eNews from SF Recreation and Parks- November 29, 2023

[SF Recreation and Parks]

Updates, news and events in San Francisco parks   Highlights, News & Announcements   Annual Holiday Tree Lighting in Golden Gate Park on December 7 Rec and Park is hosting the 94th annual holiday tree lighting event along the JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park on Thursday, December 7, from 4 to 8 p.m., featuring carnival rides, arts and crafts, live entertainment, cookie decorating and, of course, the ceremonial lighting of Uncle John's tree, the historic 100-foot tall Monterey cypress outside McLaren Lodge (501 Stanyan Street). Additionally, Entwined: Elder Mother will debut in front of Peacock Meadow. Free bike parking will be provided by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. 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 more information, click the link below. Want to Volunteer for this event? If you're interested in volunteering for this event, there are two shifts from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. that will support set up/breakdown and activities such as cookie decorations, the hockey shootout and more. Sign up to volunteer at this link. Holiday Tree Lighting   2023 Greenager Class Graduates, Celebrates Accomplishments Congratulations to our 2023 Greenager class, which celebrated at the Randall Museum their accomplishments from the past year. These 24 graduates volunteered more than 2,500 hours to serve their communities, while going on fun adventures including kayaking, ropes course team building and more. Thank you for your contributions to our parks this past year and we look forward to your continued growth and leadership in our San Francisco community and beyond! Learn more about the program at the link below. Greenager Program   Activity and Class Schedule for Civic Center Plazas Be sure to check out all of the amazing drop-in activities and scheduled classes available at the newly renovated UN Plaza and surrounding Civic Center area. From drop-in soccer at Civic Center Plaza to the Heart of the City Farmers' Market at Fulton Plaza to exercise classes at UN Plaza's new fitness court, we have something for everyone to get out and play in San Francisco's core. See the updated workout class schedule from Rae Studios above, as well as the full amenity list and schedule at the link below. Civic Center Plazas   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   Two Accessible Picnic Tables Come to Alta Plaza Park We are pleased to share that two new accessible picnic tables have been installed in Alta Plaza Park adjacent to the children’s playground. Thank you to our partners, the Friends of Alta Plaza Park and the San Francisco Parks Alliance for their support of this project. A special shout out to Anita Denz from the Friends of Alta Plaza Park for her tireless effort to make this seating area a reality!  Thank you as well to the Schools of the Sacred Heart for their generous donation to fund the table project, as well as to Miller and Company for drafting the layout and accessible plan. Celebrate these improvements by coming out to the Friends of Alta Plaza Park's volunteer day on Saturday, December 9 from 10 a.m. to noon. For more information and to sign up, click the link below. Alta Plaza Volunteer Day   Richmond Playground Renovation Begins We're excited to share that the Richmond Playground renovation has begun! The project will include new furnishings, upgrades to the public restrooms, accessibility improvements, and a complete makeover of the children’s play area. Please note that the multi-use court will be closed for the duration of the project, with the tennis and basketball courts remaining open and accessible via the 19th Avenue entrance. The project is anticipated to be completed in summer 2024. The renovation of Richmond Playground is part of the Let’sPlaySF! Initiative, a partnership between the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and the San Francisco Parks Alliance to transform 13 timeworn play areas across the City. For more information, click the link below. Richmond Playground Project   Winter Closures in our Parks As we move into December, a number of parks have begun or will begin their annual winter closure in the near future: St. Mary's Dog Play Area - November 27 to late-February 2024 Upper Douglass Dog Play Area - November 27 to March 29, 2024 Holly Park Baseball Field - December 11 to February 16, 2024 Dolores Park North Field - December 18 to late-February 2024 These winter closures will help the turf at these parks to rest and recover ahead of spring 2024. Stay tuned for updates and additions to this list.   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. Learn more about the project and stay up to date at the link below. Gene Friend Rec Center Project   Plan for Renovation of Jackson Playground Moves Forward  A series of recent milestones has moved the $40 million renovation of Potrero Hill’s Jackson Park closer to the finish line: City Approval: A unanimous approval by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Nov. 7 of both the renovation plan and grants from the Friends of Jackson Playground.  Community Feedback: A Nov. 11 community meeting of more than 100 San Francisco residents who provided feedback on the approved design and proposed renaming of the park.  Power Station Foundation Donation: In early November, the Power Station Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant towards fulfilling the vision of the Jackson Park renovation. The Power Station Foundation is committed to supporting the development of parks and open space in Dogpatch and Potrero Hill that serve the broader San Francisco community. Jackson Playground, also known as Jackson Park, is one of the oldest playgrounds in the city. It was opened in 1912, and has historically served the neighborhood as an active recreation park. It is also used by San Francisco residents across the city, who come to the park to use the softball and baseball fields. The updated park will provide a safer, modern and more inclusive space in a part of San Francisco whose population has more than doubled in the past decade. The renovation will bring a modernized clubhouse, new playgrounds, safer ball fields, sports viewing areas, a dog play area, expanded community learning gardens, a multi-use outdoor ball court and plenty of open space. Founded in 2013, Friends of Jackson Park has become a driving force in fostering community engagement and ensuring the sustainability of the park. With a passion for environmental conservation and a commitment to creating recreational opportunities for all, the organization is dedicated to working with Potrero Hill and the surrounding neighborhoods, city agencies, local businesses, private organizations, and all park users to create an attractive and safe environment for play. Friends of Jackson Park invites the community to celebrate these milestones at a series of neighborhood events in 2024. At these events, San Francisco residents and park supporters can come together to reflect on past achievements and discuss future initiatives. For more information about Friends of Jackson Park and the upcoming events, click the link below. Friends of Jackson Park   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   Francisco Park Volunteer Day on December 2 Join the Francisco Park Conservancy for a volunteer day on Saturday, December 2 from 10 a.m. to noon. Come garden with your neighbors and help with planting and garden maintenance. Questions? Email volunteer at franciscopark.org or sign up at the link below. Francisco Park Volunteer Sign Up   San Francisco Bay Sox Girls Baseball Clinic on December 2 Join the San Francisco Bay Sox Girls Baseball program for free clinics to work on your game this offseason! The next will take place on Saturday, December 2 for girls of all skill levels at Bayview K.C. Jones Playground (3rd Street and Armstrong Avenue) from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for ages 7 to 10 and noon to 1:30 p.m. for ages 11 to 14. For more information and to register, click the link below. SF Bay Sox   Winter Crafts Day at the Randall Museum on December 2 Join the Randall Museum (199 Museum Way) for its Winter Crafts Day on Saturday, December 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature free admission and family entertainment, as well as the opportunity to make your own holiday gifts and decorations including winter wreaths, candle holders, candy houses, wooden trains, and more! For more information, click the link below! Winter Crafts Day   Park Padel Opening Weekend at Embarcadero Plaza on December 2 & 3 Come out for Park Padel's opening day at its new courts located in Embarcadero Plaza this weekend. 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. Beginner open play will take place on Saturday, December 2 from 2:30 to 5 p.m. while intermediate open play will take place on Sunday, December 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Additionally, free play with advanced reservation at parkpadel.com will happen Monday through Thursdays, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. starting next week. For more information and to purchase tickets, click the link below. Park Padel   Movie Night at Glen Park Recreation Center on December 5 Join our staff at Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) for classic movie nights! The next one will take place on Tuesday, December 5, beginning at 6 p.m. featuring the 1946 film "Angel on My Shoulder." Come out to meet your neighbors and to enjoy these vintage films. For more information, contact the center at (415) 239-4007.   Harvey Milk Center for the Arts Holiday Craft Fair on December 10 The Harvey Milk Center for the Arts (50 Scott Street) is hosting its annual holiday craft fair on Sunday, December 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will include numerous local artists offering their unique handmade holiday gifts for sale to the public. There will also be family friendly craft activities, a free photo booth, and hot apple cider. For more information, email HMCAevents at sfgov.org or call (415) 554-8742. Harvey Milk Center for the Arts   Sharon Art Studio's Winter Sale on December 10 The Friends of Sharon Art Studio invite you to do your holiday shopping with a number of local artists, whose handmade items include ceramics, jewelry, fine arts, textiles and more! The event will take place at the County Fair Building (1199 9th Avenue) on Sunday, December 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, click the link below. Winter Sale   Programming   Bean Sprout 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. For more information, click the link below. Bean Sprout Family Days   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 Louis Sutter Playground on December 2 Mobile Rec comes to Louis Sutter Playground (1150 Wayland Street) in McLaren Park on Saturday, December 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy free BMX biking, skateboarding and more. Equipment will be provided. Grind rails and catch some air this Saturday! For more information, click the link below. Mobile Rec   Sundays at the Beach on the Great Highway: Chair Yoga on December 3 Join the Friends of Great Highway Park for its Sundays at the Beach programming. These free activities from tai chi to live music, will be hosted four times a month. The next event will be chair yoga on Sunday, December 3, at Irving Street and the Great Highway at 2 p.m. For more information, click the link below. Great Highway Park   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. through 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.   Civic Center Tree Lighting on December 6 The annual Civic Center Plaza Tree Lighting takes place on Wednesday, December 6 from 4 to 7 p.m. It will feature live entertainment, a makers village, toy giveaway, and the lighting of Civic Center’s 50-foot noble fir by Mayor London Breed at 5:30 p.m. Our Video of the Week comes from the Civic Center Community Benefit District and features the highlights from last year's event. For more information, click the link below. Civic Center Tree Lighting   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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