Department opened Betty Ann Ong Chinese Recreation Center after its $21 million renovation; in 2015 the Department re-opened the Portsmouth Square Restroom after a $2 million renovation; and in 2016 the Department allocated $10 million to renovate Willie Woo Woo Playground and Clubhouse — construction is expected to begin at the end of 2017.  And now Portsmouth Square is undergoing a master planning process jointly funded and managed by Rec and Park Department and Planning Department.

“The expansion of St. Mary’s Square is a wonderful addition to the open space and recreation resources serving Chinatown residents, workers in the Financial district, and visitors alike. It is also represents creative place making with an innovative partnership involving private development Chinatown, the City Planning Department and the Recreation and Parks Department,” said Gordon Chin, former SF Rec and Park Commissioner, and longtime Chinatown community advocate.

According to the City’s General Plan for Chinatown Area Plan, Chinatown has long been designated as a high-need neighborhood and has been granted acquisition funds for a new park in the Prop J. Open Space acquisition program.  As indicated in the Plan, both conventional and innovative means of assembling open space should be explored.  In addition to much needed new park, Chinatown has opportunities to use and develop alternative forms of open space including, school yards, alleyways, and sidewalks.  And in the case of St. Mary’s Square, an extended rooftop park became a crucial addition to meet Chinatown’s needs for open space.

“We are anxious for the Park to open as it will be a great new additional open space to Chinatown that is in need of more open space” said Phil Chin, Chair of Committee for Better Parks in Chinatown.  “We commend the developer that lived up their commitment, and Rec and Park Department for making it safer and more accessible for our community.  We are happy that the Park is finally going to open after 14 years in the making.”

“As the proud steward of our City’s park system, we are constantly working to improve our parks and create new park space whenever we can, however though, we are often facing the challenges of limited resources and land available for green space,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Park Department’s General Manager.  “The expansion of St. Mary’s Square may only be 6,000 square-foot, but the endless opportunity for recreation that this space can provide is tremendously valuable to the diverse communities living and working in this neighborhood.”

Upon transfer of the Rooftop Park to Recreation and Park Department, the owners of 500 Pine Street and 350 Bush Streets will continue its ongoing partnership with the Department in maintaining the park space, and ensuring public access.

According to Michael Krupa, President of Gemdale USA, “we were delighted in April 2014 to debut in the United States with leading national developer Lincoln Property Company as well as leading architectural firm Heller Manus in the development of 500 Pine Street along with directly nearby 350 Bush Street.  Each of us are particularly pleased with the ability to help further positively transform the fabric of the neighborhood with the St. Mary’s Park 500 Pine Street rooftop park addition, which added 6,000 square feet and will provide Chinatown and overall City residents with additional beneficial public outdoor space.”

John Herr, Executive Vice President for Lincoln Property Company stated, ” The completion of the expansion of St. Mary’s Square is a key component in the development of 350 Bush and 500 Pine. While a relatively small area, the park is large factor in the overwhelming success of the design and construction. We are very appreciative of the cooperation from all of the public and private interests that were involved in the project and look forward to the opening of the park very soon.”

“Open space is a scarce but cherished resource in Chinatown,” said John Rahaim, Director of San Francisco Planning. “When we enhance our parks and other communal spaces, we are enhancing the quality of life for everyone. Rooftop parks are an innovative approach to meeting the increasing challenges of adding much needed open space to dense communities, and I commend the Recreation and Park Department and Committee for Better Parks in Chinatown for this exciting achievement.”

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SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today the naming of the Robin Williams Meadow, the meadow located adjacent to Golden Gate Park’s Sharon Building in honor of the late Robin Williams, the legendary comedian and longtime Bay Area resident.  Throughout his life, Mr. Williams made great contributions to local and international communities, but for many San Franciscans, his support for the annual free Comedy Day in Golden Gate Park, was one of his most memorable.  Comedy Day, the annual free event, began in 1981 in Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse, then due to expanding crowds was relocated to the Polo Field, and now Sharon Meadow. The event has brought together nearly 1,000 of the world’s funniest comedians to provide laughs to more than half a million people over 37 years.

“Through his comedy, Robin Williams brought so much light into this world, which is why it is fitting that we are naming a beautiful outdoor meadow in his honor,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “Robin was one of San Francisco’s cherished sons, whose selfless acts of philanthropy benefitted communities across our city. We will forever remember him fondly and the Robin Williams Meadow will be a lasting testament to his legacy.”

According to SF Rec and Park’s Historian-in-Residence, Christopher Pollock, in his published book, “San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park: A Thousand and Seventeen Acres of Stories”, described Sharon Meadow as a location that was identified in 1894 as an ideal picturesque surrounding area for the Sharon Building, a Victorian Romanesque style building designed by architects George Washington Percy and Frederick F. Hamilton, and named after William Sharon, a banker, a U.S. Senator from Nevada, and a partner of San Francisco’s Palace Hotel.  The Meadow served as an emergency hospital with medical dispensary and commissary during the cataclysmic earthquake and fire in 1906.  By 1960s, the Flower Children who flooded the streets of Haight-Ashbury neighborhood during the countercultural movement occupied the Meadow that later became known as the Hippie Hill to many.

Today, surrounded by Sharon Arts Studio housed in Sharon Building, lawn bowling court, tennis courts, and Koret Children’s Playground and historic Carousel, the Meadow is a beloved hangout for the diverse communities in San Francisco.  It is also where SF Rec and Park hosts Eggstravaganza, its annual egg hunt at the Meadow entertaining thousands of children and their families every Spring.

“Robin Williams was known for his humor and kindness and like Comedy Day, he was about making people laugh – no matter who they are.  Because the event’s mission embodies Mr. Williams’ true nature as a comedian and kind spirit as a human being, it is so fitting to name this meadow after Mr. Williams where thousands of people freely gather to perform, laugh and enjoy each other’s company every year,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Park’s General Manager.

San Francisco’s professional comedy community joins together each year to support Comedy Day, an highly-entertaining, five-hour show in Golden Gate Park. The Punch Line, Cobb’s Comedy Club, SF Sketchfest, and others help make Comedy Day the most anticipated comedy event of the year.  This year’s Comedy Day will take place on Sunday, September 17^th in Robin Williams Meadow in Golden Gate Park.

“As President of the Board and Producer of Comedy Celebration Day, I am elated and proud to be able to publicly announce the naming of Robin Williams Meadow this coming Sunday, September 17th. Robin was a friend not only to me, but to Comedy Day and the entire City of San Francisco,” said Debi Durst, Producer and President of Comedy Day.  “He always made an appearance at the show if he was in town, and was there at the very beginning in 1981.  It was always magical whenever he appeared during Comedy Day; you could feel the excitement and the electricity coming from the audience as Robin danced upon the stage, wowing the hometown crowd with his hilarious antics.  We miss him horribly, and think it is only fitting that this wonderful Meadow, where he made so many people laugh and forget their troubles for the day will be named in his honor.  As Comedy Day’s late founder Jose Simon used to say “Long Live the Comic Spirit.”

Williams is perhaps most widely revered for his performance in Gus Van Sant’s Good Will Hunting. His performance earned Williams an Oscar® and Screen Actors Guild award. The Academy previously nominated Williams for Best Actor in The Fisher King, Dead Poets Society, and Good Morning Vietnam. Williams also garnered a special honor from the National Board of Review for his performance opposite Robert De Niro in Awakenings. In 2004, Williams received the prestigious Career Achievement Award from the Chicago International Film festival and, in 2005, the HFPA honored him with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.  In 2007, Williams’ received the Peter J. Owens Award for excellence in acting from the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Williams took great joy in supporting causes from health care and human rights, to education, environmental protection, and the arts. Headlining a number of USO tours, Williams traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan five times to help raise morale among the troops. Williams’ efforts with “Comic Relief” raised over $50 million dollars to help America’s homeless.

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SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced today the construction of Guy Place Mini Park, a new park at 4-8 Guy Place, one of the very few undeveloped properties in the Rincon Hill District.  The park parcel, located on Guy Place near the approach to the Bay Bridge, is steps from the new Trans Bay terminal development and is surrounded by a mix of older residential and commercial low-rise buildings as well as new residential towers.

“San Francisco’s fastest growing population is in District 6, so our need for open space and healthy recreation is growing as well,” said District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim whose district includes Guy Place Park. “We must build complete neighborhoods while building housing. I am proud that years of community advocacy made this new park a reality.”

In addition, Supervisor Kim’s office secured a $60,000 add-back for the construction of a bulb-out in front of the Park to increase accessibility to the area.

The acquisition of 4-8 Guy Place was funded by the Rincon Hill Community Improvements Fund in 2007 and followed by a community planning and design process in 2008, and additional community outreach in 2014.  The design then received approval from the San Francisco Arts Commission. In Spring 2017, the Department received additional funding to move forward with the construction.

“Guy Place Park has been a community driven project for a neighborhood that has lack green and open space,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Park General Manager.  “We are excited to be adding a new park in this corner of District 6.”

The Guy Place Park is designed for passive use, as an oasis from the urban living for quiet enjoyment as well as an opportunity for small-group gatherings.  To maximize usable space and ensure accessibility, the renovation will raise the sloping terrain with engineered retaining walls to create a level site.  Trees on site that have shown poor structure, a hazard to pedestrians, and are in conflict with overhead electricity wires, will be removed upon the recommendations from City’s consulting arborist.   The new park design features eight new trees.

The renovation will also create three defined outdoor spaces as ‘rooms” with lush landscapes and three living green columns featuring California grapevines.  A large granite “weeping wall” water feature situated in the rear of the park remains a design option that will be included as funding allows.  The entry fence and gates are art enrichment components of the project designed through the San Francisco Arts Commission.

The new park will also include a waterjet cut steel fence designed by artist Adriane Colburn. Inspired by the historic and contemporary geologic record of the neighborhood, the design combines the contours of the local landscape, cartographic imagery and abstract forms.

“Adriane Colburn’s fence design is meditative and modern in the way it evokes the site’s history and topography,” says Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny. “It ties a bow around this beautiful new urban oasis.” The project is scheduled for bid advertisement by the end of summer 2017, and the estimated one year-long construction process is expected to begin upon the approval of construction bid submission.

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See attached for Guy Place Mini Park design rendering courtesy of SF Rec and Park Department here. 

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department in partnership with The Trust for Public Land and Civic Center Community Benefit District (CCCBD) announced today that Helen Diller Family Foundation will be expanding its $10 million playground renovation gift to Civic Center Plaza.  Through The Trust for Public Land, Helen Diller Family Foundation has donated funds to support CCCBD to create a street café and central gathering place at Civic Center Plaza.  CCCBD has selected Bi-Rite, a family-owned San Francisco institution since 1940, to be the operator of the café, which will provide ice cream and a variety of fresh foods.

“During the community outreach and design process for the playground renovation, when we asked the community what other activities they would like to see at Civic Center Plaza, they talked about park amenities like food and seating as well as an area to relax and gather near the playgrounds with their children and families,” said Alejandra Chiesa, Bay Area Program Director with The Trust for Public Land.  “Because of the community feedback, we worked with Helen Diller Family Foundation who has offered additional resources and funding to provide this much-needed community hub serving families living in the Civic Center and Tenderloin neighborhoods.”

“Food brings people together, and we could not be more excited about the outcome here,” said Jackie Safier, President of the Helen Diller Family Foundation.

As an active community member in the San Francisco neighborhoods in which it operates, Bi-Rite welcomes this opportunity to deepen its existing partnerships in the Civic Center and Tenderloin neighborhoods, and to bring its delicious ice cream and freshly prepared foods to this new space.

“Creating community through food is why we exist,” shares Sam Mogannam, second-generation owner of Bi-Rite. “And we’re honored to be asked to be a part of the fun and togetherness that this project is going to create in the heart of the City.”

The street café, to be located at the corner of Grove and Larkin Streets, will be housed in a kiosk, and will offer a variety of food and drink selections as well as movable tables and seating for the public to relax and enjoy recreation activities at Civic Center Plaza.  Currently, the Department offers Zumba classes, youth soccer, adult bocce ball, adult kickball, and volleyball games as well as food trucks in partnership with Off-The-Grid on a weekly basis.  Designed by WRNS, the street café has a light and transparent structure that will preserve the grand views of Civic Center Plaza and allow visibility of the playgrounds when the renovations are completed.  And while it is built to last, the café structure can be removed to make way for another long-term future use in the Plaza.

“The CBD’s mission is to provide essential services, including activation, that complement those provided by City agencies,” said Tracy Everwine, Executive Director of the CBD.  “This project and our partnership with Bi-Rite enhance our work and will provide a tremendous convenience for Plaza-goers.”

“We are thankful for the generous donation and kind support of Helen Diller Family Foundation, The Trust for Public Land, Civic Center Community Benefit District, Bi-Rite and many other city agencies and community partners,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Park Department General Manager.  “With their support, our City is making milestones one after another in the effort of activating Civic Center Plaza, making it a fun and lively open space for everyone.”

The street café is a $1 million addition to the already generous $10 million donation the Helen Diller Foundation made in 2013 to Civic Center Plaza community through the Trust for Public Land to fund the design and construction of two vibrant, state-of-the-art playgrounds, at no cost to the City. As part of the multi-year comprehensive community outreach and design process, The Trust for Public Land in partnership with SF Rec and Park Department, conducted a user survey, focus groups and community-wide workshops with stakeholders including parents, educators, children, institutions, and city agencies. The conceptual design for the $10 million renovation was finalized and approved in fall 2016. Members of the Foundation, the Trust for Public Land, city officials, and park advocates joined the Department for a groundbreaking ceremony last February. The gift has also served as a catalyst for a renewed focus on improving and activating Civic Center and the surrounding area.

The street café design will be reviewed by the Planning Department through the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness.  The project is scheduled to be presented to the Historic Preservation Commission’s Architectural Review Committee on August 2nd and if approved, it is expected to be presented to full Historic Preservation Commission on August 16^th.  If and when the project design is approved, The Trust for Public Land will be overseeing the construction of the street café.  In addition, the Department is considering a license agreement with CCCBD where CCCBD and Bi-Rite, its selected operator will be managing and operating street café at Civic Center Plaza.  The license agreement is expected to be presented to SF Rec and Park Commission this fall.  The timeline for the project completion has yet to be determined as it is still undergoing a city approval and public hearing process.

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and Mayor Edwin M. Lee announced today that District 19 Assemblymember Phil Ting has secured $6.5 million of state funding to improve San Francisco parks.  The $6.5 million in state funding included $3.5 million for the adaptive reuse and restoration of the Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse, $2 million for the construction of dog park in Golden Gate Park, and $1 million for capital improvements in Lake Merced.  The additional $3.5 million state money increase the funds available for the iconic Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse’s renovation to $14 million.

“To help keep our residents in San Francisco, we need to create more amenities for our families, and this funding finds innovative ways to make that happen,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “Thanks to the hard work and advocacy of Assemblymember Ting, we will soon be developing more public open spaces and transforming our existing facilities into thriving community centers.”

“San Francisco’s parks are valued by its residents and visitors, and we want to keep it that way. With $6.5 million coming in from the state, the enhancements, restoration, and improvements that will be made to the Geneva Car Barn, the new Golden Gate Park Dog Park, and Lake Merced will go a long way in preserving San Francisco’s rich history while increasing accessibility for years to come,” said District 19 Assemblyman Phil Ting.

On July 6th, Assemblyman Ting joined Mayor Ed Lee, Supervisors Sandra Lee Fewer, Ahsha Safai, Norman Yee, and SF Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg for a site tour at Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse.  Located in District 11, Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse is the last physical reminder of the City’s first electric railway system. First owned by private railway companies and then by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority (SFMTA), it was occupied until 1989, at which time it was heavily damaged in the Loma Prieta earthquake. When it was scheduled to be demolished in 1998, the community organized to convince then Mayor Willie Brown to save the building. In 2004, ownership was transferred to SF Rec and Park with the goal of creating a recreational space for youth and families, especially for arts-related youth development.

“The restoration of the Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse will transform a blighted, historic building into San Francisco’s premier center for performing arts and instruction for youth,” said District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai whose district includes Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse.

Recently, the SF Rec and Park Commission  voted unanimously to allocate $3 million from the Community Opportunity Fund, a grant program from the 2012 Parks Bond, for design and construction services for the Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse restoration and renovation.  Now, with the additional $3.5 million secured by Assemblyman Ting, the renovation budget boasts $14.5 million in funds.

In addition, $2 million of state fund will help improve the dog park in Golden Gate Park located at 36th Ave and Fulton Street.  This community-driven project plans to upgrade the park by adding, benches, dog turf and better fencing.  The community planning and design process is expected to begin later 2017.

My constituents and I deeply appreciate Assemblymember Ting’s timely and much needed contribution for our City’s parks,” said District 1 Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer whose district includes Golden Gate Park.  “Our 38th Ave. dog play area has been neglected for decades but I am glad that our neighborhood’s recent organizing efforts around this important resource have been so successful and will result in a gem of a dog park.”

The State Budget also includes $1 million in State funding for capital improvements around Lake Merced.  This funding will augment $2 million from the local 2012 Clean and Safe Park Bond.  Anticipated improvements include erosion, trail, signage and recreational improvements around the lake along with recreational and dock improvements for boaters and lake users near the Lake Merced Boathouse.

“I am excited about this additional investment to San Francisco’s parks and open spaces. Our stewardship of natural areas and parks is fundamental to the health of our environment and the well-being of our residents.  Lake Merced is one of our few and precious recreational water resources in San Francisco that is loved by rowers, paddlers, joggers, birdwatchers, cyclists, families, and nature lovers from all over the Bay Area. I am thankful that we are able to secure more funds for erosion control at the Lake to preserve this natural treasure,” said District 7 Supervisor Norman Yee whose district includes Lake Merced.

“SF Rec and Park is grateful to have the support from Assemblyman Phil Ting as well as the elected leaders of our great City, and for their commitment to invest in the preservation and improvement of our parks and recreation facilities,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Park General Manager.  “We are excited to be the trusted steward of these great public spaces, and we look forward to continuing our mission of providing safe and fun parks for everyone to enjoy.”

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For photos and design rendering of Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse courtesy of SF Rec and Park Department:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kife9rpyxkf34z2/GCB%20Images%20for%20Prequal%20170328%20.pdf?dl=0

In partnership with The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF), SF Rec and Park announces the opening of The Landscape Architecture of Lawrence Halprin, a traveling photo exhibition about the life and work of landscape architect Lawrence Halprin (1916-2009). The exhibit opens May 25, 2017 and will remain on view through September 4, 2017 at the Palace of Fine Arts (3601 Lyon Street). Hours are 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday thru Sunday.  The exhibition, which debuted at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., is organized and curated by TCLF. Created in 2016 during the centennial anniversary of Halprin’s birth, the exhibition features 56 newly commissioned photographs by leading landscape photographers featuring dozens of Halprin’s major works. Photos range from recently rediscovered residential projects created early in his career to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C. and include capstone projects such as the Yosemite Falls approach as well as Stern Grove in San Francisco. The exhibition both honors the influential designer and calls attention to the need for informed and effective stewardship of his irreplaceable legacy.

Location: The Palace of Fine Arts is located at 3601 Lyon Street, San Francisco, CA 94123.  The entrance for the Lawrence Halprin Exhibit is through the north side entrance (Marina Boulevard side).

Map: Here is a floor plan of the Palace of Fine Arts building showing the location of the exhibit.

More about Lawrence Halprin, please see link: https://www.tclf.org/landscape-architecture-lawrence-halprin-exhibition-open-san-francisco-palace-fine-arts-may-24-2017.

http://www.tenniscoalitionsf.org/news/first-annual-tlc-play-day-at-golden-gate-park-tennis-center/

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Recreation & Park Department, in partnership with the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the Helen Diller Family Foundation, is proud to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds, located in the heart of San Francisco’s Civic Center Historic District. The Helen Diller Family Foundation has generously donated $10 million to fund the construction of these two vibrant state-of-the-art playgrounds. Members of the Foundation, Trust for Public Land, City officials, and members of the public, joined SF Rec & Park in a groundbreaking ceremony today. The gift of these playgrounds served as a catalyst for a renewed focus on improving and activating Civic Center and the surrounding area .

“Helen Diller was a park lover and a champion for children and families in San Francisco,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “Her memory lives on through many of our City’s parks and playgrounds, and that legacy will now include the Civic Center Plaza Playgrounds. I want to commend the Helen Diller Family Foundation for their commitment to San Francisco, and I want to thank the Trust for Public and Land, and the Recreation and Parks Department for their continued efforts to improve green and open space in the City.”

The existing playgrounds at Civic Center Plaza are approximately 20 years old and in need of renovation and improvement. They are in an area where open space is limited for residents of the Tenderloin, Civic Center, Hayes Valley and South of Market neighborhoods. Because of their unique location, they also serve children attending nearby daycare centers, schools, and children who are visiting the Civic Center as part of their education. With the increase of population density in the Civic Center neighborhood, Civic Center Plaza has evolved into a neighborhood park with many functions that serve the diverse needs of those who live and work in the area. Civic Center Plaza is located in District 6, a district that has the highest density of population and is in great need of green space. In recent years, the growth of population has rapidly increased with housing developments booming in the area. In fact, according to a projection from the City’s Planning Department, it is expected that more than 2,000 households will be added to the Civic Center neighborhood by 2040.

“This new and improved playground will enhance the community for children and families,” said District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim whose district includes Civic Center Plaza. “I want to thank Rec & Park for continuously pursuing and improving access to play in San Francisco.”

Civic Center Plaza is the hub of the City’s cultural life, surrounded by the City’s most notable cultural institutions, including the Main Library, the Asian Art Museum, the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Ballet, and many other institutions that have active programming for children.”

“The design includes extensive planting and natural materials, focused on a warm and unique outdoor experience. It is our hope that these playgrounds serve as a timeliness anchor for one of the great civic plazas in the world,” said Jackie Safier, President of the Helen Diller Family Foundation. The playground also includes artistic lighting, which provides an inviting environment as well as helps safety at night.

In partnership with TPL, the Department conducted a comprehensive community outreach and design process. The extensive community process, which began in 2013, included a user survey, focus groups and community-wide workshops with stakeholders including parents, educators, children, institutions, and City agencies, and as a result, a conceptual design for the $10 million renovations was finalized and approved in fall 2016. The Trust for Public Land is using the $10 million grant from the Helen Diller Family Foundation to design and construct two new playgrounds at no cost to the City. This project is part of an ongoing partnership between SF Rec & Park and TPL, which has recently resulted in renovations of Hilltop Park, Hayes Valley Playground and Clubhouse, Balboa Park, and Boeddeker Park and Clubhouse. This partnership has delivered more than $25 million in investments to the parks in San Francisco.

“Helen Diller and her family have generously contributed to rebuild safe and uniquely fun playgrounds throughout the City including Julius Kahn Playground at Presidio, Helen Diller Playground at Dolores Park, and now the Civic Center Playgrounds,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec & Park General Manager. “On behalf of the Department, I want to thank the Helen Diller Family Foundation for continuing to invest in kids and families in San Francisco.”

The improvements to Civic Center Plaza are part of SF Rec & Park’s overall efforts to improve green and open spaces in disadvantaged communities within San Francisco. Most recently, the Department reopened Hilltop Park, Gilman Playground, and completed the Mansell Streetscape project which converted two busy lanes of vehicle traffic to permanent pedestrian and bicycle only pathways in McLaren Park. This is in addition to SF Rec & Park’s construction on the park at 17th & Folsom in the Mission District, as well the Geneva Community Garden, and South Park in SOMA. The Department also runs recreation programming and family-oriented holiday events throughout the year.

“This spectacular new playground, made possible by a generous gift from the Helen Diller Foundation, will redefine play spaces in San Francisco and across the country with extraordinary design and opportunities for fun and exercise,” said Adrian Benepe, Senior Vice President and Director of City Park Development at The Trust for Public Land. “The Trust for Public Land works across the US to make parks for people, and we are proud to be a longtime partner with SF Recreation & Parks in bringing high-quality parks to the children and other residents who need them the most.”

City agencies and community stakeholders are collaborating to bring more positive and inclusive activities to Civic Center Plaza through interactive installations, regular programming, and innovative and stewardship-focused partnerships. This is an incremental, integrated approach to ultimately managing these spaces as the single civic gathering place it was always intended to be. In addition to various art installations, this effort to improve public spaces in Civic Center Plaza begins with the renovation of the Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds.

See attached for renderings here: Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds Overview

About Helen Diller Family Foundation

The Helen Diller Family Foundation supports programs and institutions in both the Bay Area and throughout the world, with a focus on education, science, and the arts.  Most recently, to honor and build on a lifetime of giving and charitable service by the late Helen Diller, the Helen Diller Foundation has granted $500 million to UC San Francisco, a university to which Helen was both generous and devoted. The gift will be the largest single donation in UCSF’s history and one of the largest ever to a U.S. university.

About The Trust for Public Land

The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. More than 7 million people live within a 10-minute walk of a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year.  For more information on The Trust for Public Land, go to: www.tpl.org<http://www.tpl.org/>.

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We will be presenting the final proposed concepts of the playground and getting community input and will finalize the design using this feedback.

Looking forward to seeing you then!

The California Coastal Conservancy, The Trust for Public Land, Save the Bay, San Francisco Estuary Partnership, East Bay Regional Park District, and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department are convening a regional leadership conversation on multiple-benefit green infrastructure.

The half-day event will begin with a Mayor’s Breakfast highlighting innovative models around the Bay Area and sharing opportunities to further integrate green infrastructure into planning and development. Following the breakfast, national and regional green infrastructure experts, state and local policymakers, practitioners, and community leaders will convene to share case studies, discuss barriers and opportunities, and develop strategies for expanding implementation of green infrastructure in the Bay Area.

Green infrastructure is a critical strategy for adapting to the impacts of climate change, protecting air and water resources, creating mobility options, and improving social cohesion and public health. As our region plans to accommodate a growing population, it is critical to re-envision the role of infrastructure in our communities to serve multiple functions and ensure equitable development.

Sign up here.

The Harvey Milk Center for the Arts will be having a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of their  dance studio on Thursday, September 22nd from 5:30-6:30 PM. The event will include light refreshments and dancing.

Key Information:
Pre-Bid Conference Date – September 7 at 11:00am
Bids Due – September 22 at 2:30 pm at McLaren Lodge, 501 Stanyan Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
License Requirement – General Engineering “A”

Reach out to alexis.ward@sfgov.org with questions!

By Tom Stienstra, Photo: Leah Millis, The Chronicle

Maxine McCormick, San Francisco’s 12-year-old fly-casting prodigy, became the youngest gold medal winner at a world-class sporting event in history Friday. She tied her coach, Chris Korich of Oakland, for the gold and they became dual world champions at the World Championships of Fly Casting in Estonia.

While children have participated in world-class events, the previous youngest gold medal winner is believed to be 13-year-old American diver Marjorie Gestring at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

“I got shivers,” Korich said. “The ‘Coach and The Kid’ are now double gold medalists. Now we can all breathe. If I don’t get some sleep, I’ll need to go to the hospital for an IV.”

To read more, click here: S.F.’s McCormick, 12, wins world fly casting title

Alamo Square Park is closed for renovation until fall/winter 2016. Chain link fence panels are installed around the entire park perimeter. Please do not enter the construction for your own safety. If you observe someone trespassing or an opening along the perimeter, please contact 311.

Thank you for your patience and assistance.

For information, please contact Project Manager Marvin Yee at Marvin.Yee@sfgov.org or (415) 581-2541.

This $4.3M project is made possible by the Restroom Bond Program of the 2008 Park Bond, the Water Conservation Program of the 2012 Park Bond, and a generous grant from the SFPUC for Large Landscape Retrofits.

Please click on the attachment for locations of nearby parks for children’s playgrounds and dog play areas available during Alamo Square’s closure.

Thank you for your patience as the City improves your neighborhood park. For more information, please contact Marvin Yee, Project Manager, at Marvin.Yee@sfgov.org or (415) 581-2541.

Alamo Square Information Updated 3-10-16

“Children in pastel-colored clothes scampered through the green grass of Golden Gate Park’s Sharon Meadow Saturday, celebrating Easter a day early thanks to the city’s Recreation and Park Department. The youngest visitors had a chance to search for treat-filled eggs hidden behind thin trees, lush bushes and thick roots. Families decorated bunny bags at arts-and-crafts tents, while kids let out screams on the fun slide across the field, beneath the haze of smoke from freshly charred barbecue ribs. An estimated 5,000 people showed up for the annual Eggstravaganza Easter festival Saturday.” Read the entire article here.

San Francisco Magazine has released its 2016 City Report Card, an assessment of city services including schools, parks, housing and transportation. Echoing last week’s news that San Francisco residents highly approve of their parks, the magazine has given our park system a solid A-minus, citing new renovation projects, investment and access to all residents. It’s a grade for which we can all be proud. Get out and play!

By Samantha Simonich

San Francisco is a vibrant city with constant activity. Between concerts, baseball games, and parades, there is always something to do. The city is also home to a variety of unique festivals throughout the year that embody the diverse culture of San Francisco.

See full list of events and article here!

Classes and Free Material Giveaway!
December 12
9am-12pm Urban Ag Resource Center
Free Compost, Soil and Mulch for Bayview Gardens
Winterize Your Garden Free Class at 10am
Both @ 900 Innes (access at the end of Hudson Ave at Hunters Point Blvd, just south of India Basin Shoreline Park)

Rainwater Catchment for Urban Gardens –With Kat Sawyer of Tap the Sky
Saturday, December 12, 1pm
Abundance Garden at Bayview Mission
1547 Jerrold
$5-10 suggested donation, no one turned away for lack of funds
In this class, learn the basics of rainwater catchment and how to capture and reuse rainwater for your water.  We’ll check out the newly installed system on site and talk to the experts.  Get ready for El Nino!

RSVP for classes to rpd.urbanag@sfgov.org

Urban Agriculture Resource Day in the Bayview

Bayview Resource Center Location

by Emil Guillermo

Victoria Manalo Draves, the first American woman to win two gold medals in springboard and platform diving at the 1948 Olympics, will be honored in San Francisco this weekend.

On October 24th, 9 of our 37 community gardens as well as Alemany Farm at St. Mary’sPlayground will be open to the public for enjoyment, education and to celebrate these unique green spaces! Our gardens are volunteer-run (over 1,700 participants and counting!) under the umbrella of Rec and Park’s Community Gardens Program, which is a component of the citywide Urban Agriculture Program.  To find out about joining a community garden or communally managed gardens that welcome volunteers to start gardening right away, visit http://tinyurl.com/CommunityGardensProgramSF

2015 Open Gardens Day Flyer

Details for the Phase I Civic Design Review hearing are below:
Monday, September 28, 3 pm-6 pm

Check agenda on website to get a sense of when this project will be presented

Once posted, the hearingAGENDA will confirm where this project is on the agenda
25 Van Ness Ave, Suite 70

For more information about the Civic Design Committee review process, please visit the SF Arts Commission website:http://www.sfartscommission.org/CDR/home/

Grow it, Preserve it, Love it!
SF County Fair Building, 9^th and Irving, Saturday, September 12, 2015, 11:30a-5pm

Join the Urban Agriculture Program and partners for Urban Ag Academy: Grow It, Preserve It, Love It! This one-day event will feature demonstration classes on gardening and garden-infrastructure, workshops on fermenting and canning food, tips to being a successful grower in San Francisco, access and information to expert resources for all levels of gardener, and many fun opportunities to network and meet like-minded urban agriculture enthusiasts and practitioners. This free event is a unique opportunity for San Franciscans to gather, learn and celebrate our city-grown harvest. If you’re just starting out gardening in your backyard or have had chickens for years, this event will have something for everyone!

Classes on Gardening and Garden Infrastructure! Seed Swap! Workshops on Canning and Preserving Food! Interactive Talks on Regenerative Agriculture by Youth, Urban Ag Policy, Community Building, and Selling Your Produce in SF! Pie Hour! Ask a Master Gardener Clinic! Information Tableson Permaculture, Mycological Society, Gleaning Programs, Gardening Projects Citywide, Drought-Resistant Gardening, Conflict Resolution and MoreNovella Carpenter, author of Farm City and Pam Peirce, author of Golden Gate Gardening!

Stay through the evening time for a Barn Dance, hosted by 18 Reasons (this is a paid event).

RSVP and more information can be found at urbanagacademy.eventbrite.com.

The playground at Mountain Lake Park in San Francisco’s Inner Richmond District is set to undergo a much-needed extreme makeover at the end of the month.

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s $3.15 million renovation project will go towards updating the 30-year-old playground structure as well as its surrounding areas. Construction is scheduled to begin the last week of August.

According to the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, the current playground’s deteriorated wooden structure may possibly contain arsenic and other hazardous materials once used to treat lumber. The playground’s sand, which is difficult to keep clean, will be replaced by high-performance safety surfacing, according to San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s Deputy Director of Public Affairs RPD Info.

The updates are designed to meet the National Program for Playground Safety Standards, Chan said.

Upon the playground’s completion, which is expected in early fall of 2016, park-going families can look forward to an updated play area featuring nets, swings, jumping discs, see-saws, and a climbing nest of ropes and logs, according to Chan. Other new additions to the playground will include a play area geared toward toddlers and interactive pieces such as kaleidoscopes and megaphones throughout the play area.

“The design of the playground and equipment selection are exciting because they harmonize with the natural setting at Mountain Lake Park and include fun climbing features for kids of all ages,” Chief Executive Officer of the San Francisco Parks Alliance Matt O’Grady said in a statement.

The park will also feature a new seating and picnic area, the addition of a disability-accessible path surrounding the playground, and irrigation and landscape updates, according to Chan.

The project is funded by the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond, the city of San Francisco’s general fund, and a generous donation of over $300,000 from Friends of Mountain Lake Park Playground, a volunteer group dedicated to the renovation of the area as a community gathering space for children and neighbors.

“After more than five years, we are thrilled to be at this final stage,” member of Friends of Mountain Lake Park Playground Kate Green said in a statement. “It had been a truly collaborative process.”

The playground’s renovation follows a period of restoration for the San Francisco’s Mountain Lake area and its native wildlife by the Presidio Trust, according to the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department.

“The Mountain Lake Park Playground renovation is a wonderful compliment to the revitalization of the lake,” Chief of Park Development & Operations Michael Boland said in a statement. “Children will be able to enjoy a beautiful new playground, and learn about the importance of a functioning natural ecosystem.”

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department will be holding an informational meeting onsite at the Mountain Lake Park playground Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 5:30 p.m. where the community is invited to meet project manager Mary Hobson and ask any questions about the project they might have.

To read the original post, go to: The San Francisco Appeal

By Lizzie Johnson

The needed improvements are seemingly endless — to rusted swings, leaking water fountains, cracked pavement and a playground that turns into an island every time it rains.

There’s never enough money to fix everything at John McLaren Park, said Mary Wong, who lives near the park and is president of the Excelsior District Improvement Association.

“Oh, the list is so long now,” she said. “The maintenance is backed up to the point that it’s ridiculous. The nice things we have had put in haven’t stayed nice over the years. It would take millions of dollars to take care of everything.”

But that likely won’t happen, because funding for San Francisco’s Recreation and Park Department has dropped by nearly half over the past 15 years, despite a ballot measure intended to provide more money.

The Open Space Fund, a property tax set-aside, passed with 89 percent of the vote in March 2000. It earmarked money to supplement funds normally budgeted to the department. But since then, parks funding has fallen from 2.1 percent of the city budget as a whole to 1.2 percent.

That’s because investment in the department has not kept pace with the growing budget. And while the Open Space Fund has generated more revenue — it adds 2.5 cents onto every $100 of property value — it still isn’t enough to fill in the gaps. This fiscal year, it is expected to generate $47.8 million for the department, money that was supposed to be “in addition to” and not in replacement of general fund support.

Had the percentage of the general fund going to the department remained constant at 2.1 percent, it would be receiving $89 million this year, rather than $50 million, concludes a report by the San Francisco Parks Alliance, a nonprofit that supports the city’s parks. And Wong might be able to check off those needed renovations at McLaren Park.

Shortfall is growing

Concerns about Recreation and Park Department funding are not new. In 2011, SPUR, a local nonprofit that studies urban issues, found that the department needed about $30 million to $35 million in additional funding each year. The funding shortfall has grown to $40 million, the Parks Alliance report estimates.

“The way the city does its budgeting is leaving the department at a fundamental and perpetual disadvantage,” said Matthew O’Grady, chief executive of the Parks Alliance. “It has to compete against the human services mandates San Francisco carries as a county, and it always ends up at the back of the line. As a result, the Recreation and Park Department is falling further and further behind.”

The lag has caused a structural crisis within the department. There’s a backlog of more than 5,000 maintenance requests, which would cost $1.7 billion and take more than a year to address, assuming nothing new breaks.

And right now, there are only enough arborists to service each tree once every 105 years — a figure that should be closer to every 11 years for healthy trees.

The budget issues came on the heels of a difficult budget downturn and a burgeoning population, said Phil Ginsburg, Recreation and Park Department director. About 15 percent of the city’s land is open space, he noted, which can be difficult to maintain year round.

Heavier use

“The conversation that is emerging among park advocates is not rebuilding, it’s about how to fix the things that are already broken,” Ginsburg said. “It suggests that our parks are being used more intensely by more people. We need to figure out how to ensure our parks are serving the needs of our growing city.”

Supervisor Mark Farrell is planning to propose a charter amendment, either through an increased budget set-aside or other revenue source, this fall.

Last month, he met with residents around the city to gather feedback on what should be prioritized if the parks were to receive the additional funding. The Parks Alliance is also running an online survey for park users to share what they think should be improved.

“When we have more people living in our city than ever before, the intensity and use of our parks means we can’t just keep the status quo,” Farrell said. “When I grew up in the city, every summer day was spent at the local park. To me, if you take a step back, parks are all about quality of life. We have to create clean and safe parks.”

Planning stages

He said he’s still not sure what form the new revenue measure will take.

“Whatever it turns out to be, the point is that, as a city, we need to prioritize this,” Farrell said. “We have to fix those rusty swings, pave our pathways, make sure the water fountains don’t leak and the trash is picked up. This will be a dedicated stream of funding for our parks that will impact every neighborhood in the city.”

And for Wong, it doesn’t sound like a bad plan. She wants to see all of the little things, which add up, fixed.

“Everybody supports parks, but who is going to pay for it?” Wong said. “We need a plan. Wear and tear will happen in the lifetime of our parks, especially since they are so beloved. It’s time to start maintaining and taking better care of them.”

To read the original article: San Francisco Chronicle

By Jon Bonné

I heard about Elly Hartshorn the way you hear aboutwine projects these days: on Instagram.

It made sense that people were drawn to her story. Young woman plants community nonprofit vineyard. In one of the city’s poorer areas. Finds volunteers. Makes wine to fund the project. Designs her own canvas labels.

At the same time, the whole thing felt a little over-the-top DIY, so moonbeam. It was too San Francisco to be true.

Except it was true, probably because Hartshorn has never let anyone’s skepticism stop her, and she’s the first to acknowledge that she has become a poster child for the improbable. How else would you get away with planting Pinot Noir on an unused bit of public land adjacent to the community garden at Alemany Farm, at the foot of Bernal Heights?

“I mean, pretty crazy, right?” she says.

You do it by understanding San Francisco’s long, if not thriving, history with vineyards. Across two centuries, the city has attempted on occasion to grow vines and make wine among the seven hills. Over the course of several conversations, I realized the extent to which Hartshorn is a careful scholar of that, and of California’s wine history.

This is a crucial lesson in the San Francisco of today, which loves to fetishize wine and is also obsessed with urban agriculture. Doubly so, because of the city’s current set of Fantasyland economics.

“I don’t think there’s any other city in the world where I could have taken on a project like this,” Hartshorn says.

San Francisco’s luck with vineyards, candidly, hasn’t been good. Its 19th century plantings all vanished. Recent efforts, like Pinot Noir planted a few years back by Bryan Harrington, who makes wine in the Islais Creek area south of Cesar Chavez Street, haven’t fared much better.

Hartshorn believes this time will be different.

For one thing, she has a serious support base — not hippies and freegans but serious wine types with no illusions about the industry’s many hangers-on. Her years running a wine marketing firm in San Luis Obispo gave her a deep network of vintners who owe her favors. One wrote me that Hartshorn was “one of the most charming women” she had ever met.

And while good wishes and moonbeams won’t buy you a Mission burrito these days, Hartshorn also runs a successful for-profit business, Sidekick Delivery, a Bay Area service for small wineries and breweries.

Which is why, one June day, I found myself walking through dense rows of headstaked Pinot vines on an otherwise weedy hill just west of the Alemany Farmers’ Market, squeezed above a block of public housing and below a row of modern Bernal Heights townhomes. Hartshorn set out an old knit blanket and poured me a glass of Albariño.

Her vineyard dreams began in France, where she went in 2009 with hopes of becoming a cheesemaker. That plan fizzled, not least because she realized her social life in rural France mostly involved playing petanque with septuagenarians.

After some wine marketing work in France, she returned to California in 2012, but not before she had visited Clos Montmartre, the tiny vineyard planted on Paris’ outskirts. Hartshorn loved the notion of thousands of Parisians coming to help with the mostly symbolic harvest. It wasn’t about the wine; it was an affirmation of wine’s cultural importance. Could San Francisco, as much a spiritual wine capital as Paris, have something similar?

She’d begun volunteering in the garden at Alemany Farm and one day struck up a conversation about her vineyard ideas with another volunteer — the wife, it turned out, of San Francisco Rec & Park general manager Phil Ginsburg. Hartshorn and Sargent (who has since retired from the project) began drawing up plans to present to the city.

“They were very serious,” Ginsburg recalls. “I remember them coming in and talking to me about the project. They were lively and gregarious, but they’re clearly thoughtful and experienced horticulturists and vintners.”

Sort of. Hartshorn wasn’t a winemaker, but she had grown up around vineyards. Her family split its time between rural Bishop (Inyo County) and Lake County, where they grew grapes for several major wine companies, including Robert Mondavi and Kendall Jackson.

She landed at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo for a degree in mechanical engineering, which was her uncle’s trade. Cal Poly offered wine courses, which she took “in case I needed to take clients out to dinner.” She took a marketing job at Edna Valley Vineyards, which led to an offer to be marketing director at nearby Laetitia Vineyards. She began the week after graduation.

With one of her former interns, Josh McFadden, she started Proof Wine Marketing, which became the Central Coast’s specialist in a sort of postmodern wine branding. Hartshorn taught herself graphic design, and soon Proof was drafting eye-catching labels for wineries like Folkway and Sans Liege. Then she left for France.

Just how feasible would a vineyard be? Hartshorn spent hours at libraries researching city history and studying the essential but little-known work of Eugene Hilgard, the 19th century soil scientist whose viticultural reports documented the success (or failure) of most of the world’s wine grape varieties in California soils. She discovered where vines had been planted in 1800s San Francisco and read up on the bustling South of Market wine trade, most of it wiped out by the 1906 earthquake and fire.

By 2013, Hartshorn and Sargent were ready to plant. Ginsburg, a strong advocate of the city’s urban agriculture efforts, offered a bit of hillside next to Alemany Farm, which the women planted that July all Pinot Noir, which suits the city’s generally cool and often foggy climate. (There’s actually less concern in San Francisco about ample sun than about winter vine dormancy. Vines, like most other fruit-bearing plants, need a period of rest in the winter; if it doesn’t get cold enough, they can’t properly restart their growing cycle.) Vines were donated by Andrew Jones of Paso Robles’ Field Recordings label, which Proof helped to launch. Jones had secured the baby plants via his day job as a vine nurseryman.

Other vineyards can be found inside city limits. There’s a private plot near Cow Hollow, for instance. But Neighborhood’s is the only one whose mission is to teach. Volunteers work the vines each month, usually with a lesson from a guest winemaker or viticulturist.

It’s also a novel use of a throwaway bit of land, something that resonated with Ginsburg and city officials. Putting a trial plot in one of the city’s more economically barren areas? Another bit of insurance to ensure that vine tending doesn’t become like, say, the city’s chicken husbandry — for many, more a hobby than a necessity. It is an opportunity, as Ginsburg puts it, “to teach folks who may never have the opportunity to be on a vineyard in Napa or Sonoma to see what viticulture is like in the gritty streets of San Francisco.”

Which isn’t to say vines are a perfect match for Alemany. Grape bunches have been taken repeatedly. Rather than fence in the plot, Hartshorn decided to plant vines for table grapes near the garden’s perimeter, easily pickable by nearby residents.

And the wine? Hartshorn’s plot won’t yield much, if any. Maybe a single barrel, more likely a few gallons. Her hope is that other parcels will add to the “city cuvée” she wants to make. She’s working with Rec & Park to find more slivers of unused land, perhaps in Golden Gate Park’s community garden or the Glen Park green belt. But there never will be more than a few cases. Of course, in a city of have-everythings, nothing appeals like the unattainable, which is precisely what Hartshorn wants to avoid.

“The point of this project is not to be elite,” Hartshorn says, “and I’m a little worried that if I have a barrel of wine, everyone’s going to be fighting over it.”

To avoid that temptation, and to help fund the project, she crafted additional wine under the Neighborhood Vineyards label with grapes from her winemaker friends, and has released at least four bottlings. Again, my skeptic hackles went up, but the wines are superb examples of type. In addition to that Albariño there’s a Cabernet Franc and two Pinot Noirs (Field Recordings’ Jones helps her make one), including a cuvée called Ruinenlust from a plot near Hearst Castle.

Each wine is adorned with a canvas label with a drawing by Hartshorn. One Pinot Noir displays a stylized map of the city’s 19th century vineyard plots; the Ruinenlust sports an interpretation of Turkish kilim rugs. In Hartshorn’s head, the way we fetishize collectibles like the kilim is no different than the way we fetishize grapes like Pinot Noir — European plants that have been appropriated for Californian purposes. “We just steal things, bring them over, put them in the ground and call them our own,” Hartshorn says.

Not the most romantic thought, perhaps, from someone whose plans can sound downright fanciful. But it’s also a reminder that this most San Franciscan of projects has a very clear-eyed mission.

Jon Bonné, former wine editor of The Chronicle, is a contributing editor.

How to help

Volunteer sessions are typically held one Saturday per month at Alemany Farm, 700 Alemany Blvd. The next will be 1-3 p.m. Aug. 15, with guest winemaker Jeff Fink of Tantara. Sign up at www.neighborhoodvineyards.org.

The wines

Neighborhood Vineyards makes several wines from Central Coast properties, sold through its website and in local shops. They are priced to be “the cheapest I think you can make real California wine for,” Hartshorn says — which is to say the spendiest Pinot Noir tops out at $30.

A sampling

2014 Silt & Strata Central Coast Albariño ($16, 13.5%): From a parcel near Edna Valley and named for San Francisco’s soils. Just a bit salty, with ripe peach and a classic, fresh texture.

2012 Ruinenlust Enchanted Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir ($30, 13.8%): From a plot near San Simeon. The right mix of ripe plum, spicy caraway and the pleasant herbal twinge from using whole grape clusters. A serious coastal Pinot.

To view the original article: San Francisco Chronicle

By Adam Wenger

The coldest summer music festival in the world returns to San Francisco this weekend. Over 100,000 people will trample their way through Golden Gate Park’s polo fields for the 8th annual Outside Lands. And while the most important thing to do is wear the cutest outfit possible! enjoy the music, here’s a list of dos and don’ts to help you make the most of your weekend.

See full article here: http://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2015/07/30/the-dos-and-donts-for-a-perfect-outside-lands/

By Lauren Parvizi

Despite the number of people riding to work on scooters, plenty of us here in San Francisco are still self-described grownups through and through. Perhaps to a fault.

If there’s one thing to be learned from the supposed “Peter Pan syndrome”-infected people that Silicon Valley is known for, it’s that San Francisco has a lot to offer in the way of fun and games, no matter your age.

So, if you need a little more youthful enjoyment and a little less adult drudgery in your life, consider this a guide for getting back in touch with your inner child right here in your backyard. Scooter-riding not required.

See full article here:  http://www.sfgate.com/living/article/29-ways-to-feel-like-a-kid-again-in-S-F-6404161.php#photo-6053597

By Mary Ellen Hunt

The gray fog rolled back just in time to allow sunlight to bathe the Sigmund Stern Grove, where San Francisco Ballet gave its annual free outdoor performance on Sunday, July 26. It was a welcome return for the company, which skipped last year’s Stern Grove Festival; and judging from the enthusiasm of the thousands of fans who showed up this year, the ballet was missed.

Opening Sunday’s program was the colorful “Rush” by Christopher Wheeldon. Joseph Walsh and newly promoted principal Dores Andres led off the ballet with Hansuke Yamamoto and new soloist Lauren Strongin. The pitch and yaw of that quartet offered a freewheeling counterpoint to the waves of corps dancers moving in enigmatic semaphores and matched the jauntiness in the Bohuslav Martinu score, which Martin West conducted with aplomb.

See full article here: http://www.sfgate.com/performance/article/SF-Ballet-makes-a-triumphant-return-to-Stern-Grove-6407724.php

By Michael Webb

A few blocks from San Francisco’s Financial District and the tech wealth of SOMA is the Tenderloin, the city’s densest neighborhood, where the homeless line up for free meals, and many low-income tenants live in windowless rooms. Boeddeker Park, redesigned by WRNS Studio, serves as a desperately needed escape valve for the neighborhood. The one-acre square of greenery is flanked by SROs, a mission, and a school. Named for a respected pastor, Father Alfred E. Boeddeker, it was known colloquially as “Prison Park” for its maze of fences, which provided cover for drug deals and muggings. Dead bodies were found there and locals were fearful of venturing inside.

As with Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan, a few simple moves transformed a menace into a magnet. The Trust for Public Land, the San Francisco Department of Recreation and Parks, and the architects of WRNS Studio consulted with neighbors and community groups to reimagine the park as an amenity for a wide spectrum of users. For WRNS Partner Bryan Shiles, the key improvement was to replace the old clubhouse—which he described as a closed and defensive bunker—with a light-filled, L-plan structure that creates a sense of place and symbolizes the uplifting spirit of the re-landscaped park. Its 4,000 square feet include a meeting room, an all-purpose recreation space, restrooms, offices, and storage. Shiles stretched a modest budget to raise the roof—sharply angled gables provide volume and skylights while serving as a heat chimney for the naturally ventilated interior. The ground floor is expansively glazed, and the upper level is clad in zinc panels. A porch opens up to one corner of the park. Interior walls are tiled for easy maintenance, and the building achieves a high level of sustainability with its solar panels, geothermal heating, operable windows, and recycled materials that include shredded denim insulation.

See full article here: http://archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=8153

By Lauren McNulty

It had been a long time since Mountain Lake was the kind of place where a western pond turtle could live happily.

For decades, the Presidio’s natural freshwater lake suffered environmental insults: runoff from Highway 1, sediment pollution, invasive species, voracious released goldfish. Mountain Lake had been “a cesspool since the ‘70s and ‘80s,” says Jonathan Young, a wildlife ecologist with the Presidio Trust. “It was a soupy, green, algae-scummy sort of lake.”

Not anymore. On Saturday, a few dozen people sat on a grassy slope overlooking the green, reflective surface of the almost completely restored lake, and waited for one of the final pieces: the return of the native turtles. They had to wait, however, for a few extra minutes. Some of the turtles intended for the lake, crammed into travel containers to make their way triumphantly from their previous home at the San Francisco Zoo, were stuck in traffic.

See full article here: https://baynature.org/articles/after-decades-away-turtles-come-home-to-mountain-lake/

By Michael Webb, Photo Credits: Matthew Millman

A few blocks from San Francisco’s Financial District and the tech wealth of SOMA is the Tenderloin, the city’s densest neighborhood, where the homeless line up for free meals, and many low-income tenants live in windowless rooms. Boeddeker Park, redesigned by WRNS Studio, serves as a desperately needed escape valve for the neighborhood. The one-acre square of greenery is flanked by SROs, a mission, and a school. Named for a respected pastor, Father Alfred E. Boeddeker, it was known colloquially as “Prison Park” for its maze of fences, which provided cover for drug deals and muggings. Dead bodies were found there and locals were fearful of venturing inside.

As with Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan, a few simple moves transformed a menace into a magnet. The Trust for Public Land, the San Francisco Department of Recreation and Parks, and the architects of WRNS Studio consulted with neighbors and community groups to reimagine the park as an amenity for a wide spectrum of users. For WRNS Partner Bryan Shiles, the key improvement was to replace the old clubhouse—which he described as a closed and defensive bunker—with a light-filled, L-plan structure that creates a sense of place and symbolizes the uplifting spirit of the re-landscaped park. Its 4,000 square feet include a meeting room, an all-purpose recreation space, restrooms, offices, and storage. Shiles stretched a modest budget to raise the roof—sharply angled gables provide volume and skylights while serving as a heat chimney for the naturally ventilated interior. The ground floor is expansively glazed, and the upper level is clad in zinc panels. A porch opens up to one corner of the park. Interior walls are tiled for easy maintenance, and the building achieves a high level of sustainability with its solar panels, geothermal heating, operable windows, and recycled materials that include shredded denim insulation.

The landscaping was as important as the architecture in making the park feel safe and accessible to a diversity of users. The forbidding steel of the boundary fence was replaced by green chain-link that almost disappears from 20 feet away. A broad entry path ascends to the clubhouse, another encircles the lawn, and a third winds through an intimate garden to a sheltered corner that has become a favorite retreat for seniors. These concrete-paved paths knit the park together as a whole while demarcating its varied amenities.

On a typical day, the park is alive with tai chi classes, kids shooting hoops on the basketball court, and people of all ages using the exercise equipment. Equally important is its role as an oasis of grass and trees, a place to rest in an environment that has become safe because it is so open and intensively used. It is a model urban intervention, shaped by and for the community, in stark contrast to the over-designed, underused Pershing Square in downtown LA, which falls short of its potential. Every city needs refuges of this kind, and the sustainable features of the park and its edible garden provide lessons for park-goers who return home to their own backyard. WRNS (which worked pro bono on Boeddeker) collaborated with the same partners to design the Hayes Valley Playground in another densely settled city neighborhood, and their success should encourage similar developments throughout San Francisco and beyond.

Read the full article and see more photos here: The Architect’s Newspaper

By Bill Van Niekerken

While looking for images to illustrate the OurSF article this past Sunday, I came across a negative pack tagged “G.G. Park — Buddha installed.” I couldn’t picture where this buddha was located. Certainly it couldn’t be in the Japanese Tea Garden, which was designed by Baron Makoto Hagiwara and built in 1894 for the MidWinter Exposition. It was time to dig around in the archives, and as usual, the search turned up more history than I expected.

See full article here: http://www.sfchronicle.com/thetake/article/Unexpected-history-lesson-from-the-Buddha-at-6370697.php?t=7dcf12597c

By Carolyn Tyler

San Francisco’s Botanical Garden is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Part of the fun is something they call Flower Piano that began Thursday and runs through July 20. Within the 55 acres of San Francisco’s Botanical Garden, something magical has appeared. Project organizers Dean Mermell and Mauro Ffortissimo are the duo behind the idea of having 12 pianos for 12 days nestled among nature. “Having the piano out of the living room, out of its normal context, it makes people suddenly realize the piano is a special thing,” Mermell said.

See full article here: http://abc7news.com/society/sf-botanical-garden-sets-garden-to-music-for-75th-anniversary-/839081/

Stroll through Golden Gate Park’s Botanical Garden today, and you might happen upon something a little out of the ordinary: 12 pianos have been placed throughout the garden. They’re intended for anyone to play, and over the next 12 days, both scheduled and impromptu concerts will fill the garden. The art installation is called Flower Piano, and it’s part of an ongoing project, Sunset Piano, from musician-artists Mauro ffortissimo and Dean Mermell.

Sunset Piano began in 2013 when ffortissimo (his adopted name) brought an old, donated piano out to the bluffs over Half Moon Bay, where he lives. “What he likes to say is that he was playing for the whales,” said Mermell. People photographed and took videos of the unusual sight, sharing it on social media; news crews even drove out to the bluffs to document the scene.

See full article here: http://hoodline.com/2015/07/flower-piano-exhibit-brings-12-playable-pianos-to-golden-gate-park-botanical-garden

By Peter Hartlaub

As a child of the Atari 2600 and “The Brady Bunch” marathons on Channel 44, I used to feel sorry for my father’s no-video-game-playing generation, and the no-TV-watching generation before that. I suspect my own sons can’t even fathom life without small screens and the Internet. What exactly did people do for fun in 1939?

Turns out they did just fine. While searching for old Golden Gate Park photos to illustrate an upcoming “Our San Francisco” project, Chronicle librarian Bill Van Niekerken found this wonderful pack of negatives, showing people of all ages recreating and relaxing on a single Spring afternoon in Golden Gate Park.

See full article here: http://blog.sfgate.com/thebigevent/2015/07/02/a-city-untethered-scenes-from-golden-gate-park-in-1939/

Hiking boots are no longer a requirement for trekking through Glen Canyon Park — now you can do it from a computer.

See full article here: http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Virtual-views-of-parks-beaches-vineyards-from-6365805.php

By John Angelico

Mission Dolores Park unveiled a new look on June 18 and one of the improvements is a new bike polo court. Officially it’s a “multi-use court,” but last week the bike polo crew were in control, and it was fun to watch.

The games were three-on-three.  The riders I saw were pretty skilled, able to start and stop quickly, turn in a very tight radius, hop in place if needed, control the ball by weaving over it left and right to shield it from opponents, and have enough coordination to handle the polo mallet to control the ball and occasionally rip off a shot.

See full article here: http://blog.sfgate.com/bicycle/2015/07/01/bike-polo-skills-on-display-in-newly-renovated-mission-dolores-park/

By CW Nevius

Just for the record, the Beach Chalet soccer field renovation looks spectacular. If you thought the years of appeals, protests and court orders had squashed the project, you should take a drive past the site in Golden Gate Park.

See full article here: http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/nevius/article/After-long-battle-Beach-Chalet-soccer-fields-get-6361762.php

By Noelle Walker

San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza was packed with Women’s World Cup soccer fans. An estimated 3,000 people came to watch the final match on a big screen TV outside City Hall. “I think it makes kids really excited about sports,” said Lisa Bransten, Director of Partnerships for San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. “It really brings the city together.”

See Full Article Here: http://www.ktvu.com/story/29479514/thousands-gather-in-san-francisco-to-watch-uswnt-win-the-world-cup

By David R. Baker

They came predicting a U.S. win over a tough opponent. They certainly didn’t expect a blowout.

Hundreds of flag-draped, paint-smeared soccer fans wedged themselves into San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza on Sunday to see their team take on Japan in the Women’s World Cup finals. And after girding themselves for the nerve-racking defensive stand many analysts predicted, they erupted in giddy shock as the U.S. players started scoring early and often, piling up the kind of lead more common to baseball.

“No way!” yelled Eduardo Zamudio, 26, of South San Francisco, as 3-0 quickly turned to 4-0. “We are killing it!”

See Full Article Here: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/At-S-F-viewing-party-fans-pleasantly-shocked-by-6367659.php#photo-8263685

By Carolyn Tyler and Lillian Kim

The Palace of Fine Arts is looking for a long-term tenant following the relocation of the Exploratorium. A magnificent building by a renowned architect, located in one of San Francisco’s most coveted neighborhoods, is up for lease and needs some great care.

Since the Exploratorium moved, there have been interim tenants, including a private school. However, the San Francisco Rec and Park Department wants something more permanent. A meeting was held Tuesday night to tell the public the options they’re considering. Some of the ideas discussed were: a hotel, a market place, and a sports complex.

“It this is one of San Francisco’s most important and iconic structures,” Rec and Park director Phil Ginsburg said.

See full article here: http://abc7news.com/news/palace-of-fine-arts-searches-for-new-tenant/802223/

By Mike Moffitt

Roller skating, which once ruled sidewalks and rinks across America, has fallen on hard times. Skateboards and — to a lesser extent, inline skates — have supplanted the wheeled shoes that were hugely popular during the disco era.

But in Golden Gate Park, a small but dedicated group of eight-wheel aficionados not only keep the sport alive, they turn it into an almost religious experience.

Film maker Daniel Soares captures the joy of these dancers on skates in a short documentary called “Totally Free.” Watch what fun they have.

See full video here: http://www.sfgate.com/living/article/Crazy-in-love-with-a-dying-sport-in-GG-Park-6292119.php

KQED’s Bay Area Bites highlights the city’s new Urban Agriculture Program, which is celebrating the completion of its first year.  “Available open space in San Francisco may be scarce, as real estate prices continue to rise and prominent urban ag projects have given way to condo development, but the hunger for urban agriculture shows no sign of waning. Wait list times for some community gardens are upwards of several years. A new city program is addressing the insatiable demand by providing resources to San Francisco gardeners and helping them find places to get their hands dirty and grow their own food.”  Click here to read the entire article.

By Peter Hartlaub

Welcome to Our San Francisco, a yearlong project looking at 150 years of the city’s history. Each week a different chapter will be explored in the newspaper, on SFChronicle.com, in Peter Hartlaub’s The Big Event blog on SFGate.com, and on social media at #OurSF.

This week’s chapter: Golden Gate Park.

Golden Gate Park shouldn’t exist. It sprang out of sand dunes in the 1870s; these so-called Outside Lands were so windswept and uninviting that the newspapers and many politicians accused supporters of throwing taxpayer money away.

But visionaries, including park Superintendent McLaren, had ambitious hearts, a stubborn drive and gardeners who worked like a religious order. Golden Gate Park was built by men and women who cherished horticulture and despised politics. And because of them, it is a treasure.

See full article here: http://www.sfgate.com/oursf/article/Our-SF-Stubborn-gardeners-made-Golden-Gate-Park-6350595.php#item-39786

Roller skating, which once ruled sidewalks and rinks across America, has fallen on hard times.

Skateboards and — to a lesser extent, inline skates — have supplanted the wheeled shoes that were hugely popular during the disco era.

But in Golden Gate Park, a small but dedicated group of eight-wheel aficionados not only keep the sport alive, they turn it into an almost religious experience.

Film maker Daniel Soares captures the joy of these dancers on skates in a short documentary called “Totally Free.”

Watch what fun they have.

See full article and video here: http://www.sfgate.com/living/article/Crazy-in-love-with-a-dying-sport-in-GG-Park-6292119.php

By Sarah Hotchkiss

At the western end of San Francisco’s California Street, a splendidly refurbished staircase designed by tile artist Aileen Barr now marks the entryway to 100 acres of public park. On May 28, neighbors, city representatives and more than a few plaid-clad girls from next-door’s Katherine Delmar Burke School celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Lincoln Park Steps.

The event marked the culmination of eight years of planning, organizing and fundraising by Friends of Lincoln Park, led by Anna Yatroussis and Meg Autry.

“I would walk to school down these steps when I was a child,” Yatroussis said at the ceremony, “and much later I would walk my children down these steps. But by then, unfortunately, we were stepping over broken glass and broken steps, graffiti and garbage.”

See full article here: http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/2015/05/29/lincoln-park-steps-reopen-grandly-with-artist-designed-tiles/

By John King

Sad news from the San Francisco Zoo: on Friday they announced the passing of their 32-year old polar bear Piké.

Piké (pronounced PEE-ka) lived at the Zoo her entire life, born on November 25, 1982 and raised by staff after she was rejected by her mother. Enjoying the comforts of captivity, Piké lived eight years beyond her life expectancy. However, the complications of old age caught up to her and Zoo veterinarians made the decision to euthanize her according to SFGate.

“Pike was a great bear and I feel honored to have been able to care for over the years,” said chief vet Graham Crawford in a statement. “Her longevity and quality of life was a reflection of the thoughtful and diligent care she received from Zoo staff.”

See full article here: http://sfist.com/2015/05/30/rip_pike_the_san_francisco_zoos_bel.php

A 32-year-old polar bear died of old age at the San Francisco Zoo on Friday, according to zoo officials.

Pike (pronounced Peek-a) was born at the zoo in 1982 and hand-reared by zoo staff. She outlived her life expectancy by 8 years, and was one of the oldest polar bears in the United States, according to zoo officials.

Zoo staff said they made several accommodations for Pike as she grew older.

See full article here: http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2015/05/31/pike-old-polar-bear-dies-san-francisco-zoo/

“For outdoor irrigation accounts, any water use in excess of the 25 percent reduction will be billed at twice the current water rate,” explained SFPUC spokesman Tyrone Jue.

Steven Ritchie, assistant general manager of the SFPUC’s Water Enterprise, said residents are also required to reduce their water usage by 10 percent below their 2013 usage.

See full article here: http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/sfpuc-requires-outdoor-irrigation-accounts-to-reduce-water-use-to-25-percent-of-2013-levels/Content?oid=2931420

By Mary Ellen Hunt

The gates to the San Francisco Botanical Garden, better known as Strybing Arboretum, will be wide open this weekend for a festive, free day that celebrates the 75th anniversary of this San Francisco oasis.

The Botanical Garden first opened in May 1940, built on the legacy of Helen Strybing, for whom the garden was named. Its 55-acre expanse is home to some 8,000 rare and remarkable plants from all over the world, including one of the world’s most extensive collections of magnolias. Indeed, on the path to the Zellerbach Garden, you can still see the magnificent cup and saucer magnolia — the first of its kind to bloom in the United States — that drew crowds of visitors in the arboretum’s first year.

“The Community Day is designed to be a family-friendly event,” says Huddle. “We wanted to make sure it was something every age could enjoy.”

See full article: http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Strange-plants-fun-performers-at-Botanical-6290677.php

First Year of the U14 SF Bay Sox All-Girls Travel Ball Club. Featured on KPIX-5 by Vern Glenn. May 22, 2015

Watch video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySuUon1Fdl8

News of record numbers of bees dying off in North America has in part led to a movement where residents are learning to raise bees in their own backyards and San Francisco is no exception.

The city’s Recreation and Parks department is teaming with Planet Bee Foundation to host a workshop, hoping people will help revitalize the bee population.

See full article here: http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2015/05/22/san-francisco-rec-park-helping-to-bring-back-backyard-bees/

The California drought is taking its toll on lawns around the Bay Area and the grass is as dry as the weather. Golf courses, like Sharp Park in Pacifica, are no exception. They have had to cut back millions of gallons of water.

A few golfers on the course have actually begun to embrace the brown grass look and like how it plays. Some we spoke to said they understand the drought is going on and think the whole course doesn’t have to be green.

The golf course in Pacifica is owned by the city of San Francisco, where the Recreation and Parks Department has reduced their water consumption by 24 percent from two years ago. At Sharp Park, they save 15,000 gallons a day by using recycled water on 20 percent of the golf course. The rest they sprinkle conservatively.

Fun part of it is the dry grass and ground has some golf shots rolling 20 percent farther.

See full article here: http://abc7news.com/weather/golfers-at-sharp-park-warm-up-to-color-change/735276/

By Debbie Abrams Kaplan

The San Francisco Botanical Garden is turning 75! Join them in celebrating at their Community Day at the San Francisco Botanical Garden on May 31.

They’re having family-friendly activities including giant puppets and a sing-a-long, a variety of docent-led walking tours, a special stage featuring world music and dance performances, a photo booth and more. You can also buy picnicking items at food trucks from Off the Grid, and beverages of all kinds, including alcohol.

See full article here: http://www.friscokids.net/2015/05/coming-up-san-francisco-botanical.html

Crews will be working for a few hours each day on burying the whales on Sharp Park Beach above the high tide line.

Work is expected to take another day or two, Rec and Park spokeswoman RPD Info said.

See full article here: http://sfbay.ca/2015/05/19/burial-underway-for-two-whales-on-sharp-park-beach/

With the summer months fast approaching, it’s time to take advantage of the beautiful weather and bountiful outdoor spaces the Bay Area offers. From Jack London Square to Union Square, here are some of the best places to catch an al fresco flick this summer.

See full article here: http://www.7×7.com/culture/where-watch-movies-outside-summer

By Amy Graff

Last week, San Francisco Recreation and Park Department unveiled two newly refurbished freestanding public restrooms near Ocean Beach. With fresh paint, new roofs and landscaping, the sparkling Classical Revival buildings dating back to the 1930s were a welcome sight to park- and beach-goers.

The price tag on the projects at the intersection of Judah Street and the Great Highway and another at Taraval Street and the Great Highway was $1.5 million. This might seem high—all of that money to spruce up a buildings that house toilets? But when you consider that these are historic buildings that have lasted 85 years and will easily endure another century the cost seems more reasonable.

See full article here: http://blog.sfgate.com/stew/2015/05/11/s-f-spends-1-5-million-renovating-two-public-restrooms/

Related articles:

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2015/05/10/1-5m-spent-to-renovate-2-public-restrooms-in-san-francisco/

http://sfbay.ca/2015/05/10/renovated-restrooms-debut-at-ocean-beach/

http://kron4.com/2015/05/10/san-francisco-officials-open-renovated-public-restrooms-along-ocean-beach/

By Elysia McMahan

“More than a cookie-cutter American rock festival, Outside Lands takes advantage of its setting in Golden Gate Park by pointedly celebrating all that is the Bay Area. It’s a strategy that really makes the event, now in its fifth year, stand apart from any other festival in its class…Outside Lands featured an expanded palette of food and beverage options that made eating and drinking at the festival just as much fun as listening and dancing.” -Rolling Stone

If you can survive walking some 22-miles back and forth between fields and stages, we commend you. On the other hand, if you’re someone who cannot survive without legitimate cell phone reception 24/7 to Instagram your experience every 10 seconds, we’re not sorry. I promise you it’s so much more memorable if you stay in the present moment. The scene is all too familiar: people in the crowd that are so caught up capturing moments to enjoy later, that they forget to be fully aware of what’s right in front of them.

Experiencing the Golden Gate Park for three days will give you a glimpse into what the Summer of Love was all about. And you don’t need your cell phone to find that out for yourself.

This social phenomenon is unlike any other festival, particularly if you adore San Francisco.

See full article here: http://firsttoknow.com/outside-lands-2015/

From cozy, jewel-box Victorians to sleek modern skyscrapers, San Francisco is known for its style.

While some buildings seem to be universally adored, others were considered atrocities when they initially emerged on the scene. The patchwork of styles resulting from rebuilding after two major earthquakes adds up to the eclectically beautiful pastiche that makes up this quirky city.

See full article here: http://www.sfgate.com/connectlocal/apr/sanfrancisco/article/San-Francisco-s-architecture-creates-varied-6241706.php#photo-6117050

By Ron Kroichick

Three weeks later, Rory McIlroy offered his answer: Hey, Jordan, I’m still here.

McIlroy did not slip his arms into a green jacket Sunday in San Francisco, but he still made a loud statement with his first 2015 victory on U.S. soil. He smacked majestic drives, hit laser-like approach shots and drained clutch putts on seven spotless trips around Harding Park.

And so, 21 days after Jordan Spieth won the Masters and announced his readiness to challenge for the throne, McIlroy responded by winning the Match Play Championship. He danced the tightrope Sunday morning, outlasting Paul Casey and surging past Jim Furyk, and then rolled to an emphatic, 4-and-2 victory over Gary Woodland in the title match.

See full article here: http://www.sfgate.com/sports/golf/article/Rory-McIlroy-wins-3-matches-Sunday-to-take-title-6239731.php

By Elizabeth Creely

Roughly 30 concerned neighbors gathered at the event space 18 Reasons Tuesday for an event hosted by San Francisco’s Department of Recreation and Parks. Among the collection of local employees, neighbors and merchants, was an air of seriousness in the room, which suited the matter under discussion: Dolores Park, and its party problem.

The park, which is nearing the end of its three-year, 20-million dollar upgrade, has seen an upgrade in park attendance, too: at least ten thousand people visit the park on the weekends, and with the amped-up ebullience has come more of everything else, too, including trash which, according to city estimates, costs San Francisco taxpayers $750,000 to clean up.

See full article here: http://blog.sfgate.com/inthemission/2015/04/30/fixing-the-culture-problem-at-dolores-park/

By Jay Barmann

The Rec & Park Department hosted a pair of meetings Tuesday to engage concerned neighbors about their new “action plan” for dealing with the park’s ongoing popularity, and its trash problem. And as Mission Local reports, Sarah Ballard, the department’s director of policy and public affairs, admitted, “We got caught flat-footed. We were really confounded by the park’s popularity.”

It’s an odd thing for her to say at this late date, given the fact that the park has been extremely popular for a number of years, but to her point, its popularity on weekends has only grown with our population.

In response, the department has put out a new pair of recycling and compost dumpsters that they’ve dubbed an “eco pop-up,” and they’re calling on neighbors and nearby businesses to do things like encourage proper trash disposal on social media, and put stickers on items indicating that they’re recyclable or compostable. They’re also trying to discourage people from bringing glass to the park, which is where the above video comes in — it’s called the Use the Can “can-paign,” and it makes the stretch of connecting the use of trash cans with bringing canned beer and beverages instead of glass, and “using the can” as in using the bathroom instead of pissing in the bushes. And, because this is San Francisco, they needed to be all steampunk about it and get out the costumes.

See full article here:

http://sfist.com/2015/05/01/rec_parks_produces_goofy_psa_to_enc.php

In the past four-plus years, the number of citations issued by the Recreation and Park Department for sleeping or camping in San Francisco’s open spaces has increased six-fold.The trend has advocates for the homeless crying foul, while Rec and Park and city officials say The City is just conducting business as usual. Meanwhile, the citation increase is showing no signs of slowing down.Through March 14, Park Patrol officers had cited nearly 700 people for sleeping, camping or being in parks after-hours from Golden Gate Park to Sue Bierman Park on the waterfront. If citations continue at that rate, the total this year would far exceed the rise seen in recent years.

See full article here: http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/citations-for-sleeping-camping-in-sf-parks-balloon/Content?oid=2928826

By Art Spander

San Francisco? Herb Caen’s cool, gray city of love? Rudyard Kipling’s town of mad people? Golf capital of the universe? Indeed, all of the above.Last week, it was the ladies at Lake Merced Golf Club, the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. Thanks, girls, you were great, and mostly, in this place of wind and chill, so was the weather. Please, no reference to the comment Mark Twain never made, that the coldest winter he ever spent was, well, enough already.Now the men get their star turn, in the World Golf Championships Cadillac Match Play at TPC Harding Park, a mile or so from Lake Merced. Lydia Ko departs. Justin Spieth, Rory McIlroy and that venerable guy with the bizarre backswing but wonderful achievements, Jim Furyk, arrive. Match play is when golf is like boxing without literal punches. When you play head-to-head, hole-by-hole.

See full article here: http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/match-play-at-harding-park-is-test-of-character/Content?oid=2928147

By Jonathan Curiel

Now in its 78th year, the Stern Grove Festival is the antidote to packed music festivals like Coachella and Outside Lands that can cost hundreds of dollars and, occasionally, one’s sanity. Stern Grove is always free. Its acoustics are always good. And the setting? Amid trees that climb forever, the summer series is always inspiring (and usually foggy).

Unlike Coachella, Outside Lands and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Stern Grove is stretched out over two months — every Sunday from June 14 through August 16. So music-goers get to prolong their engagement with the headliners, who this summer offer a little bit of everything, including hip-hop, classical, Latin, ’70s rock, and modern folk-rock influenced by world music.

See full article here: http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/2015/04/30/talib-kweli-randy-newman-tune-yards-highlight-stern-grove-festival/

By Pacifica Tribune

The California Coastal Commission approved the Sharp Park Golf Course restoration.

The San Francisco Public Golf Alliance reports that by unanimous voice vote on April 16, the 20-member Coastal Commission granted a costal development permit to San Francisco for dredging cattails from a pond and canal, pump house infrastructure improvements and dredging a new frog pond south of the golf course. The work is slated to start in June and be done by Oct. 31.

See full article here: http://www.mercurynews.com/pacifica/ci_28007639/coastal-commission-approves-sharp-park-golf-restoration?source=infinite

By J.K. Dineen, Jill Tucker and Michael Cabanatuan

The motto of the United Playaz is “It takes the hood to save the hood.”

Over the past year the antiviolence youth organization has demonstrated that when your home is high-flying South of Market it takes a lot of friends — not to mention money — to buy a piece of the hood.

On Wednesday, United Playaz celebrated the $1.4 million acquisition of 1038 Howard St., its single-story clubhouse that draws hundreds of at-risk kids from Bessie Carmichael Elementary School as well as from the residential hotels around the corner on Sixth Street.

See full article here: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/San-Francisco-music-venues-get-some-noise-6231423.php

By Ron Kroichick

Barely more than a decade ago, the power brokers in golf hardly knew the Bay Area existed. The PGA Tour got no closer than Pebble Beach, the LPGA had no annual presence and the USGA, while keeping the Olympic Club in its U.S. Open rotation, wasn’t a regular visitor.

See full article here: http://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/golf/article/San-Francisco-to-be-golf-central-for-14-days-6209018.php

By Eric Branch

Former 49ers offensive tackle Bob St. Clair, a hulking Hall of Famer and colorful San Francisco native who spent nearly his entire playing career in the city, died Monday at 84 in Santa Rosa.

USF, where Mr. St. Clair played on the famed unbeaten 1951 team, confirmed his death in a statement on its website.

“On behalf of the entire USF community, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the St. Clair family on the passing of one of the greatest Dons of all time,” USF athletic director Scott Sidwell said. “Bob was a great San Franciscan who, along with his ’51 Dons teammates, embodied the character and values of our university by taking a courageous stand against racism in the early ’50s. He will be greatly missed.”

See full article here: http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/Bob-St-Clair-dies-at-84-6212538.php

By Mark Seelig

San Francisco city officials are reaching out to the public, asking residents to do even more to help conserve water during the extended drought. The “Brown is the new Green” campaign was launched on Monday by the city’sPublic Utilities Commission.

“In order to stay with the times and be the greenest San Francisco citizen that you can be, we want you to let your front yard, if you have one, your patch of green to go brown,” said Francesca Vietor—SFPUC’s vice president, speaking on a patch of brown grass at Marina Green.

See full article here: http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2015/04/20/san-francisco-combats-drought-with-brown-is-the-new-green-water-conservation-campaign/

With a multi-year cleanup completed, efforts are now under way to return native species that once called Mountain Lake home to the lake that’s on the grounds of the Presidio in San Francisco.

With help from the Presidio Trust, along with area volunteers, hundreds of three-spine stickleback fish were released into Mountain Lake earlier this month. The stickleback were the first native species to be returned to the lake after an extensive, multi-year clean up and enhancement. The natural lake, one of only two in San Francisco, is located at the southern edge of the Presidio’s border near the intersection of Lake Street and Highway 1.

See full article here: http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2015/04/mountain-lake-presidio-growing-diversity-recovery-stickleback-fish-and-other-species26480

At a time when San Francisco is in the middle of an intense conversation about how to squeeze more residents into our famously dense 49-square-mile city, our parks are more valuable and more appreciated than ever.

See full article here: http://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/The-underappreciated-value-of-city-parks-6192639.php

By Laura Wenus

Before the clouds and wind really rolled in last Saturday, I went to Dolores Park to do an informal survey. Where are all these people from, I wondered. Has the park become a tourist trap? A local hotspot? A Bay Area wide phenomenon?

See full article here: http://missionlocal.org/2015/04/dolores-park-follies-where-are-the-people-from/

By Mike Moffitt

Dolores Park, the epicenter of indiscriminate littering in San Francisco in recent weeks, is a lot cleaner after a Facebook drive.

The Friends of Dolores Park, a group formed after park-goers clashed with Rec and Parks rangers over park rules a couple of weeks ago, handed out more than 100 trash bags for people to pick up after themselves Saturday.  The cleanup left the park virtually trash-free by 7 p.m.

“It was a resounding success,” said organizer Andrew Rogers, adding that the Friends now have over 200 members on Facebook.

See full article here: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Cleanup-improves-Dolores-Park-6181776.php

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department hosted a training demonstrating eco-friendly pest management training for parks staff. The training included a demonstration of predatory birds by Raptors Are The Solution (RATS) that can be helpful in controlling pests through the natural set-up of ecosystem in an urban environment. RATS bird handler Jay Sheets displayed a White Tailed Rite and a Red-Shouldered Hawk. Recently, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation awarded the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department the annual Innovator Award for its integrated pest management.

See full article here: http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/sf-rec-and-park-demonstrates-eco-friendly-pest-management/Slideshow?oid=2925866&slide=4&loop=true&autoplay=true

See full article here: http://www.sfgate.com/aboutsfgate/slideshow/Sisters-of-Perpetual-Indulgence-Hunky-Jesus-Easter-106894/photo-7771759.php

By Peter Fimrite, Melody Gutierrez and Victoria Colliver

Standing in a browned meadow that should have been buried in deep snow, Gov. Jerry Brown ordered California’s first-ever mandatory water cutback, imposing a 25 percent reduction to force residents and businesses to significantly tighten up water use.

“People should realize we are in a new era,” Brown said. “The idea of your nice little green grass that gets water every day, that’s going to be a thing of the past.”

See full article here: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/California-drought-Jerry-Brown-orders-historic-6172986.php

By Laura Wenus

A Dolores Park visitor, who took video of a confrontation between his friends and some parks enforcement officers who cited them for playing amplified music, says he could have handled the situation better.

Matthew Card, who recorded an encounter with Recreation and Parks officer J. Chan after being cited for playing amplified music, said he and his friends are now thinking about ways they can help contribute to keeping the park clean, like organizing a cleanup crew. But they still have some reservations about the way the park rules were enforced.

See full article here: http://blog.sfgate.com/inthemission/2015/03/28/dolores-park-denizen-who-confronted-officers-says-he-could-have-handled-the-situation-better/

By John King

Five years ago, two parking spaces disappeared from Divisadero Street near Alamo Square and a new form of public space was born: the parklet.

There now are 50 such spaces in San Francisco, with another 25 or so in the works. You can find them across the region, across the country, around the world. In a very real way, these diminutive nooks are San Francisco’s most influential urban design innovation going back decades.

See full article here: http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/How-S-F-s-parklet-movement-has-grown-across-6169023.php

By Sunny Chanel

You’d better prepare yourself for Saturday, March 21. That is, if you plan on sending your children to one of San Francisco Recreation and Parks’ extremely popular summer camps. Make sure you’re stocked up on coffee, your WiFi is in good working order, you have something to preoccupy the kids with while you book their camps and that you have patience, lots and lots of patience.

The popular camps often book up very quickly (the website has even been known to become overwhelmed with requests), so make sure you sit down in front of the computer on Saturday morning with a game plan, a familiarity with all the offerings, and a calendar. They do offer a handy “Parent Planner” so you can organize all your choices beforehand. If you’d prefer to book in person, head to McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park (from 9am to 3pm), or to one of 12 neighborhood registration sites.

See full article here: http://www.mommynearest.com/articles/sf-rec-and-park-summer-camps-registration-starts-saturday

By Kat Ngo

Here’s something you won’t see every day: S.F.’s Coit Tower is going yellow tonight. The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department will celebrate International Day of Happiness by lighting up the iconic landmark with “International Optimism Yellow,” a special color created by Pantone just for this occasion. Never heard of International Day of Happiness? It’s an annual “holiday” (first celebrated just two years ago) that was born out of the United Nations’ resolution to prioritize happiness. According to the press release from SF Rec and Park, “social isolation is as potent a cause of early death as smoking; and the epidemic of loneliness is twice as deadly as obesity.” To combat this, the United Nations has teamed up with organizations all over the world to spread the message that being happy keeps you healthy. And being happy is as simple as connecting with others in a positive and meaningful way.

See full article here: http://blog.sfgate.com/culture/2015/03/20/coit-tower-yellow/

By Brian Ray

It’s been a while since we checked in on Dolores Park construction, and recent work merits an update. As you’ve noticed, the northern half of the park (starting at 18th Street near the tennis courts and extending to the clubhouse/bathrooms) has been closed off for over a year, as new tennis courts, bike racks, a new bathroom building and more renovations have been underway in “Phase 1” of the project. While a significant delay caused by groundwater bogged down Phase 1 construction last September, things are gradually getting closer to completion on the northern side of the park.

See full article here: http://hoodline.com/2015/03/dolores-park-renovation-moving-along-despite-delays-and-vandalism

By Scott Sutton

An anonymous donor has given the San Francisco Zoo $1 million to build a home for aging chimps, according to NBC Bay area. The zoo had previously set a goal of $10 million to build a habitat for the great apes and so far had not raised near enough to do so. The chimps’ names are  Cobby, Minnie and Maggie. At 57, Cobby is one of the oldest in captivity anywhere.

See full article here: http://sacramento.suntimes.com/sac-news/7/138/56028/sf-zoo-great-ape-donation

By C.W. Nevius

The Tuesday column about the entitled picnicers at Dolores Park, who bring in bags of food and drink, spend the day and leave the trash for someone else to pick up, struck a nerve in San Francisco. Not only were there lots of response — none in defense of the litterbugs, but we got some more numbers and examples about just how bad thing are.

First, Rec and Park sent along some stats. Executive director Phil Ginsburg says he checked with his crews and found the following:

There are eight 96-gallon “toters,” which are emptied twice a day. There are 20 30-gallon cans, also emptied twice a day. And there is a six cubic yard debris box, enough to fill three pickup trucks, that is emptied twice a day.  That’s an astonishing amount of trash, but given the fact that before the renovation project began at the park, Rec and Park executive director Ginsburg said as many as 10,000 people could fill the park, it seems logical.

See full article here: http://blog.sfgate.com/cwnevius/2015/03/03/dolores-park-thousands-of-pounds-of-trash-each-weekend/

By Camden Avery

If you live around the Haight but haven’t heard of (let alone seen) Mount Olympus park, there’s a good reason for that: it’s almost as hard to find when you’re looking for it as it is to discover accidentally.

Mount Olympus is the peak of a hill at the center of Upper Terrace, between Ashbury Heights, Corona Heights and the Castro on a spot that was once (but is not currently), according to the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, considered the geographic center of San Francisco.

See full article here: http://hoodline.com/2015/03/discover-mount-olympus-a-hidden-city-landmark

By Sergio Quintana

Some weekend visitors to Fort Mason in San Francisco are facing citations after the National Park Service says they and others left behind piles and piles of trash. Neighbors say it was a sea of people and trash. “Crowds are one thing, but this was another. This was like a giant frat party. I mean, it was just garbage, beer cans and beer bottles,” said .one local resident. Nearly 100 garbage bags were filled on Sunday morning.

See full article here: http://abc7news.com/news/investigation-launched-into-sf-parks-trashed-over-weekend/560680/

The Portsmouth Square restrooms are now open!

Through the 2008 Park Bond, a Restroom Task Force evaluated free-standing restrooms on park property. Due to the high-user count of the Portsmouth Square restroom, the Task Force recommended that its user capacity be increased. At the conclusion of the first community meeting, the preferred solution to increasing user capacity was to replace the existing restroom, rather than to expand or supplement it.

Designed by Hamilton+Aitken Architects, the building architecture is a modern interpretation of traditional Chinese architecture. It is designed to take advantage of natural ventilation and sunlight, durability and ease of maintenance. The sloping roof line with wire-treatment along the edges is designed for pigeon-proofing. A combination of roof overhang and obscure glass limits sightlines into the restroom building from nearby taller buildings.

The Rec and Park Commission approved the concept plan in October 2012, and awarded a construction contract to Chiang CM Construction in July 2014. This project was made possible through the Restroom Program of the voter-approved 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond.

By Hamed Aleaziz

A favorite destination for San Francisco runners has been restored to glory after many months out of commission, with the storied Kezar Stadium in Golden Gate Park reopening with a brand-new track after a massive overhaul.

It’s the latest rebirth at 90-year-old Kezar, the 49ers’ birthplace and home until 1970. Mayor Ed Lee, along with other city officials, celebrated the new track Friday afternoon with hundreds of middle school students in the city, who christened it with a competition.

See full article here: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Newly-renovated-Kezar-Stadium-track-is-up-and-6135527.php#photo-7660852

By Tamara Palmer

Turn off, tune out and drop in to life Friday for the National Day of Unplugging, the sixth annual effort to encourage people to take the power out of technology.

For many people, it’s almost inconceivable to go for a full 24 hours without using a smartphone, computer or tablet, but that’s exactly what organizing nonprofit, Reboot is going for on March 6-7, from sundown to sundown.

See full article here: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Be-Device-Free-on-National-Day-of-Unplugging-295273731.html

Stepping back in time, the Dublin Aces took on the San Francisco Pelicans at an 1880s vintage baseball opening day game held in Golden Gate Park on March 1, 2015.

See full article here: http://photos.mercurynews.com/2015/03/02/photos-1880s-vintage-base-ball-opening-day-in-san-franciscos-golden-gate-park/#1

By Chris Fillipi

San Francisco is poised to spend millions of dollars to improve some of the city’s most dilapidated playgrounds and planners are getting public input on how they should move forward.

The non-profit San Francisco Parks Alliance and the city’s Recreation and Parks Department co-hosted a playground community design forum last weekend in hopes of giving the run-down parks a makeover.

See full article here: http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2015/03/02/design-forum-held-to-give-san-franciscos-most-dilapidated-playgrounds-a-makeover/

By Jean Bartlett

San Francisco native Claudia Reinhart has always loved Pacifica. She moved here 15 years ago. Since then she’s been involved in keeping Pacifica beautiful.

“I first realized I could do something about litter when I was twelve,” Reinhart said. “In San Francisco we became aware of the Keep America Beautiful campaign. Until then I never thought it mattered if my cupcake wrapper blew down the street. Suddenly it mattered.”

See full article here: http://www.mercurynews.com/pacifica-news/ci_27636370/cleaning-up-litter-is-matter-conscience-pacifican 

Photos by Jana Asenbrennerova For Drew Altizer Photography, Drew Altizer Photography

The 100th anniversary reception of the opening of the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition took place on February 20, 2015 at the Palace of Fine Arts. This event kicked off the beginning of a year-long, city-wide celebration.

See full article here: http://www.sfgate.com/parties/slideshow/1915-Panama-Pacific-International-Exposition-104581/photo-7605102.php

By Dan Noyes

On Thursday, the San Francisco Zoo announced they have had a change of heart and decided not to move the chimps.

Following an ABC7 News I-Team investigation, we spoke to Zoo director Tanya Peterson, who cancelled plans to move them to another facility.

See full article here: http://abc7news.com/news/i-team-officials-say-chimps-will-stay-at-san-francisco-zoo/536427/

By Liz Farrell

As soon as we get to March, it starts to feel like a sprint to the end of the school year, which can only mean summer is right around the corner. I am reminded of this from the barrage of fliers and e-mails I have already received about summer camp. This year, I told myself I was going to get an early start on planning and try to find a few new experiences to mix it up a bit for my kids. As a result, my husband and I spent a morning in February at the Summer Resource Fair put on by San Francisco Unified School District, San Francisco Recreation and Park, and the San Francisco Department of Children Youth Services.

See full article here: http://www.marinatimes.com/2015/03/tips-for-choosing-the-best-summer-camp/

By Carolyn Tyler

Sixty-four of the world’s best golfers will be in San Francisco in April for a PGA Tour. The choice of venue is not a private golf club, but the city’s municipal course.

If you love golf, then you’ll benefit from the opportunity to see some of the greats like Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson. And under a new agreement with the PGA, the more fans show up, the more money the city stands to make.

See full article here: http://abc7news.com/sports/san-franciscos-harding-park-to-host-pga-tour/520894/

By Quentin Fottrell

Where you choose to live may have a big impact your physical health. Residents of Aurora, Colo., take a bow – and then a brisk walk in your local park. Aurora was ranked No. 1 on a new survey, the “Fit Cities Index” of 85 metro areas around the U.S. carried out by BetterDoctor.com, a website that helps people find the right doctors. Aurora has $126 in park expenditure per resident, 31.4 acres of park per 1,000 residents, 43% of residents at a healthy weight and nearly 84% who have exercised within the past 30 days, scoring 75.21 out of a possible 100 on the index. It was followed by San Francisco, Oakland, Albuquerque, and Seattle.

10 most fit cities

See full article here: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-fittest-and-unhealthiest-cities-in-america-2015-02-23

By Ken Miguel

A hundred years ago this week, all eyes were on San Francisco. A World’s Fair was set to open unlike any other, in a city that had been reborn from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake and fire.

“It was the most wonderful thing to ever happen to San Francisco,” said an old films from the California Historical Society show just how spectacular the Panama Pacific International Exposition was. A World’s Fair to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914.

It was more than a World’s Fair, it was a coming out party for a city that less than a decade earlier was nearly destroyed by an earthquake and fire.

See full article here: http://abc7news.com/society/sf-celebrates-100th-anniversary-of-worlds-fair-/522579/

By John Wildermuth

A huge wad of chewing tobacco stuffed into a player’s cheek has long been an unofficial symbol of baseball, but a proposed city measure would ban its use at every playing field in San Francisco, including AT&T Park.

See full article here: http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/S-F-supervisor-proposes-ban-of-tobacco-at-all-6099587.php#/0

By Joshua Sabatini

San Francisco residents four years ago called for more urban agriculture space in The City, prompting a pilot program that is now beginning to bear fruit.The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission announced Tuesday that a new garden site is expected to open this summer in Bernal Heights and another site in Crocker-Amazon could be built out late next year. A planned community garden in Bayview-Hunters Point at the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant was scrapped and instead gardening supplies were offered there and other locations.

See full article here: http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/urban-agriculture-showing-some-life-on-sf-lands/Content?oid=2921199

By Melanie Graysmith

The San Francisco Bay Area is a dog lover’s best friend, with loads of excellent dog parks around the region to prove it. Read on for five popular dog parks, rated tops by the Bay Area’s happiest canines.

See full article here: http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/top-lists/best-dog-parks-in-the-bay-area/

By Jessica Kwong

The remaining matter of discord surrounding Coit Tower — where to position a refreshments kiosk — appears on its way to finally being settled.

As with virtually every issue involving the city landmark, Telegraph Hill residents voiced a range of opinions on the kiosk at the Recreation and Park Commission meeting Thursday. Some still preferred having no food and beverage service, while residents east of the tower bashed a proposal to build the kiosk near them, advocating that it instead be placed west of the tower parking lot. No residents on the west spoke out against having the kiosk on their side.

See full article here: http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/recreation-commission-recommends-plan-for-refreshment-kiosk-on-coit-towers-westside/Content?oid=2920805

“For the centennial of the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition, ScenePast.com has restored a selection of postcards from the festival and placed them side-by-side with some workaday scenes of 2015 San Francisco taken from the same spot.”

See full article here: http://sfist.com/2015/02/09/check_out_these_restored_postcards.php

By Peter Jon Shuler, Anya Schultz and Olivia Allen-Price

“We said our goodbyes to Candlestick Park months ago — feeling the smooth plastic seats beneath us, or swigging the final beer at a tailgate, or even giving the stadium a nostalgic glance from 101. But still, to see the long-armed excavating machine tear into the steel bleachers, biting off a big chunk of Section 33 — we can’t help but wince a little.”

See full article here: http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2015/02/04/photos-one-last-look-as-demolition-begins-on-candlestick-park/

By Devin Valdez

“In the heart of San Francisco, at Golden Gate Park, there is a little piece of Heaven for roller-bladers to enjoy. There in Golden Gate park is an area called “Skatin Place,” which has been designated and dedicated as the home for outdoor roller-skating.”

See full article here: http://www.lodinews.com/features/article_65cd7916-a7f0-11e4-8abe-9fd65eb6fb73.html

By John C Sulak

“Young People’s Teen Musical Theater Company is opening its 30th anniversary season this week with “Fiddler on the Roof,” a show about tradition.”

See full article here: http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/sf-teen-theater-turns-30-with-fiddler/Content?oid=2918070

By Katie Dowd

“San Francisco history aficionados are in for a spectacular treat: A private collector has donated thousands of incredible historic San Francisco photos to the Western Neighborhoods Project. WNP is, in turn, digitizing all the images and posting them online.”

See full article here: http://blog.sfgate.com/stew/2015/01/28/private-collector-historic-san-francisco-photos-available/

By Christine Tusher

“With its breathtaking vistas, iconic landmarks and top-notch food and wine, the City by the Bay is an enchanting destination for romance. Here are a few activities to spice up your Valentine’s Day.”

See full article here: http://www.wheretraveler.com/san-francisco/20-most-romantic-things-do-san-francisco#ad-image-0

By Darren Rovell

“The Golden State Warriors announced on Monday that the team would wear a special Chinese New Year uniform.”

See full article here: http://abc7news.com/sports/warriors-unis-hail-chinese-new-year/492144/

By Jessica Kwong

“It was a night when three generations of North Beach residents who may otherwise pass each other on the street instead gathered at an old neighborhood Italian spot to support a cause many of them hold close.”

See full article here: http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/north-beach-residents-go-to-bat-to-raise-funds-for-dimaggio-playground-renovation/Content?oid=2917216

By

“San Francisco is known, apocryphally, as the city where dogs outnumber children. And just as kids benefit from going to the playground to get some fresh air, exercise, and socialization, so does your dog. There are a lot of places to take your dog for some outdoor fun in San Francisco — these are our absolute favorites.”

See full article here:

http://sfist.com/2015/01/15/the_best_dog_parks_in_san_francisco.php

By Thomas K. Pendergast

“San Francisco’s budget forecasting season kicked off Thursday with some relatively good news: Although The City is expecting a $16 million deficit this coming fiscal year, that’s the lowest budget shortfall in a long time.”

See full article here: http://sfbay.ca/2015/01/15/city-parks-brighten-budget-forecast/

By Louise Codd

“Duboce Park is the number one park for many dog owners in San Francisco. Located in the Lower Haight, the park is conveniently found next to the N Judah train, in a densely populated area filled with seniors and families. This is a happy place where dogs come to play while their owners chitchat. It is their place, and they have made it so.”

See full article here: http://kalw.org/post/san-franciscos-duboce-park-has-gone-dogs

By Walter Thompson

“Inner Sunset Park Neighbors is a non-profit that aims to improve local quality of life through community events and the promotion of civic engagement. This morning, Hoodline interviewed ISPN President Martha Ehrenfeld about her group’s mission and how it collaborates with residents, city agencies and local merchants to put it into action.”

See full article here: http://hoodline.com/2015/01/meet-inner-sunset-park-neighbors-president-martha-ehrenfeld

Nature Scene at the World’s Smallest Lake: A Great Egret Across the Street from Our Busy Stanyan Whole Foods

Can you even see Golden Gate Park’s “world-class” Alvord Lake on a map? I suppose, but it’s smaller than most ponds IRL.

Anyway, here it is, complete with a giant Great Egret looking for food right across the street from people looking for food at the Whole Foods Stanyan:

Or if you don’t want to call it an egret, you can play it safe, as writer CW Nevius might, by guessing “heron,” ’cause that’s close enough. (Hey, is he making a joke about the tower crane in the reflection? I can’t tell. Prolly not, but I can’t tell. It is a heron, a great blue heron, a giant bird that just loves SF. A GBH will get a little irritated if you walk right up to it when it’s hunting, but usually not so much that it would fly away)

Anyway, all dese kinds of boids are in the heron family, and lots of them hang out in GGP, occasionally…

Read the entire article here:
http://sfcitizen.com/blog/2015/01/21/nature-scene-at-the-worlds-smallest-lake-a-great-egret-across-the-street-from-our-busy-stanyan-whole-foods/

By: Bay City News

“Flooded roadways in San Francisco and high surf along the coast has prompted city departments today to ask the public to stay out of the water and report hazards.

The areas most impacted by the high surf are The Embarcardero, as well as low-lying areas along the shoreline, according to the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management.

With over 23,000 catch basins in San Francisco, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is urging residents to report flooding or blocked drains by calling 311 or via the SF311 app available for free on iPhones and Androids.”

See full article here: http://sfappeal.com/2014/12/residents-urged-to-stay-away-from-beaches-report-flooding-hazards-to-311/

The Fred Lyon Photography Exhibit at the Harvey Milk Photo Center in San Francisco features rare and amazing photos of the city by the bay.

http://wn.ktvu.com/clip/10906557/old-san-francisco-through-the-eyes-of-legendary-photographer-fred-lyon

(Dec. 1, 2014)— The San Francisco Bay Area marked the 26th annual World AIDS Day with memorials, free HIV testing sites, and candlelight vigils on Monday. Decades after the Centers for Disease Control first named HIV/AIDS in 1982, the human toll is clearly marked in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park at the National Aids Memorial Grove. The annual service drew a crowd of people to the grove Monday afternoon. Organizers rang a bell for each person remembered, names etched in stone at the memorial, as well as in the hearts of survivors who gathered there.

See the entire news clip here, or learn more about the National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park. 

By: Bay City News

“The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department and the city’s lawn bowling club reopened its lawn bowling green Tuesday [November 18th] at 10 a.m. at the oldest municipal lawn bowling club in the United States.

In 1901, Superintendent of San Francisco parks John McLaren laid out the green in Golden Gate Park, and co-founded the bowling club. The green is currently considered San Francisco landmark number 181.”

See full article here: http://sfappeal.com/2014/11/lawn-bowling-club-celebrates-reopening-of-historic-green/

SF Rec and Park and General Manager Phil Ginsburg were honored to be a part of the panel at Philly Parks Future Forum in Philadelphia last week to discuss how city parks are one of the greatest assets to our country and how they are progressing nationally

Check out the full recap here: http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/parks-successful-cities-city-parks-alliance-forum 

By: Peter Hockaday

“Our city’s famous hills make for some good hiking, both of the urban and natural variety. We’re focusing on the latter, so check out our picks for some of the best outdoor spaces, hikes, and walks the city has to offer.”

See full article here:

http://www.sfgate.com/outdoors/slideshow/Best-hikes-in-San-Francisco-96210.php

By Tom Molanphy, USA Today 

Granted, not many people come to the dense, urban area of San Francisco  for some peace and quiet. But when that’s just what you need, give the little-known but lovely John McLaren Park a chance.

While San Francisco may not be the city that never sleeps, the dizzying array of entertainment and dining options – not to mention year-round outdoor activities – certainly makes the city a challenging place to get a little R&R. Before you lock yourself in your hotel room with ear plugs and a sleep mask, find your way to this peaceful park.

Read the entire article here.

By Joshua Sabatini

San Francisco is officially rolling out free Wi-Fi service in 32 public parks and recreation centers today, in a step toward a larger vision of making Internet service for residents a right and not a luxury.

Funded through a $600,000 gift from Google to The City last year, the Department of Technology spent the past year installing and testing the networks that city officials say are ready for prime time.

See full article here: http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/san-francisco-officially-launches-free-wireless-service-in-32-public-spaces/Content?oid=2907857

By Marisa Lagos

The family of a woman who was killed by a Recreation and Park Department pickup truck as she lay with her 11-month old baby at a Bernal Heights park two years ago will receive a $15 million legal settlement from the city.

See full article here: http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/SF-approves-15M-settlement-for-family-of-mom-run-5792415.php

By Marisa Lagos

San Franciscans can now search the Web, return e-mails or help their kids with homework at 30 city parks, plazas and recreation centers where free Wi-Fi was rolled out this week, thanks to a partnership between the city and Google.

See full article here: http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/S-F-rolls-out-free-WiFi-in-public-spaces-5792159.php

By Joyce Franklin

For inspiration on how to manage the flexibility that accompanies Phase 4 of the Four Phases of Startup Life — the What’s Next? stage that comes after a liquidity event — look to Warren Hellman.

After making a fortune as a private equity pioneer, he returned to his love of the banjo and founded Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, one of the world’s preeminent music festivals, which gets underway in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park this Friday, October 3. Hellman once said the festival he created “was the most selfish thing I’ve ever done,” even though it gives hundreds of thousands of people joy.

Hellman enjoyed his career, spent time with his family, and fostered his love of music. He lived a full life before his death in 2011 at age 77 and will be remembered for accomplishments ranging from prescient investing in startups to major philanthropy. Hellman donated generously to a variety of causes in San Francisco: museums, the ballet, a non-profit news organization, a local health clinic, and the public school system. David Lee, the executive director of the Chinese American Voters Education Committee and a commissioner at the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, stated, “If this city had a patron, he was it. He’s a grandfather figure of San Francisco and a man who cared deeply about the city and had a vision that included everybody, not just the business community.”

Hellman’s business accomplishments are no less impressive. While his early experience was in finance, he gravitated to the tech world. After working for Lehman Brothers and becoming the firm’s youngest president, he started Matrix Partners, a venture capital firm that was an early investor in Apple. Next, he founded Hellman & Friedman, a private equity firm, where one of his well-known deals was the sale of DoubleClick (which Hellman & Friedman owned) to Google.

Read the entire article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joyce-franklin/hardly-strictly-warren-he_b_5891568.html

By Jessica Kwong

With the help of a Chinatown neighborhood nonprofit, the Willie “Woo Woo” Wong Playground clubhouse is bouncing back from its underutilized state to the busier days of its elevated past.

The clubhouse on Sacramento Street, beneath a basketball court and partially tucked below ground level, until its reopening Tuesday was only open for recreation on an on-and-off basis.

It had been operated that way since 2008, when the recession cut $12 million in funding from the Recreation and Park Department, forcing staff to manage only full-service recreation centers, leaving community partners to oversee the smaller clubhouses like the one at Willie “Woo Woo” Wong Playground.

Those short-staffed days might be a thing of the past.

The Portsmouth Plaza Parking Corp., a community-based nonprofit that runs the Portsmouth Square Plaza Garage, through its lease with The City funds programs and other needs at open spaces in Chinatown.

The nonprofit’s original 50-year lease with The City in 1958 included a $10,000 set-aside to fund other nonprofits in the community. Under a new lease negotiated a few years ago, an additional $60,000 was secured to go toward community open space. That includes $50,000 that has helped the clubhouse reopen this week in its full capacity.

http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/chinatown-playground-clubhouse-reopens-full-time-enhancing-areas-limited-open-space/Content?oid=2907173

San Francisco Marina waterfront has always been a spiffy place, one of the world’s most scenic locations with sweeping views of the bay, the Golden Gate and the Marin Headlands. Now, it’s an award winner.

The American Society of Civil Engineers has named the Marina Yacht Harbor Renovation its 2014 project of the year, the Recreation and Park Department announced Thursday.

Despite its natural beauty, the marina had not had a major upgrade since 1963. Its floating docks, made of wood, had decayed over time, and the utilities serving the boats were outdated and deteriorated.

The $27.3 million renovation project focused on the West Harbor, and included removal of part of the existing breakwater, construction of two new breakwater segments, extensive dredging, reconstruction of rip-rap slopes, replacement and reconfiguration of gates, gangways, docks and slips, and upgrading utilities. On the land, the project included renovation of the harbor office building and improved public access.

http://blog.sfgate.com/cityinsider/2014/09/25/marina-yacht-harbor-hailed-for-more-than-its-view/

“A couple days ago, in preparation for today’s 13th anniversary of Sept. 11, Harry Ong Jr., neatly dressed in a shirt and tie, brought two dozen red and white roses to a remembrance plaque at a gleaming recreation center in Chinatown named after his sister, Betty Ann Ong.Ong, a flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11 on Sept. 11, 2001, spent her last moments relaying information about the terrorists aboard the hijacked plane before it crashed into the World Trade Center’s North Tower in lower Manhattan, N.Y., that day, killing all 92 people aboard. Every year since the crash, the Ong family has taken retreats to try to cope with the memories that they can’t go a day without thinking about but are most intense at this time of year.”

See the full article here:

http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/sf-family-remembers-flight-attendant-on-9-11-anniversary/Content?oid=2896094

September 13, 2014 marked the first annual Open Gardens Day in which SF Rec and Park opened the gates of 21 of 38 community gardens throughout the city to show off handiwork and encourage newcomers to join. San Francisco has no shortage of gardening enthusiasts. More than 1,600 residents maintain plots in community gardens, from Bayview to Pacific Heights to the Outer Sunset and all points in between.

See the full article here:

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/S-F-gardeners-get-to-show-off-their-work-5753600.php

To sign up for a community garden click here.

Fans had one more chance to say their final goodbyes to Candlestick Park Sunday.The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department held the Candlestick Farewell Community Day for the public. It was the last free admission event before its final closure. The park will be demolished in 2015 to make way for a mixed-use housing and commercial development.

Read the entire article here:

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Fans-Say-Final-Goodbye-to-Candlestick-Park-in-Candlestick-Farewell-Community-Day-269771031.html

Other coverage of Community Day at Candlestick Park:

http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/local/thousands-attend-candlestick-park-community-day-bi/ngtNH/

http://abc7news.com/sports/farewell-event-to-be-held-at-sfs-candlestick-park/237484/

http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_26272030/thousands-attend-candlestick-park-community-day-bid-farewell

http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/thousands-attend-candlestick-park-community-day-to-bid-farewell-to-stadium/Content?oid=2866042
 

Fans of City Insider know we like lists that arbitrarily rank San Francisco compared to other cities. Well, we like them when our city does well, anyway.

Add our performance in The Trust for Public Land‘s ParkScore index as the latest to confirm what many San Franciscans already believe: our city rocks. San Francisco ranks third among the 60 largest cities in the nation when it comes to great parks. Minneapolis took first, New York took second and we tied for the bronze with Portland and Boston.

San Francisco scored No. 1 on park access – a whopping 98 percent of residents here live within a 10 minute walk of a park, and 19 percent of land within San Francisco is park space. We also scored well on parks budgeting, with $215.99 spent per resident each year. Our city got low marks, however, for its median park size of 1.9 acres. The national average is 6 acres.

http://blog.sfgate.com/cityinsider/2014/06/02/san-francisco-has-the-third-best-public-parks-system-in-the-nation/

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — Learning to garden in San Francisco just got easier.

This month, the city opened its first resource center for gardeners at the community garden in Golden Gate Park. It’s a one-stop shop for city folks who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. Folks like husband-and-wife green thumbers John and Margaret Castro.

“I enjoy working with plants,” John said. “We come a couple times a week and look and say, ‘this is growing, that is growing… basil, tomatoes, brussel sprouts’” Margaret added.

This resource center is the first of its kind, a place where gardeners can pick up mulch, compost, even borrow gardening tools, all for free.

Urban agriculture program director Hannah Shulman told KPIX 5 “We are dedicated to supporting all types of gardeners in the city, whether you’re gardening in your backyard or public property in the city.”

S.F. Rec/Parks spokeswoman Sarah Ballard says the garden and resource center are “a great unifier for people who are gardening. I think the act of taking care of plants together really brings the community together.”

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/05/31/golden-gate-park-community-garden-adds-resource-center-helps-gardeners-grow-skills/

You might forgive Mexico coach Miguel Herrera if his praise for a certain player slipped into hyperbole.

Speaking with reporters in April after Mexico’s 2-2 exhibition draw with the U.S. national team, Herrera was asked about U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley, who in the first half had scored a goal, chipped in an assist and run riot on Herrera’s defense.

“Bradley looked like he was the best player in the world,” Herrera said.

Whether Bradley is of that exact register is up for debate, but the Toronto F.C. man can make a strong case as the most important player on the U.S. team, which begins its journey to the World Cup in earnest on Tuesday night with an exhibition against Azerbaijan at Candlestick Park.

On Thursday, U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann shocked the soccer world when he announced the 23-man roster he’ll bring to Brazil. Bradley was included. Landon Donovan, a 32-year-old forward and veteran of three World Cups who is widely regarded as one of the all-time great American soccer players, was not.

http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/candlestick-park-is-first-stop-on-road-to-the-world-cup-for-us/Content?oid=2808113

San Francisco is about to experience some Earthquakes.

The San Jose Earthquakes will play the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open — open to any and all teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer — at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium in Golden Gate Park.

General admission tickets for the match at the former home of the 49ers go on sale Friday, the Quakes’ official site announced. Tickets are $20, available online at sjearthquakes.com or at the door.

The Earthquakes will play either Sacramento Republic FC or Fresno Fuego, whichever team wins their game next Wednesday.

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Earthquakes-To-Play-at-Kezar-Stadium-260196951.html

A person going from living on the streets to enjoying an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe — where she is called on to represent the United States — is impressive.

But to have that person also transform from an invisible human to a valued person with a job and a future? That’s an incredible journey.

Documentary filmmaker Micha X. Peled heard this tale and followed it. As an avid soccer fan, he knew sports had transformative potential, but this was something else entirely.

He spent almost two years following eight women, including one San Franciscan, on their paths from living on the streets to playing for the U.S. in the Homeless World Cup last year in Poland.

The result, the feature-length “Goal! An Incredible Journey,” is now $20,000 away from completion. Peled is hoping that a Kickstarter campaign can help finish the film and spread the good news.

http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/incredible-journey-out-of-homelessness-with-soccer/Content?oid=2800676

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— Coit Tower, San Francisco’s iconic landmark atop Telegraph Hill, reopened to the public Wednesday after a six-month restoration.

Dignitaries, including Mayor Ed Lee, gathered to admire the $1.7 million project— overseen by the city’s Recreation & Parks Department and Arts Commission. The restoration heavily focused on the 210-foot structure’s murals that were originally part of the Works Progress Administration art projects in the 1930s.

Phil Ginsburg, general manager of the Rec & Parks Dept. was all smiles as he addressed a who’s who of the dignitaries who attended.

“This is such a special moment and it’s a moment that we should all be proud about,” said Ginsburg.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/05/14/coit-tower-reopens-to-public-after-six-month-restoration/

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) — For decades Russell Breslauer taught students accounting at Chabot College. You might say he knows his way around numbers. Now, this week’s Jefferson Award winner counting to a different beat.

You don’t have to be good with numbers to follow along in Russell Breslauer’s class, but it helps to count along.

For eight years, Russell has taught line dancing classes at the Golden Gate Park Senior Center in San Francisco. The students can’t be more appreciative.

“I enjoy dancing in his class. I tell everyone about it,” said Cesar Ribeiro. “Start with him, and I guarantee you’ll be a good dancer.”

From Mambo to Merengue, Russell’s enthusiasm for dance is infectious.

“I enjoy seeing people learn things,” said Russell. “I always have.”

For 30 years, Russell taught accounting at Chabot College. But he always had an interest in International Folk Dancing.

Once retired, he volunteered at the Senior Center where he exchanged his study plans for step sheets.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/04/30/jefferson-award-winner-helps-san-francisco-seniors-get-into-the-groove/

SAN FRANCISCO — They are known as the “Legends of Candlestick” ? Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, along with Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig and Dwight Clark will return to Candlestick this summer for the final football game ever at the stadium.
The Niner greats will face off against a team of NFL stars captained by hall of famer Dan Marino in a flag football game.

The last time these two quarterbacks went head to head was Super Bowl XIX, when the 49ers beat the Dolphins 38-16.

ABC7 sports anchor and former 49er Mike Shumann will also be playing. He’s been working out for the game, so he’ll be in top shape.

Shu’s got some time to get ready — the game takes place July 12. Tickets go on sale May 10, with a pre-sale for 49ers season ticket holders on May 5. Tickets range in price from $30-$50.

http://abc7news.com/archive/9514563/

San Francisco is a city of secrets. Hidden tunnels and bricked-up passageways, sunken ships and rebuilt palaces. With our backfilled downtown, railcar tracks that lead into empty parking lots, and stairways that sneak you from one neighborhood to another, we are the Winchester Mystery House of urban areas.

One of the secrets is right beneath your nose, and you’ve likely passed it at least once. Maybe you’ve walked your dog there. Or gone to play tennis at one of the hidden-gem tennis courts that locals like to keep all to themselves. Maybe, like me, you’ve cut through Buena Vista Park from Haight Street, zigzagging your way down toward Market on your morning commute-with-a-view, all blissfully ignorant that you were in the presence of hundreds of headstones.

http://www.thebolditalic.com/articles/4840-the-gutters-in-buena-vista-park-are-made-out-of-old-headstones

By Jill Tucker

Camilla Fox is fighting an uphill battle against fairy tales and Saturday morning cartoons.

Children’s stories often feature wild canines in unflattering roles – the wolf that eats Grandma and the dim-witted and Acme-loving coyote that can’t seem to hit the beep-beeping roadrunner with an anvil.

As one of the top coyote protectors in the country, Fox – yes, that’s her real name – gets frustrated by the bad rap the relatively diminutive predators get, even in dog-obsessed San Francisco.

To combat the bias, fear and bad human behavior leveled against coyotes, Fox spent Wednesday and Thursday helping train more than 200 city recreation and park managers and staff members, helping them better understand coyote behavior and how humans can coexist with them in an urban environment.

“Coyotes are the most persecuted native carnivores in the U.S.,” said Fox, executive director of the Larkspur-based Project Coyote. “Most of the time, coyotes want to have nothing to do with us.”

Until a decade ago, there were few, if any, coyotes in San Francisco. While native to the area, they largely had been eliminated by trapping and poisoning in the 1950s and 1960s, Fox said.

Then, at least a couple of them trotted across the Golden Gate Bridge and took up residence in city open spaces.

There are at least 20 in city parks and more in the Presidio, although no one is formally tracking them. Coyotes are crepuscular, or typically active at dawn and dusk, although daytime appearances are not considered unusual.

Still, any sighting can startle and intimidate joggers, parents pushing strollers, golfers or dog walkers – who frequently report the encounters or complain to Animal Care and Control or to park workers.

But coyotes, contrary to belief, are not likely to seek out the city’s Chihuahuas.

“There are certainly people in this city that have more of a fear of these animals,” said Lisa Wayne, the open-space manager for the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. “There have been no confirmed reports of coyotes preying on domestic cats or dogs in the city.”

Read the entire article here: http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Protectors-of-S-F-s-urban-coyotes-try-to-calm-5339426.php

By John Wildermuth

Dab of paint by dab of paint, the $1.7 million rehabilitation of Coit Tower is moving closer to its April completion.

While much of the major roofing and waterproofing work on the Telegraph Hill landmark is either done or in its final stages, a team of art restoration experts is still on the job, doing touchup and repair work on the colorful Depression-era murals that cover the tower’s inside walls.

“There is a lot of interest in this project,” said Phil Ginsburg, general manager of the city’s Recreation and Park Department, which oversees Coit Tower. “We’re thrilled to have made an investment in a really, really important civic asset.”

On Thursday afternoon, Anne Rosenthal, who led a 1989-90 restoration effort on the murals, was back in front of the Public Works of Art Project artwork, holding a brush and a palette of paints as she studied photos of the murals as they originally looked.

While she works to fix the many dings and scratches that have marred the murals over the years, other teams have restored the stucco that frames the huge murals, and replastered and repainted the ceiling in a light mushroom tone to better display a very political view of San Francisco in the 1930s.

Centerpiece of project

“Everything we do leads to the perception of the murals,” she said.

While the mural restoration itself is only a $250,000 piece of the project, the artwork has driven all of the restoration work.

“The work on the murals is essentially meaningless without the other work we’re doing,” Ginsburg said.

Read the entire article here: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Coit-Tower-mural-restoration-infuses-S-F-5336747.php

Read other news coverage on the Coit Tower murals:
http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/makeover-of-sfs-coit-tower-nears-completion/Content?oid=2740908

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/san_francisco&id=9474660

The weather is currently stunning, which usually would mean heading to Dolores Park for some picnicking and people-watching. But with big swathes of the park out of commission for construction and renovation, you may be in need of some other park options. Luckily, there are lots of other parks not too far from Dolores that offer everything from views to cafes to tennis courts. We put together a selection of our five favorite alternatives to Dolores Park for your sunbathing pleasure:

One of the most popular parks in the Bay Area is about to get a total makeover.

By the end of the day Friday, the fences will be up and half of San Francisco’s wildly popular Dolores Park will be closed for seven months. After that, the other half will close for seven more months.

The park begins closing down Thursday for its roughly $15 million renovation.

With beautiful weather expected this weekend, that’s not the best news for those who go to the park. But one thing they really do like is that the park is going to get some new bathrooms. The improvements will replace the park’s three bathrooms with 35 new ones.

Watch the story here: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Half-of-Dolores-Park-Closing-Down-for-Renovation-250210661.html

By John Wildermuth (Photo via sfgate.com)

The thousands of visitors who cover just about every inch of lawn at Dolores Park on sunny weekends will have to squeeze a little closer for the next 14 months.

The Mission District park, one of the city’s busiest and most popular recreation sites, is closing half of its 16 acres this month as part of a two-phase, $13.2 million makeover designed to bring the park, which was designed in 1905, into the future.

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Half-of-S-F-s-Dolores-Park-closing-for-makeover-5279158.php#photo-5955628

February 16, 2014– It has a classic Japanese Tea Garden, two lakes, a botanical garden, a Conservatory of Flowers, a golf course, soccer fields, a carousel and lots more.  Golden Gate Park in San Francisco is a 1,017-acre oasis of nature and beauty– and it serves the city’s residents and visitors alike with its many attractions.

See the entire feature here.

To the surprise of absolutely no one, a San Francisco restaurant and hotel owner will take over as the operator of Coit Tower when the city landmark reopens in April.

Terry Grimm, who owns the anchor Oyster Bar in the Castro and the Kenwood Inn and Spa in Sonoma County, received unanimous approval of the Board of Supervisors Tuesday, giving him a five-year contract to manage the concessions and other operations at Coit Tower, as well as safeguard the iconic Depression-era murals on the walls inside the tower.

The decision followed last month’s recommendation by the Recreation and Park Commission that Coit Tower LLC, run by Grimm, get the contract.

http://blog.sfgate.com/cityinsider/2014/02/12/supervisors-approve-new-operator-for-coit-tower/

The Recreation and Park Department invites you to attend the final community meeting on the renovation of the Gilman Playground children’s play area. Gilman Playground is located on Bill Walsh Way at Gilman Ave. Everyone is invited to attend! Tell your friends and neighbors!

DATE: February 18, 2014 (Tuesday)
TIME: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
PLACE: Gilman Clubhouse
One Bill Walsh Way (at Gilman Ave)

For more information, please contact:
Marvin Yee, Project Manager
Marvin.Yee@sfgov.org or (415) 581-2541

DATE: February 4, 2014 (Tuesday)
TIME: 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.
PLACE: Town School for Boys – Dining Room
2750 Jackson Street (please enter through the Scott St. entrance)

 
For more information, please contact:
Marvin Yee, Project Manager
Marvin.Yee@sfgov.org or (415) 581-2541

The Recreation and Park Department will also describe planned efforts to restore the landscape on the south side of Alta Plaza Park.

When Coit Tower reopens in April after a six-month face-lift, the Telegraph Hill icon will have a new look and a new operator.

After nearly a decade of often rancorous discussions, a nasty 2012 election scrap and plenty of grudging compromises, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission is set Thursday to recommend a five-year lease agreement with Terry Grimm, owner of the Anchor Oyster Bar in the Castro and the upscale Kenwood Inn and Spa in Sonoma County.

Grimm’s job will be to spiff up the look and operation of the city landmark, which has fallen on hard times in recent years.

“One of our goals is to enhance the visitor experience,” said Sarah Ballard, a spokeswoman for the Recreation and Park Department.

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Big-changes-in-store-for-Coit-Tower-after-5166970.php

San Francisco golfers won another round Thursday when the City Planning Commission agreed to move ahead with construction at the Sharp Park Golf Course, despite complaints from environmentalists.

The commission rejected a call to require a full environmental impact report on the project, an expensive process that can take months to complete. Environmentalists contend the construction could harm the threatened California red-legged frogs and San Francisco garter snakes that live at the Pacifica golf course.

An EIR wouldn’t provide much more information than is already available and couldn’t touch on the broader issues of the effect of climate change and seawater rise on the golf course, said Commissioner Hisashi Sugaya.

“It doesn’t seem that a fair argument has been presented to overturn” the Planning Department‘s decision on the project.

The dispute is just the latest clash in a decade-long struggle over the future of the 82-year-old golf course.

Opponents Thursday argued that the proposed work, which involves clearing reeds and sediment from a pond and waterway, construction around a pumping station and digging a new, small pond on the site, was a danger to the threatened California red-legged frog and San Francisco garter snake that live and breed on the oceanside site the city owns.

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Sharp-Park-Golf-Course-project-to-move-ahead-5150818.php

By Jessica Kwong

The several dozen community gardens and various green spaces that have sprouted around San Francisco will finally come under a streamlined management.

The Urban Agriculture Program announced by the Recreation and Park Department on Wednesday will coordinate all activities related to urban agriculture, which at its most basic level entails growing food within a city.

More than 36 community gardens the department manages, as well as new urban agriculture resource centers and the application and waitlist processes for new projects, will fall under the responsibility of a forthcoming urban agriculture program coordinator.

http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/sf-launches-easier-to-navigate-urban-agriculture-effort/Content?oid=2678670

Two years ago, the Bayview community came together to design a concept
plan for Hilltop Park. Now, with funding, the park renovation is going to
be a reality!

Join us for the kick off meeting to learn about the project and how you can
be involved in this excellent community park!

All ages welcome
Refreshments served

For a drab, bone-chilling, windswept punching bag of a stadium, Candlestick Park enjoyed one hell of a good run. The Stick hosted two World Series, two major-league All-Star Games and eight NFC Championship Games. Joe Montana and Jerry Rice spun their magic on the soggy field alongside the bay, as did Willie Mays and Willie McCovey. The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Pope John Paul II stopped by.

Read more here: http://www.sfchronicle.com/candlestick/item/Candlestick-Park-Memories-26148.php

By Evan Borders

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. —

As a result of the community meetings we held on June 13th and July 13th, we have been working with our design team and the Arts Commission to further develop the design of the recreation center renovation. In order to provide you an update on the
design development and answer any questions you have, we will be holding an open house.

We will be on hand to answer your questions. We hope you can make it!

Wednesday, November 20
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Glen Park Library
2825 Diamond Street
ADA-Accessible

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Karen Mauney-Brodek
415.575.5601 • karen.mauney-brodek@sfgov.org
Visit https://sstasio.wpengine.com/project/glen-canyon-park-2012-bond/
for a summary of past community meetings and to view the latest design.

W e s t S u n s e t P l a y g r o u n d
P a r k I m p r o v e m e n t P r o j e c t

2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond Project

The Recreation and Park Department invites you to attend the second planning meeting to discuss upcoming capital improvements for this park facility, specifically addressing field and athletic court improvements, and site accessibility. We will be presenting a draft concept plan which will show the proposed improvements for your review and feedback.

Everyone is invited to come and share your thoughts and ideas.

DATE: Nov 20, 2013 (Wednesday)
TIME: 7:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
PLACE: Ortega Branch Library
3223 Ortega Street @ 39th Avenue

For more information, please contact:
Dan Mauer, Project Manager
Dan.Mauer@sfgov.org or (415) 581-2542

Through our Community Opportunity Fund Program, part of the 2012 San Francisco Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks General Obligation Bond, we are giving neighborhoods, community groups, and park enthusiasts an opportunity to make a real difference at their favorite local city parks. Groups have an opportunity to apply for funding of small projects via this program; this meeting is to answer questions about the process and qualifications.

For more information please visit the COF main page on our website.

Through our Community Opportunity Fund Program, part of the 2012 San Francisco Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks General Obligation Bond, we are giving neighborhoods, community groups, and park enthusiasts an opportunity to make a real difference at their favorite local city parks. Groups have an opportunity to apply for funding of small projects via this program; this meeting is to answer questions about the process and qualifications.

For more information please visit the COF main page on our website.

Through our Community Opportunity Fund Program, part of the 2012 San Francisco Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks General Obligation Bond, we are giving neighborhoods, community groups, and park enthusiasts an opportunity to make a real difference at their favorite local city parks. Groups have an opportunity to apply for funding of small projects via this program and this meeting is to answer questions about the process and qualifications.

For more information please visit the COF main page on our website.

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, YP, Levi Strauss & Co., CBS EcoMedia and community members celebrated the grand opening of the new Golden Gate Park CommUNITY Garden. The garden, located at the east end of the park near Kezar Stadium, was created to meet the growing public demand for community garden plots in the city and to provide a valuable new city-wide resource for those interested in sustainable food production.

“The new Golden Gate Park Community Garden represents our City’s commitment to the urban agriculture movement and building stronger communities,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “As we begin this first community garden within the boundaries of our world class park, we are investing in the transformation of vacant arable land into even more growing, sustainable communities.”

The community garden replaces the former Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council (HANC) industrial center, and helps meet a recreational need that positively impacts the community surrounding Golden Gate Park’s eastern end.

“It is an honor to be a Supervisor representing Golden Gate Park,” said Supervisor Eric Mar. “It is a major tourist attraction but also the backyard of many of the resident I represent and I am thrilled we have this community serving garden right here in our park system’s crown jewel.”

According to a recreation assessment report conducted by SF Rec & Park, almost half of all San Francisco households have expressed a need for more community gardens, while more than 1 in 5 households feel that community gardens are among the top five important recreation facilities.

With the addition of this new garden, the Recreation and Park Department now oversees 36 community gardens citywide with a waiting list of more than 500 people.

“This new garden is the latest and greatest of San Francisco’s community gardens,” said San Francisco Recreation and Parks General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Rec & Park is pleased to bring a focus of urban agriculture to San Francisco neighborhoods and recreation programming.

The Golden Gate Park Community Garden will become a community garden resource center in San Francisco and offer the community a native plant nursery, gardening beds, a greenhouse, tool lending library, education pavilion and demonstration garden.

“This site has an important legacy of community activism and spirit that will continue to grow as the neighborhood gets involved in the garden,” said Andrea Jadwin, former President of the Inner Sunset Park Neighbors. “As a resident and community gardener, I am thrilled that we have this new place to grow plants, food and most importantly, community.”

Several elements within the park were donated by outside supporters. YP’s gift has funded the construction of the community garden’s vibrant vertical gardening space, which demonstrates the possibility of having a garden even in small spaces and dense urban environments where residents may not have a yard. YP was able to make this donation through an innovative partnership with CBS EcoMedia.

“Our mission is to help local businesses and communities grow – and we’re committed to doing this daily by partnering with our valued customers and through projects like this,” said Janine Lappin, General Manager of Sales in San Francisco for YP. “Our brand mantra is to help get things done and this project is a great opportunity to help get something great done for the San Francisco community.”

Levi Strauss & Co. also gave $20,000 to fund permeable paving within the garden, which contributes to the environmentally friendly nature of the garden by allowing rainwater to flow through the earth and recharge the city’s groundwater. Additionally, Levi Strauss & Co. has donated hundreds of volunteer hours throughout San Francisco parks.

“Levi Strauss & Co. is thrilled to support San Francisco parks through both volunteerism and financial support,” said Jason McBriarty, Director of Corporate Affairs at Levi Strauss & Co.

Another unique feature included in this space is the demonstration garden area. These beds allow community members to experiment on new gardening ideas or techniques, and are rotated between users on a monthly schedule.

“The new garden will become a hub of urban agriculture and offer the community a host of wellness, educational and environmental benefits,” said Paul Polizzotto, Founder and President, CBS EcoMedia. “Thanks to YP’s funding and volunteerism through our EcoAd program, the community will enjoy a vibrant vertical garden in a new urban oasis.”

The ribbon cutting ceremony was followed by a volunteer activity with YP employees and 25 local high school students in the community garden. Blogger and cookbook author Gabi Moskowitz then led a healthy cooking demonstration with 45 local elementary school students.

San Francisco loves its open spaces, and the city’s Recreation and Parks Department has been pumping lots of money into renovations and new projects. The majority of these projects were funded by the 2008 or 2012 San Francisco Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond, the more recent of which was passed by an overwhelming 72 percent of San Francisco voters. Here now, a map of 15 park projects either under construction or newly finished.

Read the entire article here.

No place in San Francisco is growing faster than District Six, that curious mix of hip SoMa and gritty Tenderloin stretches of town. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, its population grew by 35 percent over the past decade.

But there’s one thing that hasn’t been growing there, despite an explosion of residential and economic development: parks and open space.

That’s a problem that needs to be fixed, city recreation and park officials say, and they hope recommendations expected Thursday from a task force they created a year ago will set them on the road to do just that.

The task force’s report is expected to lay out where new parks should go, how big they should be and how the city will pay for them. The district includes the South of Market, Tenderloin and South Beach neighborhoods.

The commission is expected to take at least a year before it authorizes the purchase of any new park space. But any improvements can’t come soon enough for leaders of the area.

“The city is touting our district as smart-growth development, a place where people can live and walk to work,” said District Six Supervisor Jane Kim. “But work is 9 to 5. What about evenings and the weekend? Parks are an important part.”

High-density area

The report identifies western and eastern SoMa, Civic Center and the Tenderloin as having the greatest need for new space. But new open space is hard to come by in the dense district that’s home to 73,000 people, enough to fill a small city.

“It was never envisioned or utilized as a major residential area; open spaces were just not seen as a critical part of that plan,” Dawn Kamalanathan, director of capital and planning for the Recreation and Park Department, said about the district. “To find a big park is a rare event nowadays.”

The city would most likely pay for a new park using the Open Space Acquisition Fund, which grows about $1.8 million every year through property taxes and currently stands at $7.36 million. The city most recently tapped the fund to buy a small parking lot at 24th and Sanchez streets in Noe Valley for $4.2 million to create the Noe Valley Town Square.

Rec and Park plans to hire a real estate broker to evaluate 15 to 20 potential sites for the city to buy from a private owner or another city agency and turn into parks. That appraisal process should be complete by early 2014, Kamalanathan said.

But don’t expect new parks to pop up right away, she warned.

“It’s really hard to project,” she said. “It’s dependent on someone wanting to sell it to us.”

Parks, not ballfields

The task force decided to recommend developing two to three parks between .25 and .5 acres instead of one bigger park, and to call for amenities like community gardens, children’s playgrounds and outdoor seating instead of sprawling athletic fields. Rec and Park officials said that makes the most sense for the demographics of the district, which has a high concentration of seniors, as well as young children who might be from another district but attend preschool in the area.

“A lot of seniors and young professionals are looking for somewhere to hang out rather than a large playfield complex,” Kamalanathan said. “It would be better to have smaller open spaces than no open spaces at all.”

The four sites singled out by the task force as potential new parks include the area between 1501 and 1617 Harrison St., the “Brady Block” at Market and Octavia, the Steuart Street Triangle between Howard Street and The Embarcadero, and 639 Bryant St. The Bryant Street location is currently a pipe yard owned by the Public Utilities Commission.

Toby Levy, a task force member and South Park resident since 1986, said she wants to see future parks become community gathering spaces.

“It’s what makes any city livable,” said Levy, who is currently leading an effort to renovate South Park. “It’s the informal living room in a lot of these areas, especially when there’s really dense housing.”

Neal J. Riley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: nriley@sfchronicle.comTwitter: @realdealneal

Read full article at: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/S-F-seeks-more-open-space-in-a-key-area-4825751.php#photo-5203517

By Joe Rosenheim Wednesday, Sep 18 2013