Reminder: eNews from SF Recreation and Parks- December 13, 2023

[SF Recreation and Parks]

Updates, news and events in San Francisco parks   Highlights, News & Announcements   94-Year Tradition Marks Start of Holiday Season in Golden Gate Park Thank you to Mayor London Breed, Senator Scott Wiener, and everyone who came out to help light the historic 135-year-old Monterey Cypress in front of McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park last week! The holiday tradition dates back to 1929, when the tree was illuminated for John McLaren’s 84th birthday. McLaren was the park’s first superintendent. Nearly 100 years later, the tree-lighting tradition lives on. This year’s event included for the first time ever the lighting of a Chanukkah menorah led by Rabbi Sydney Mintz of Congregation Emanu-El, and a Kwanzaa kinara, led by Glide Minister of Celebration Marvin K. White. The tree lighting coincided with the debut of the light display Entwined: Elder Mother along the JFK Promenade, in front of Peacock Meadow. The forest-like light display consists of whimsical metal sculptures with vibrant bulbs that change colors. The display was designed by local visual artist Charles Gadeken and made possible through a partnership with the San Francisco Parks Alliance. In addition, tree lighting guests were invited to check out the 30-minute winter light show at the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers, Photosynthesis. The free display consists of colorful lights projected onto the historic building and starts 30 minutes after sunset every night. For more information, click the link below. Holiday Tree Lighting in GGP   Fillmore Turk Mini Park Reopening Celebration on December 15 Join Rec and Park, CHARM SF and key community leaders for a holiday event celebrating the reopening of Fillmore Turk Mini Park (Fillmore and Turk streets) on Friday, December 15 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. The event will feature a toy giveaway, holiday cookies, hot cocoa, live performances, a tree giveaway and more. Afterwards, swing by the Second Annual Holiday Night Market and Block Party from 5 to 9 p.m. at Fillmore and O'Farrell streets that will feature live music, a kids wonderland, food trucks, vendors and more! For more information, click this link. The park reopens after a renovation that upgraded drainage, improved accessibility, installed a new lawn, and more. Learn about the project at the link below. Fillmore Turk Mini Park Project   Larsen Pickleball Courts Opening Celebration on December 18 We're excited to share that the Carl Larsen Park (19th Avenue and Vicente Street) pickleball courts will be opening on Monday, December 18 with a community celebration from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event will feature a ribbon cutting ceremony, brief remarks, refreshments, and pickleball lessons and play. This project converts the park's basketball and tennis court into eight new dedicated pickleball courts, while also installing new fencing and wind screens at the park. Learn more about the project at the link below. Pickleball   Summer Jobs for Teens: Apply Now for the Workreation Program Applications for summer 2024 Workreation positions are now being accepted. Over the past 60+ years, our Workreation program has provided young people with early work experience in our parks. Teens, 14-17, who either live or go to school in San Francisco, are eligible to apply for a Workreation job. Teens can apply for summer positions in day camps, rec centers or parks. The pay rate is currently $20.75/hr and teens can work up to 25 hours per week during the summer. The application period will close at earliest on Monday, January 8 at 5 p.m. For more information and to apply, click the link below. Curious about what its like to work in this program? Watch this video that highlights last summer's Workreation cohort at this link. Workreation   Register for the San Francisco Youth Baseball League's 2024 Season It's not too early to think about the 2024 San Francisco Youth Baseball League (SFYBL) season! The league includes baseball divisions for boys and girls, ages 4-14, with the season beginning March 2024. Register today at the link below. Questions? Contact the league coordinator at emmanuel.blackwell at sfgov.org. SFYBL Registration   Citywide Recreation Facility Closure on December 14 Heads up! All of our recreation facilities, including pools, recreation centers and clubhouses, will be closed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 14 for a staff training. They will reopen afterward, resuming their regular schedules.   Winter Class Registration Opens on December 16 The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department's winter class registration begins on Saturday, December 16 at 10 a.m. Classes range from dynamic duo clay explorers for tots to kung fu, 3D printing, senior knitting and crochet, and more! View the winter class catalog at this link. For more information and to register on December 16, click the link below. Class Registration   Gene Friend Rec Center Project: Last Day of Operations December 21 We're getting close to the start of the Gene Friend Recreation Center project, with the groundbreaking anticipated for early 2024. Please note that the last day of operations for the old recreation center will be on Thursday, December 21. The project will create a completely new modern building that will be significantly larger than the previous facility. It will feature a two-court gymnasium, exercise facilities, and two multipurpose rooms. Outdoor improvements will include a new playground, multi-court, plantings, and lighting. Learn more about the project and stay up to date at the link below. Gene Friend Rec Center Project   2024 Camp Mather Lottery Open Through January 5 The lottery for Camp Mather's 100th season is currently open and will run through Friday, January 5 of 2024. Family Camp will run in weeklong sessions from June 2 through August 17, with Inclusion Week from July 28 to August 3. To register for the lottery, you will need a Rec and Park account. If you don’t have an account, you can create one at sfrecpark.org/register or call us at (628) 652-2900 for assistance. Registrants will need to upload a verification of San Francisco residency after a lottery application has been submitted, with the deadline for this on January 5, 2024. For more information, including rules and regulations, as well as fees, click the link below. Camp Mather   Coyotes Exploring San Francisco Have you noticed more coyotes in your neighborhood? This time of year, yearlings tend to seek out new territories and can often be seen wandering our streets. As they explore, let's make sure we're coexisting harmoniously:   Leash Those Pups: If you're out with your four-legged friends, keep them on a leash when not in designated off-leash dog parks. It's not just a city law; it's a wildlife-friendly move. Lock It Up: Secure your trash cans and bring pet food inside to avoid tempting our coyote neighbors. A little extra precaution goes a long way. Respect Their Space: If you spot a coyote, maintain a safe distance. These creatures contribute to our city's ecosystem, so let's give them the space they need.    Have you had any coyote encounters lately? Please report sightings to San Francisco Animal Care and Control at acc at sfgov.org. For more information, click the link below. Coyotes in the City   Park Padel at Embarcadero Plaza Check out Park Padel's new one-year pop-up courts located in Embarcadero Plaza! Padel, frequently described as a cross between tennis and squash, is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Like pickleball, padel is easy to learn, social, and usually played as a doubles game on a court about a third of the size of a tennis court. However, padel courts are bounded by glass walls, allowing players to hit the ball off multiple surfaces, much like squash. Free play with advanced reservation takes place Monday through Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m. For more information and to make a reservation, click the link below. Park Padel   Holiday Ice Rink at Union Square The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink, presented by Kaiser Permanente, is back at Union Square (333 Post Street). Hours are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily through January 15, with the exception of closing at 9:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children 8 and under, with skate rental included in the cost of admission. All tickets must be purchased in advance and a portion of ticket proceeds benefits San Francisco Recreation and Parks. For more information and to purchase tickets, click the link below.  Union Square Ice Rink   Upcoming Events   SF Marina Small Craft Harbor Holiday Event on December 15 The San Francisco Marina Small Craft Harbor's (3950 Scott Street) lighted boat parade and holiday event returns on Friday, December 15 from 4 to 8 p.m. Come out for family fun at this event that will feature refreshments, live music, train rides and Santa. There will also be donation bins for the San Francisco Fire Department's annual toy drive so bring a new unwrapped toy. See you dockside!    6th Annual People's Holiday Tree Lighting on December 15 Join the Tenderloin People's Congress on Friday, December 15 for the Sixth Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at Boeddeker Park (246 Eddy Street) beginning at 5 p.m. There will be music, live entertainment, special guests and more. See you at the park!   Gardens of Golden Gate Park: Gifts at the Garden on December 16 and 17 Attend the Gardens of Golden Gate Park's Gifts at the Garden this weekend on December 16 and 17 at the County Fair Building (1199 9th Avenue) next to San Francisco Botanical Garden. This new gift market is a free-to-attend curated market of sustainable, local, and fair-trade gifts alongside exclusive Gardens of Golden Gate Park merchandise, books, and art. The market will host free activities on both days, a photo booth, and a donation-based gift wrapping station. It will take place from noon to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 16 and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 17. Garden members can shop early on Saturday, December 16 from 10 a.m. to noon. For more information, click the link below. Gifts at the Garden   Only Loud Small Business Market at India Basin on December 16 Join the Only Loud Squad and community partners for its small business market this Saturday, December 16 from 1 to 6 p.m. at India Basin Shoreline Park (Hunters Point Boulevard and Hawes Street). Get ahead on your holiday shopping by buying goods from local small businesses from the Bayview-Hunters Point community and indulge in food, sweets and more. This small business market is a partnership made possible through the India Basin Waterfront Park Equitable Development Plan. Outlined in the plan's Workforce and Business Development area of focus, the project partners aim to provide local businesses economic opportunity within the park, while also supporting Bayview-Hunters Point commercial corridors adjacent to and beyond the park. For more information, click the link below. Only Loud Holiday Shopping   120 Years of SFMTA Exhibit at Harvey Milk Photo Center on December 16 Check out the opening of the Harvey Milk Photo Center's 120 Years of San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) photo exhibit on Sautrday, December 16 from 2 to 5 p.m. Curated by Jeremy Menzies and Melissa Castro Keesor, this exhibit draws on the 120-year-old collections of photographs in the SFMTA photo department and archive. The collection is one of the largest single repositories of images focused on how people move around our city. Capturing everything from buses and streetcars to major historical events, the images inadvertently document the growth of San Francisco from a sandy backwater into a major metropolis. The exhibit will be on display through February 3, 2024. For more information, click the link below. 120 Years of SFMTA   3rd Annual Goldn Giveaway at Civic Center Plaza on December 18 Join Project Level, DB Nexus, Steezzy Cares and community partners for the 24KGoldn 3rd Annual Goldn Giveaway with Shoe Palace on Monday, December 18 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza (335 McAllister Street). It will feature a multitude of heartwarming activities and giveaways for attendees. There will be clothing, shoe, grocery and meal giveaways, as well as hot chocolate, a cookie station, arts and crafts, raffles and more. For more information and to RSVP, click the link below. Goldn Giveaway   India Basin Holiday in the Park Toy Giveaway on December 22 Join APRI, as well as India Basin Waterfront Park and community partners for the India Basin Holiday in the Park event on Friday, December 22 at India Basin Shoreline Park (Hunters Point Boulevard and Hawes Street) from 2 to 6 p.m. In addition to the free toy giveaway, the event will feature free holiday arts and crafts, hot chocolate, photobooth, and raffle prizes, as well as the Only Loud Squad small business market that features local small businesses to help you with some last minute holiday shopping! For more information, click the link below. Holiday in the Park   Lakeview/OMI Kwanzaa Celebration on December 29 Join the OMI Cultural Participation Project, Village Project, Rec and Park, and community partners for its Lakeview/OMI Kwanzaa celebration on Friday, December 29 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreation Center (650 Capitol Avenue). Kwanzaa, which is celebrated annually from December 26 through January 1, pays tribute to the rich cultural roots of Americans of African ancestry. The event will feature live performances, local vendors and cultural celebrations. For more information, call Monique Crowther at (415) 337-4710.   Programming   Bean Sprouts Family Days at the San Francisco Botanical Garden Come out to the San Francisco Botanical Garden's (1199 9th Avenue) Bean Sprout Family Days on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon, and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. Grab some tools at the garden's welcome station or bring your own to dig, water, pick, build and explore in the Children's Garden. All programs free of charge with no preregistration required. Please note that there will be special holiday hours for Friday, December 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the program's last day of 2023. The program will return in February 2024, though the Children's Garden will remain open during regular garden hours before then. For more information, click the link below. Bean Sprout Family Days   Soccer Fridays at Tenderloin Recreation Center through December 15 Join Street Soccer USA, the Tenderloin Community Benefit District and Rec and Park for the final Soccer Friday at Tenderloin Recreation Center (570 Ellis Street) from 5 to 8 p.m. on 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. Note that the outdoor court will have coed soccer, while the indoor gym will be reserved for Girls Night Fridays, featuring a number of recreational activities, including soccer. For more information, call the center at (415) 292-2162.   Drop-In Wheelchair Basketball at Glen Park Rec Center Glen Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) is hosting a free drop-in wheelchair basketball session every Saturday from 9 to 10:45 a.m. through January 6. All ages are welcome. You don't have to have a mobility disability to participate, but you must be able to maneuver a wheelchair. Wheelchairs are available (will fit people at least 5-feet tall). Let's get hooping!   Mobile Rec at Palega Recreation Center on December 16 Mobile Rec comes to Palega Recreation Center (500 Felton Street) on Saturday, December 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to free BMX biking and skateboarding, our rock wall will be available for aspiring climbers to reach new heights! Equipment will be provided. For more information, click the link below. Mobile Rec   Sundays at the Beach on the Great Highway: Tai Chi on December 17 Join the Friends of Great Highway Park for its Sundays at the Beach programming. These free activities from live music to chair yoga, will be hosted four times a month. The next event will be tai chi on Sunday, December 17 at the Great Highway and Judah Street at 10 a.m. For more information, click the link below. Great Highway Park   Movie Night at Glen Park Recreation Center on December 19 Join our staff at Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) for the final classic movie night of 2023! It will take place on Tuesday, December 19, beginning at 6 p.m. featuring the 1946 film "It's a Wonderful Life." Come out to meet your neighbors and to enjoy these vintage films. For more information, contact the center at (415) 239-4007.   Holiday Tree Lighting Countdown Our Video of the Week depicts the countdown to the 94th lighting of Uncle John's tree in Golden Gate Park! Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate this holiday tradition, and be sure to check it out, as well as Entwined: Elder Mother along the JFK Promenade and the Photosynthesis light show at the Conservatory of Flowers this December!   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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