eNews from SF Recreation and Parks- July 12, 2023

[SF Recreation and Parks]

Updates, news and events in San Francisco parks   Highlights, News & Announcements Remembering Rec and Park Commissioner Larry Griffin We were saddened to hear of the passing of our Recreation and Park Commissioner Laurence (Larry) Griffin. Larry spent his life dedicated to bettering San Francisco, working in both public service and with labor organizations. He was a native San Franciscan who grew up visiting our city’s parks, where some of his fondest childhood memories took place. On the commission, he helped break ground and reopen many parks, including Rossi Pool, where he learned to swim as child. Larry was sworn in as commissioner in 2021, and his leadership was invaluable. Through thoughtful and active listening and public engagement, he provided effective direction for our department, making our park system one of the best in the country. He truly loved parks and understood their importance in creating a more just society. Thank you, Larry, for all that you’ve done for our city. Your memory will be a blessing for us always. Our thoughts are with your family and closest friends during this difficult time.   Summer Play Day at Bayview/KC Jones Playground on July 19 Join us for our annual Summer Play Day on Wednesday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bayview/KC Jones Playground (3rd Street and Armstrong Avenue). The event will feature FREE, fun activities for kids including carnival rides, baseball, soccer, live entertainment, food, the mobile rec rock wall and more! For accommodations, please contact us at rpdaccess at sfgov.org or (415) 831-6834. Making your request at least 72 hours before the event will help ensure availability. For accessibility information, click the link below. Interested in volunteering for this event? Sign up at this link for jobs ranging from working the rock wall to throwing some batting practice on the baseball field. For more information, click the link below. Summer Play Day   Welcome Mission Bay Parks with a Celebration on July 20 On July 1, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department assumed the management and maintenance of a unique collection of park spaces in the Mission Bay neighborhood. Celebrate these newest additions to our park system on Thursday, July 20 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Mission Creek Pavilion (290 Channel Street) lawn. The event will feature refreshments, a nature play cart and a brief speaking program. Learn more about our newest park additions at the link below! Mission Bay Parks   Celebrate National Park and Recreation Month this July Happy National Park and Recreation Month! Each July since 1985, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) highlights the work of the nation’s 160,000 fulltime park and recreation professionals, along with hundreds of thousands of parttime and seasonal workers and volunteers. These dedicated employees and volunteers build strong, vibrant and resilient communities through maintaining local, state, and national parks and providing nature education, outdoor activities, arts and more for kids, adults and seniors.  This year's theme — “Where Community Grows” — celebrates the vital role park and recreation professionals play in bringing people together, providing essential services and fostering the growth of our communities. Check out events, programs and activities in our parks this July that bring community together at the link below. Park and Recreation Month   Opening Day for Pickleball at the Palace of Fine Arts Earlier this week, we officially welcomed pickleball to the Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco’s newest pickleball facility. Reserve a free spot from 9:30 to 11 a.m., Tuesday through Sunday via our free tennis and pickleball online reservation system at the link below. In addition, check out Dink SF's programming, including classes, clinics, and court reservations from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday at this link. Tennis and Pickleball Reservations   Goalpher Installed at Sunset Recreation Center Basketball Courts Ahead of the Women's World Cup this July, check out one of our newest park features at Sunset Recreation Center's outdoor basketball courts. Goalphers are a goal system placed under basketball hoops that recess flush into the ground when not in use, utilizing slip-resistant covers. They're easy for community members to pull up, and provide flexibility for play options in the park like soccer or hockey. When play is over, the goals disappear back into the ground for basketball. A special thanks to the Over Under Initiative (OUI) and DICK'S Sporting Goods who made this park improvement possible! For more information, visit OUI's website at the link below. Over Under Initiative   Mountain Lake Park Gets New Wooden Boardwalk and Improved Paths Looking for a new walk this Park and Recreation Month? Head over to Mountain Lake Park and check out its recently redone pathway, which includes a brand new lakeside wooden boardwalk, as well as redone concrete. Learn more about the park at the link below. Mountain Lake Park   Stern Grove Festival: RSVP for Patti Smith on July 13 Stern Grove Festival is in full swing for the summer! Check out the amazing lineup of free concerts, as well as the reservation schedule where you can RSVP for free tickets one month prior to the show. The next reservation date is this Thursday, July 13 at 2 p.m. for the show featuring Bob Mould and headliner Patti Smith on August 13. For more information and to RSVP Thursday, click the link below. Stern Grove Festival   Annual Outside Lands Community Meeting on July 13 Join Rec and Park, Another Planet Entertainment, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, San Francisco Police Department, and district supervisors for the annual Outside Lands Music Festival community meeting on Thursday, July 13 at 6 p.m. at the County Fair Building (1199 9th Avenue). Swing by to receive information and provide feedback for the upcoming festival taking place from August 11 to 13. We will also be providing information and taking feedback in regards to the proposed additional concerts at the Polo Fields.   San Francisco Park Histories: William Hammond Hall Rec and Park's William Hammond Hall Awards, which recognizes 12 of our staff and their excellent work in stewarding our city's parkland, is taking place on Thursday, July 13. Some of you might be wondering, who was William Hammond Hall? Our Historian-in-Residence Christopher Pollock has you covered:   Golden Gate Park was designed by 24-year-old civil engineer William Hammond Hall who grew up in Stockton. He was trained as a civil engineer and worked on many projects along the Pacific Coast. He went on to become the park's first superintendent overseeing its development starting in 1870. He guided a growing team of staff that started the transformation of the windswept rolling sand dunes into the city's premier place of recreation. He was later appointed by Governor William Irwin to be the first State Engineer and focused on the issues of creating water supplies for the entire state, a legacy that remains today.   Read Chris’s full profile on the “Father” of Golden Gate Park at the link below. William Hammond Hall: Father of Golden Gate Park   Coyote Pupping Season in our Parks As we hit the dog days of summer, it means that we're in the midst of coyote pupping season. While coyotes are generally wary of humans, parent coyotes may become territorial if you or your pet stumbles upon their den. To foster a safe coexistence between yourself and our natural neighbors, please take the following precautions: Never feed coyotes or any wildlife Keep dogs on leashes in our parks, unless in a designated off-leash dog play area Only admire coyotes from a distance If you encounter a coyote, slowly back away carrying any small children or pets. Do not run. You may also scare the coyote away by appearing large and making loud noises. 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. For more information, visit ACC's coyote page at the link below. Living with Urban Wildlife: Coyotes   Upcoming Events Jazz Thursdays at Muriel Leff Mini Park Beginning on July 13 Jazz Thursdays are returning to Muriel Leff Mini Park (420 7th Avenue) starting on Thursday, July 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. The park was renovated earlier this year and the San Francisco Parks Alliance, working with Bay Area Jazz Mobile, is bringing free live jazz back to the improved park every Thursday from July 13 to August 31. Swing by 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   San Francisco Bay Area Pro-Am at Kezar Pavilion on July 13 The legendary San Francisco Bay Area Pro-Am basketball league has returned to Kezar Pavilion (755 Stanyan Street). The league features many talented hoopers ranging from professionals to college players, with league alumni including Steph Curry and recently crowned NBA champion Aaron Gordon. Attend these FREE games throughout the summer with the next game on Thursday, July 13 beginning at 8 p.m. For more information including the full schedule, click the link below.  SF Bay Area Pro-Am Basketball League   Illuminate Live at the Golden Gate Bandshell July 14, 16 and 19 Celebrate National Park and Recreation Month at the Golden Gate Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive) with free concerts from Illuminate Live. On July 14, swing by Friday Happy Hour from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. featuring etaoin shrdlu. For Reggae Sunday on July 16 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., we have DJs Irie Dole and Guid8nce with special guest DJ Ren. Next week, we have Singer/Songwriter Wednesday on July 19 from 4 to 7 p.m. featuring JimBo Trout, Dave and Ray's Magic Record Shoppe, and The Jim Ocean Trio. For more information, click the link below. Golden Gate Bandshell   SFMYC Radio-Sailing Fun Day at Spreckels Lake on July 15 Chart a course for Spreckels Lake in Golden Gate Park this Saturday, July 15 from 1 to 3 p.m., when the San Francisco Model Yacht Club (SFMYC) will host a demonstration of radio controlled model sailboats and give the public an opportunity to take the helm. Star 45 boats, 45-inch-long semi-scale models of the legendary full-size International Star boat, will be featured in the race. In addition, be sure to check out the recent profile of the club from The Mercury News at the link below. Photo Credit: George Wilhelmsen SFMYC Keeping the Tradition Alive   Union Square in Bloom Summer Concert on July 15 Free outdoor concerts at Union Square (333 Post Street) have returned! Swing by on Saturday, July 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. for the second week of the Union Square in Bloom Summer Music Series, featuring the incredible headliner, Barry "The Fish" Melton. For more information about this summer music series and other events in and around Union Square, click the link below. Union Square in Bloom   San Francisco Derby at Kezar Stadium on July 15 The San Francisco Derby soccer match is coming to Kezar Stadium on Saturday, July 15 at 6 p.m. featuring local rivals SF City versus the SF Glens. The match will wrap up the USL League Two regular season. Come out and see these two clubs finish out their season strong! For more information and to purchase tickets, click the link below. San Francisco Derby   Sankofa Makers Market at India Basin Shoreline Park on July 16 The Sankofa Makers Market has returned to the shores of India Basin! Join project and community partners on Sunday, July 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the final event of this outdoor market series this summer at India Basin Shoreline Park (Hunters Point Boulevard and Hawes Street). It will feature local BIPOC-run businesses from the Bayview-Hunters Point community, as well as games, food, music and more! This program is an initiative of the India Basin Waterfront Park project's Equitable Development Plan, following the strategy to support Bayview-Hunters Point commercial corridors adjacent to and beyond the park. For more information, click the link below. Sankofa Makers Market   Golden Gate Park Band: Scottish Day with Dunsmuir Dancers on July 16 Join the Golden Gate Park Band for its Scottish Day show at the Golden Gate Bandshell on Sunday, July 16 from 1 to 2:35 p.m. It will feature the Dunsmuir Dancers with music conducted by Craig McKenzie. For more information, click the link below. Golden Gate Park Band   Community Social Doubles at Goldman Tennis Center on July 21 San Francisco tennis players, advanced beginners through intermediate, are invited to play in the Tennis Coalition of San Francisco's Friday evening social doubles series. Meet other players at your level for round-robin sets in an organized and fun environment! For more information and to register for the social on July 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Goldman Tennis Center (Nancy Pelosi and Bowling Green drives), click the link below. Community Social Doubles   Summer of Soccer Women's World Cup Viewings Begin July 21 Beginning this month, the City will welcome Summer of Soccer to downtown San Francisco, including partnering with Street Soccer USA (SSUSA) to host free public screenings of the Women’s World Cup in July and August. The Women’s World Cup Village kicks off at The Crossing at East Cut (200 Folsom Street) on Friday, July 21 when Team USA faces off against Vietnam, with an opening celebration, live music, food trucks, and family-friendly activities beginning at 4 p.m. For more information, including the full schedule, click the link below. World Cup SF   Summer Birding for Families in Golden Gate Park on July 22 San Francisco Nature Education (SFNE) is hosting summer bird walks in Golden Gate Park on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Its last bird walk of the summer will take place at the San Francisco Botanical Garden (1199 9th Avenue) on July 22. SFNE volunteers will lead these walks for children ages 6 to 12 and their parents or guardians. The walk is free for children and $15 for adults. For more information, click the link below. Summer Birding for Families   Native Plant and Butterfly Scavenger Hunt at Francisco Park on July 22 Come out to Francisco Park (Francisco and Larkin streets) on Saturday July 22 from noon to 1 p.m. for a native plant and species talk, followed by a kids scavenger hunt. This is a free event open to the community and all ages. It is presented by Rec and Park, the Francisco Park Conservancy, Nature in the City, the California Native Plant Society Yerba Buena Chapter, and Russian Hill Neighbors. We look forward to seeing you at the park!   Programming Pop-Up Beer and Wine Garden on the JFK Promenade this Weekend The pop-up beer and wine garden is on the promenade for the summer! It will be open from noon to 7 p.m. at the 14th Avenue East Meadow just west of the Rose Garden on Saturdays and Sundays. 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   Adaptive Bike Program Serving People with Disabilities in our Parks San Francisco's free Adaptive Bike Program is in Golden Gate Park this Saturday, July 15. 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   Steve McQueen and Martin Luther King Jr. Pool Ahead of Summer Play Day at Bayview/KC Jones Playground on Wednesday, July 19, we're sharing a bit of the history of Martin Luther King Jr. Pool. On May 25, 1968 actor Steve McQueen was part of the ceremonial groundbreaking for the first incarnation of Bayview (now KC Jones) Playground’s open-air Olympic-sized swimming pool. He presented Mayor Joseph L. Alioto a check for $25,000 from Warner Brothers-Seven Arts toward construction of the pool. McQueen recently finished filming what became the iconic action flick Bullitt. The pool and bathhouse opened on August 3, 1968 as the Martin Luther King Jr. Swimming Pool, commemorating the civil rights leader who was slain the previous April. Our Video of the Week comes from San Francisco State and features the groundbreaking ceremony for the pool, covered by KPIX, with McQueen and Alioto in attendance. Park histories are written by Rec and Parks' Historian-in-Residence Christopher Pollock. We look forward to sharing more of the rich histories of our parks throughout the summer.   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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