eNews from SF Recreation and Parks- August 30, 2023

[SF Recreation and Parks]

Updates, news and events in San Francisco parks   Highlights, News & Announcements   Tennis Center at Golden Gate Park Earns Coveted National Award The Lisa and Douglas Goldman Tennis Center, located in Golden Gate Park, has been selected by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to receive the 2023 Outstanding Facility Award. Of the 29 facilities to earn this year’s award, the Goldman Tennis Center received the top recognition as the sole recipient of the prestigious “Featured Facility of the Year”, and will be honored at next year’s USTA Annual Meeting and Conference. Earlier this week, the USTA held an awards ceremony during the opening day of the US Open Tennis Championships, happening in New York City, to recognize the 2023 Outstanding Facility winners. San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg accepted the award on behalf of the Goldman Tennis Center. The U.S. Open is taking place from August 28 through September 10. The tennis center at Golden Gate Park has served tennis enthusiasts of all skill levels since 1894, with tennis legends like Billie Jean King, Peanut Louie Harper, and Rosie Casals among others, having played on the courts. The center re-opened in 2021 after a $27 million renovation through a public-private partnership with leadership gifts from Taube Philanthropies, the Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, the Koret Foundation, Jackie and Joby Pritzker, the Fisher Family and others. The renovation, designed by architectural firm EHDD (with HGA), transformed the center into a state-of-the-art public facility with 16 tennis courts, including a sunken stadium style court, lights for night play and five mini courts for pickleball and teaching young children, and a garden courtyard for socializing. Additionally, the Taube Family Clubhouse features a lounge, a recreation room, a class room for the Tennis and Learning Center, two locker rooms, a kitchen, and a vibrant outdoor ceramic tile mural by renowned artist Sanaz Mazinani. The renovation was made possible through a partnership with the Tennis Coalition of San Francisco and the San Francisco Parks Alliance. The center provides a variety of programming year-round for both adults and children, including tennis and pickleball lessons, youth tennis camps, competition training, college team play, league match play and USTA and other tournament play. The center also is home to the Koret Tennis and Learning Center, an award-winning program for underserved youth that promotes academic achievement, health and wellness, and social-emotional development through tennis. Lifetime Activities manages the tennis center and provides professional teaching in addition to supporting tournaments, teams, and many community events. For more information, click the link below. Tennis Center Earns National Award   Community Celebrates $3.38 Million Makeover of Herz Playground Creative new play equipment for kids of all ages and a park makeover inspired by nature greeted families last week at the unveiling of the renovated Herz Playground in McLaren Park! The new playground marks the 10th of 13 playgrounds slated for renovation through the Let’sPlaySF! initiative, a public-private partnership with the San Francisco Parks Alliance to bring creative playspaces to neighborhoods across the city as prioritized by a citizen task force. Thursday’s celebration included a ribbon cutting with Mayor London Breed, Supervisor Shamann Walton, community members, and the family of Dr. Francis Joseph Herz, a former Rec and Park Commissioner for whom the park was named when it opened in 1965. The $3.38 million renovation of Herz playground includes two play areas, each geared toward different age groups. Younger children enjoyed a new play structure with slides and activity panels, toddler swings, a bobble rider, and harmony flower chimes for outdoor musical play. Older kids played steel drums and quenched their thirst for adventure by gliding above ground on a track ride, climbing a play tower with two slides, and practicing their agility on a climbing wall. The renovations at Herz Playground will complement the adjacent future Herz Recreation Center which will go into construction in the fall. Together these park improvements will serve as a community hub for Visitacion Valley and Sunnydale residents and students at the nearby Visitacion Valley Middle School. For more information, click the link below. Herz Playground Makeover   More than 8,000 Visit Civic Center Carnival for Family Fun Thank you to the more than 8,000 people that visited the Civic Center Carnival this past weekend. From playing ring toss with Mayor London Breed, to snacking on some Hawaiian shaved ice, to taking a spin on the many rides, we had a blast. There is much more to come in this area. Stay tuned for more fun for all ages, from skateboarding to chess and teqball.   Nature Swagger Book Reading Visits SF Botanical Garden Thank you to everyone who came out to the San Francisco Botanical Garden to see Outdoor Afro Founder and CEO Rue Mapp read and discuss her book "Nature Swagger: Stories and Visions of Black Joy in the Outdoors." We enjoyed hearing inspiring stories, profiles, and spotlights of Black individuals/communities' experiences in the natural world, as well as the rich history of Black involvement in the outdoors, activism, and conservation. Learn more about Rue's work at the link below. Outdoor Afro   UN Plaza Project to Begin September 1 We’re installing a number of park improvements at UN Plaza this fall, including skateboarding features, exercise equipment, ping pong, chess and teqball tables, and more. Fencing for this project will be going up on Friday, September 1. Areas of the plaza will be closed to accommodate work for the duration of the project. Please follow onsite directional signage to navigate though the plaza, including to public transit.    Now Hiring: Environmental Educator Interns We are hiring Environmental Educator Interns to help lead our Youth Stewardship Program (YSP) this coming year, from November 6, 2023 to August 25, 2024. YSP is a free environmental education program offered to the San Francisco Unified School District and youth-serving organizations. Interns will lead youth on field trips to San Francisco parks to help them understand the role they play in building healthy communities. For more information, including hours, compensation and more, click the link below.   To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to Lucinda Seagraves at lucinda.seagraves at sfgov.org by Wednesday, September 6 at 6 p.m. Environmental Educator Internship Flyer   SF Arts Commission: Call for Artists for Gene Friend Rec Center Project The San Francisco Arts Commission is inviting artists and artist teams residing in the United States to submit qualifications for two public art opportunities as part of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department's Gene Friend Recreation Center Improvement Project. One of the two opportunities is for the commission of a new integrated wall artwork, located in the center’s gymnasium. The second opportunity is for the direct purchase of existing two-dimensional artworks for the Center’s prominent interior corridors. The goals of the Gene Friend Recreation Center Improvement Project Public Art Project are to illuminate the rich history and full diversity of San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood including recognition of SOMA Pilipinas, the Filipino Cultural Heritage District, and to lift up the center as a destination and proud neighborhood asset. The application deadline is Monday, September 18 by 11:59 p.m. For more information and to apply, click the link below. Gene Friend Call for Artists   People of the Parks: Civic Center Carnival Carnivals aren’t just for kids, they’re for the whole family. Just ask Dandan, who by chance passed by the Civic Center Carnival with her two children—and just had to stop by. “We were on our way to the library and we saw this and it looked fun,” she said. Last week's four-day carnival at Fulton Plaza featured fun fair staples like a Ferris wheel, a funhouse, and spinning teacups. There were also games, prizes and plenty of carnival food. Dandan and her toddler-aged son were more into the food and games. Elsewhere, Dandan’s daughter was thrilled to get on ride after ride. “My daughter picked out some rides and is loving them.” People of the Park is a series of short stories, based on conversations with people we meet in San Francisco parks.   Coyote Pupping Season Coming to a Close We are approaching the tail end of summer and coyote pupping season, and soon many pups will be ready to leave their parents and strike out on their own. While coyotes are generally wary of humans, they are starting to explore the city for new dens. That means you might see more coyotes roaming your neighborhood.  To foster a safe coexistence between yourself and our natural neighbors, please take the following precautions: Keep dogs leashed and cats indoors. While rare, small dogs and cats can be viewed as prey. Keep both your pet and coyotes safe by staying vigilant. Do not approach coyotes, and instead admire them from a distance. If a coyote approaches you, pick up small children or pets, be loud and retreat slowly from the area. If you encounter a coyote or see someone putting out food for a coyote, report it to Animal Care and Control (ACC) at (415) 554-9400, or by email at ACC at sfgov.org. This helps us better understand and track coyote hotspots across the city. For more information, visit ACC's page on urban wildlife at the link below. Living with Urban Wildlife: Coyotes   Upcoming Events   Illuminate Live at the Golden Gate Bandshell on September 1, 2, 3 & 6 Kick off September and celebrate Labor Day at the Golden Gate Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive) with free concerts from Illuminate Live. On September 1, swing by Friday Happy Hour from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. featuring The Sistas: Yvonne Cobbs, Mary Williams and Robin Hodge Williams, and special guests Klassic Man and RichleyBent On Saturday, September 2, we have the Second Annual Golden Gate Park Surf Fest from noon to 4 p.m. featuring Pollo Del Mar, The Young Barons, and The New Shockwaves. For Reggae Sunday on September 3 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., we have Irie Dole and DJ Guid8nce with special guest Bayonics. Next week, we have Singer/Songwriter Wednesday on September 6 from 4 to 7 p.m. featuring Aidan Moore, Emergency Council, and The Bunkermen. For more information, click the link below. Golden Gate Bandshell   Only Loud Small Business Market at India Basin on September 2 Join the Only Loud Squad for its Small Business Market on Saturday, September 2 from noon to 5 p.m. at India Basin Shoreline Park (Hunters Point Boulevard and Hawes Street). Swing by for family friendly activities and live performances, as well as to shop with local small businesses from the Bayview-Hunters Point community. Learn more at the link below. Only Loud Squad   Pop-Up Beer & Wine Garden on the JFK Promenade September 2, 3 & 4 The pop-up beer and wine garden is on the promenade for three days this Labor Day weekend! It will be open from noon to 7 p.m. at the 14th Avenue East Meadow just west of the Rose Garden this weekend on September 2, 3 and 4. Swing by for drinks, music, food trucks, art, and the atmosphere of Golden Gate Park. Click the link below to see the drink menu, food truck and music lineup this weekend. Golden Mile Project   Union Square in Bloom Summer Concert on September 2 Check out the Union Square in Bloom Summer Music Series (333 Post Street) this Labor Day weekend on Saturday, September 2 from 1 to 4 p.m. for a free outdoor concert featuring the Brazilian performance group Bateria Batuci, as well as Pablo Riviera and Ami Molinelli. Drop by for some drinks, music and food at the square! For more information about this summer music series and other events in and around Union Square, click the link below. Union Square in Bloom   SF Shakespeare Festival in McLaren Park September 2, 3, 4, 9 & 10 Join the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival for Free Shakespeare in the Park at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater (40 John F. Shelley Drive) in McLaren Park. Performances will take place the next two weekends on September 2, 3 and 4, as well as 9 and 10 beginning at 2 p.m. This year's show is Cymbeline, Shakespeare’s epic romantic adventure, believed to be one of his final plays. It features a dazzling mix of comedy, tragedy, and fairy tale. Run time of the show is approximately 90 minutes and it’s performed without intermission. As the name implies, the shows are free – no ticket or reservation needed! For more information, click the link below.  Cymbeline   Golden Gate Park Band Concerts on September 3 & 4 Join the Golden Gate Park Band for some Labor Day weekend shows at the Golden Gate Bandshell! On Sunday, September 3 from 1 to 2:35 p.m., Associate Conductor German Gonzalez will lead a 17-piece big band for a dance party that features danceable swing, Latin, and rock and roll. It will feature guest vocalist Rubi Lee. Bring your dancing shoes and enjoy the groove! On Monday, September 4, Dr. Craig McKenzie will conduct a Labor Day concert featuring American favorites by Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, Morton Gould and more from 1 to 2:30 p.m. For more information, click the link below. Golden Gate Park Band   Nature Play Day at Dolores Park on September 4 This Labor Day, join Love Dolores and San Francisco Children and Nature for a free nature play day at Helen Diller Playground in Dolores Park on Monday, September 4 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Children will be able to run through an obstacle course; build with wood blocks; use binoculars and magnifying glasses to observe the park’s plants, birds, and insects; and more! There will also be Love Dolores items like utensil sets and water pouches that are great for taking to school. We look forward to seeing you at the park!   Glen Park Movie Nights Starting on September 5 Join our staff at Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) for movie nights this fall! The next movie night takes place on Tuesday, September 5 beginning at 6 p.m. and will feature the 1921 film, "The Three Musketeers." Come out to meet your neighbors and to enjoy these vintage films. For more information, contact the center at (415) 239-4007. Glen Park Rec Center   Chinatown Night Out at Portsmouth Square on September 6 Join the San Francisco Police Department and community partners for Chinatown Night Out on Wednesday, September 6 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Portsmouth Square (745 Kearny Street). Meet your neighbors and local SFPD officers at this free event while participating in a raffle, eating food, connecting with community resources and enjoying live entertainment. For more information, click the link below. Chinatown Night Out   Flower Piano at the San Francisco Botanical Garden September 8 to 12 The Gardens of Golden Gate Park and Sunset Piano announced the return of Flower Piano from September 8 to 12. It will transform the San Francisco Botanical Garden into the city’s own alfresco concert hall where everyone is invited to play and listen. There will be a special opening event on Thursday, September 7 in the new Flower Piano Lounge with Latin Grammy award-winning tango pianist, arranger, and composer Pablo Estigarribia accompanied by tango dancers. For more information and to purchase tickets, click the link below.  Flower Piano   US Open Watch Party & Community Tennis Day on September 9 Join the Tennis Coalition of San Francisco, Lifetime Activities, the San Francisco Parks Alliance and Rec and Park for the 5th Annual U.S. Open Watch Party and Community Tennis Day. It will take place on Saturday, September 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Goldman Tennis Center (Nancy Pelosi and Bowling Green drives) in Golden Gate Park. There will be many free and fun activities including a livestream of the women’s finals match, mini-courts for parents and kids to play tennis, challenge courts and drills for adults, and more. For more information and to register, click the link below. US Open Watch Party   Programming Soccer Fridays at Tenderloin Recreation Center through December 15 Join Street Soccer USA, the Tenderloin Community Benefit District and Rec and Park for Soccer Fridays at Tenderloin Recreation Center (570 Ellis Street) from 5 to 8 p.m. though December 15. This drop-in program is for middle and high school players to work on their game ahead of the 23/24 soccer season and to meet other players in their community. For more information, call the center at (415) 292-2162. Tenderloin Recreation Center   SF Public Library Programming in our Parks on August 31 & September 5 San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) is wrapping up its summer programming with our San Francisco Children and Nature team. Its last SummerMobile day will be at Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Crocker Amazon Clubhouse (Moscow Street and Italy Avenue) from 2 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 31. Its Swing into Stories program will continue on Tuesday, September 5 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Garfield Playground (3100 26th Streeet). For more information on San Francisco Children and Nature offerings with the SFPL, click the link below.  SF Children & Nature Upcoming Events   Last Jazz Thursday of the Summer at Muriel Leff Mini Park on August 31 Join the San Francisco Parks Alliance and Bay Area Jazz Mobile for its last Jazz Thursday on August 31 from 5 to 7 p.m. Swing by for free jazz after work, meet your neighbors, and enjoy the park's jazzy vibes this summer. For more information, click the link below. Jazz Thursdays at Muriel Leff   Adaptive Bike Program Serving People with Disabilities in our Parks San Francisco's free Adaptive Bike Program is at Golden Gate Park on Saturday, September 2. In partnership with the Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP) and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, we're providing free reservations for adaptive bikes at these two locations during the summer and fall months, with the program serving people with disabilities. The 2023 season runs through the end of October. The Golden Gate Park program will take place at the Music Concourse behind the Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive) and next to the new accessible parking lot on the first and third Saturdays of the month. The Great Highway program will take place at the end of Judah Street on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Reservations are required to participate. To reserve a bike, contact BORP Cycling Center at (510) 848-2930 or email cycling at borp.org by 5 p.m. on the Thursday before each program date. For more information, click the link below. JFK Promenade   Great Highway Park's Sundays at the Beach: Chair Yoga on September 3 Join the Friends of Great Highway Park for its Sundays at the Beach programming. These free activities will be hosted weekly and will include fun activities from tai chi to live music! The next event will be Chair Yoga on Sunday, September 3 at 2 p.m. at Irving Street and the Great Highway. For more information, click the link below. Great Highway Park   Baseball/Softball Academy Fall Programming Begins on September 23 The San Francisco Giants Community Fund and Rec and Park partnered this summer to launch their first ever baseball and softball academy. This free program is geared toward middle to high school level baseball and softball players, providing an opportunity for them to work on their game in preparation for their school season. The academy will continue this fall on Saturdays at Crocker Amazon Playground (799 Moscow Street) from September 23 to November 4. There will be one-hour practices, followed by a two-hour game. For more information and to register, click the link below. Baseball and Softball Academy   Civic Center Carnival Highlight Video Our Video of the Week comes from SFGovTV and highlights the opening day of the Civic Center Carnival last week. Thank you again to everyone who made this fun weekend possible. We look forward to seeing you at our next seasonal carnival event in October. Stay tuned!   San Francisco Recreation and Parks | sfrecpark.org         SF Recreation and Parks | McLaren Lodge-Golden Gate Park, 501 Stanyan Street, San Francisco , CA 94117 Unsubscribe house at digitalkingdom.org Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by rpdinfo at sfgov.org powered by Try email marketing for free today!
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