eNews from SF Recreation and Parks- April 2, 2025

[SF Recreation and Parks]

Email from SF Recreation and Parks Updates, news and events in San Francisco parks   Highlights, News & Announcements Buchanan Street Mall Project Breaks Ground Mayor Daniel Lurie, State Senator Scott Wiener, Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, San Francisco Public Works, and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, were joined by other city leaders and residents last week to break ground on the long-anticipated transformation of Buchanan Street Mall. More than a decade in the making, the project will turn the five-block corridor into a vibrant public space for neighborhood residents, strengthening community connections while honoring the Western Addition’s rich cultural heritage. A collaboration between Rec and Park, Trust for Public Land, Citizen Film, Success Centers, San Francisco Parks Alliance, and other local organizations, the renovation will include a Memory Walk spanning all five blocks, featuring decorative paving, monumental gateways, historical storytelling, and public art; improved lighting, safety features, and landscaping to enhance accessibility and security; new spaces for play, exercise, performances, and neighborhood events; kiosks for education and small business opportunities; and more. The $34 million investment is funded through a mix of federal, state, and local sources. Designed to promote intergenerational connections and healing, the renovated Buchanan Mall will reflect the resilience of a community that endured decades of redevelopment and disinvestment. The project’s vision was shaped through neighborhood feedback gathered in over 20 community events, design workshops, healing and listening circles, as well as more than 1,150 survey responses and 12 documentary videos. For more information, click the link below. Buchanan Street Mall    Golden Gate Park Turns 155 on April 4 Golden Gate Park turns 155 this Friday, April 4! With a beautiful weekend forecast, we invite you to come celebrate all the ways the park enriches our city. Check out some activity ideas here: See the cherry blossoms in bloom at the Japanese Tea Garden Enjoy a concert at the Golden Gate Bandshell with Illuminate Live Hike around the newly reinvigorated Middle Lake Discover all of the rare and exotic plants at the Conservatory of Flowers (Bonus - Picnic outside the historic building on the Conservatory Valley lawn) Take a spin at the Koret Children's Quarter carousel Stroll through the San Francisco Botanical Garden and explore its more than 8,000 plants Walk, bike or roll along the car-free JFK Promenade Play some pickup basketball or get in a workout at the Panhandle outdoor gym and courts Check out the tulips in bloom at the Queen Wilhelmina Garden and Dutch Windmill Time travel to a Bay Area Vintage Base Ball game at Big Rec Enjoy a boat ride at Blue Heron Lake or with the Model Yacht Club Visit the plethora of sports facilities in the park including archery, soccer, disc golf, horseshoe, handball/raquetball, lawn bowling, golf and petanque. Cast a line at Angler's Lodge with the Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club Reserve a court for a tennis or pickleball session at the Goldman Tennis Center Join the dance party at Skatin' Place, Lindy in the Park or the Senior Center Go for a run at the Kezar Stadium track Grind a rail at Zion Skate Plaza Hit the cycling track at the Polo Fields Take a class at Sharon Art Studio Learn at the California Academy of Sciences or appreciate art at the De Young Museum These are just a few of the many activities you can enjoy in Golden Gate Park. For the full guide, click the link below. Golden Gate Park   Night of Ideas & SPECTRA Debut on April 5 Night of Ideas returns to the Asian Art Museum and San Francisco Public Library, as well as Fulton Plaza (Fulton and Larkin streets), on Saturday, April 5 with the family portion taking place from 4 to 7 p.m., and the evening portion taking place from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. KQED, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco Public Library, Villa Albertine San Francisco, along with artistic curating partner Circuit Network and DJs provided by EMPIRE will provide an inspiring marathon of talks, performances, food, art, and collective imagination. In addition, SPECTRA, a stunning new LED art installation by Oakland-based artist Joshua Hubert GlowFidelity, will debut at this event. Spanning 1.6 acres, SPECTRA transforms the rooftops of the San Francisco Public Library and Asian Art Museum with 1,271 programmable LEDs, creating a breathtaking display of color and movement. The project is a partnership between Illuminate, Rec and Park, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, the Asian Art Museum, and the Civic Center Community Benefit District. For more information, click the link below. Photo Credit: Joshua Hubert Night of Ideas   R-Evolution Unveiling at Embarcadero Plaza on April 10 Rec and Park, The Sijbrandij Foundation and Building 180, are proud to unveil R-Evolution, a breathtaking 45-foot-tall sculpture by Marco Cochrane, at Embarcadero Plaza on Thursday, April 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. There will be music, live DJ performances organized by Opulent Temple, an artist market, photo opportunities with the sculpture, a full bar, food, and a lighting display by Illuminate and Mad Alchemy. The first 200 guests will receive an artist poster. For more information and to RSVP for the free event, click the link below. R-Evolution Unveiling   Great Highway Coastal Kick Off on April 12 Join Rec and Park and community partners for the official opening and unveiling of the new park at the former Great Highway. Our Coastal Kick Off event takes place on Saturday, April 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will be centered on the Great Highway and Noriega Street. The free, family-friendly event will feature cultural performances, live music, recreational activities, community resources, biking, scooters, and more! Join us and our partners to celebrate this transformational new park. For more information, click the link below. Great Highway Project   Spring Fling Community Celebration at Crocker Amazon Park on April 19 Rec and Park's seasonal party is coming to Crocker Amazon Park (799 Moscow Street) on Saturday, April 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Join us for Spring Fling, which will include live entertainment, carnival rides and games, egg hunt, arts and crafts and more. Food trucks will be available when you work up an appetite. Swing by for free springtime fun for the entire family! There will be free bike valet parking and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided at this event. 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. Spring Fling   Peace, Love and Volo Field Day Returns to Golden Gate Park on April 20 For the second consecutive year, Volo Sports will bring its annual Peace, Love and Volo Field Day to Golden Gate Park on Sunday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Robin Williams Meadow and Hippie Hill. The Peace, Love and Volo Field Day will gather sports enthusiasts from all over the Bay Area to celebrate the spirit of friendly competition, outdoor activity, and community engagement. In addition to volleyball and kickball tournaments and open play, the event will also feature activities such as spikeball and cornhole, food trucks, giveaways, and more. Participants are encouraged to wear their best sixties-themed costumes and tie-dye. All proceeds will go toward supporting the Volo Kids Foundation, which provides free sports programming to children in underserved areas of San Francisco. Last year, some 400 people participated in the inaugural Peace, Love and Volo Field Day. For more information and to sign up, click the link below. Volo Field Day   Earth Month in our Parks Happy Earth Month! Celebrate by getting outside in our parks with a number of activities and events in April. From community volunteer days to a Garden Resource Day in McLaren Park on April 5, check out our full list at the link below of what you can do to celebrate and steward our planet! Earth Month in our Parks   Urban Wellness Rankings: SF Tops List of America’s Healthiest Cities According WalletHub's annual “Healthiest & Unhealthiest Cities in America” study, San Francisco has claimed the top spot as the nation's healthiest metropolitan area. Highlighted in the study is San Francisco's commitment to accessible recreation with 100% of residents within reasonable proximity to locations for physical activity. San Francisco also ranks second nationally in per capita spending on parks and recreation, investing heavily in maintaining spaces where residents can stay active and connect with nature. Read more from Study Finds at the link below. Urban Wellness Rankings   New Bike Zone Comes to the Great Highway We're pumped for the new bike zone near the Great Highway and Sloat Boulevard. This all-ages park feature includes a pump track and skills area with rollers, jumps, and ramps. A special thanks to the San Francisco Urban Riders and Friends of Ocean Beach Park for making this possible. Bike over and grab some air this weekend! Learn more about park improvements on the Great Highway at the link below. Great Highway Project   Upper Douglass Dog Play Area Reopens With the start of spring, we're excited to share that Upper Douglass Dog Play Area has reopened after completing its winter closure. Be sure to bring your pooches and pups out to the park this weekend. Learn more about the dog play area at the link below. Upper Douglass Dog Play Area   Bernal Heights Recreation Center Community Meeting on April 5 Join Rec and Park and Greening Projects for a community meeting to discuss the renovation of the middle and lower yards at the Bernal Heights Recreation Center (500 Moultrie Street) on Saturday, April 5, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The project aims to regrade and repave the middle and lower yards; provide more green space, seating, and shade; and ensure that current uses like ball play, skateboarding, and bike riding are accommodated. During this community meeting, the final concept plan will be presented, as well as next steps. For more information, click the link below. Greening Projects   Randolph & Bright Mini Park Design Survey Closes April 8 Rec and Park invites your feedback on the planned improvements to Randolph and Bright Mini Park, which will include a nature-forward play space for children, seating areas, upgraded irrigation, improved pathways, new plantings, and enhanced fencing. Help shape the future of this park by taking our second design survey, which has been extended to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8. You can grab and submit paper copies of the survey at Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreation Center (650 Capitol Avenue) or take it at the link below. Randolph & Bright Survey   Upcoming Events Illuminate Live at the Bandshell on April 4, 5, 6 & 9 Join us for free concerts with Illuminate Live at the Golden Gate Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive) in Golden Gate Park. April 4 | 4:30-7 p.m. Friday Happy Hour featuring the Dave Rocha Quintet April 5 | Noon-4 p.m. 2nd Annual Tribute To The Past featuring Burning Down The House and Radio Radio April 6 | 4:30-7:30 p.m. Reggae Sunday featuring DJ Guid8nce, DJ Sep, Irie Dole, and Ted Shred and Oh Snap! April 9 | Noon-4 p.m. Singer/Songwriter Wednesday featuring Donovan Plant, Emily Zisman, and Michael Vincent and U No Who Golden Gate Bandshell Concerts   Garden Resource Day in McLaren Park on April 5 Join us for our next garden resource day on Saturday, April 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be free compost, mulch, plant starts and seeds, as well as a tool care station. Compost will be limited to five 5-gallon buckets per household– bring your own buckets. Additionally, volunteers from the UC Master Gardener Program of San Mateo and San Francisco counties will be on site to answer your gardening questions! These events will take place at the overflow parking lot at Gleneagles Golf Course (2100 Sunnydale Avenue), adjacent to the McLaren Bike Park. For more information, click the link below. Urban Agriculture   Tenderloin Eid Street Fair on April 5 Join community partners for a collaborative Eid Celebration on Saturday, April 5 from noon to 5 p.m. It will take place on Jones Street between Eddy Street and Golden Gate Avenue. Enjoy free kids activities and performances, including a special appearance by MC Abdul. Shop at a vibrant bazaar featuring unique goods and pop-up food stalls from neighborhood-based businesses representing the diversity of the Muslim community who call Tenderloin home. Additionally, there will be a basketball clinic with the Golden State Warriors from noon to 1 p.m. at Boeddeker Park for youth ages 9 to 18. RSVP for the clinic at this link. For more information, click here. Tenderloin Eid Street Fair   "Salt of the Earth" Artist Talk at Harvey Milk Photo Center April 5 Come out to the Harvey Milk Photo Center (50 Scott Street) for its "Salt of the Earth" exhibit, which is on display through Saturday, April 19. Artist Barbara Boissevain is a contemporary visual artist and photographer whose work focuses on the impact of human activity on the environment."Salt of the Earth" is Boissevain’s ode to the San Francisco Bay, depicting the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, and telling a rare and hopeful story of combatting the effects of human-led climate change. There will be an artist talk and book signing at the center on Saturday, April 5 beginning at 2 p.m. For more information and to RSVP, click the link below. Salt of the Earth   Respecting Your Garden Weeds Workshop at Alemany Farm on April 6 Join the Friends of Alemany Farm (700 Alemany Boulevard) for a garden weeds workshop on Sunday, April 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the farm. Learn what exactly a weed is and how to identify them in your own garden, as well as how to effectively control weeds in a safe manner. This workshop will be geared towards regional, as well as California weed species. For more information and to register, click the link below. Weeds Workshop   Cal Academy Family Nature Club at the SF Botanical Garden on April 9 Join the California Academy of Sciences and Family Nature Club for upcoming park events, with the next at the San Francisco Botanical Garden (1199 9th Avenue) on Wednesday, April 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. Come out for this free family friendly event, where you can explore, learn and grow together with fun outdoor adventures and hands-on science for the whole family. For more information and to RSVP, click the link below. Family Nature Club   Programming and Regular Series Activity & Class Schedule for Civic Center Plazas Check out all of the amazing drop-in activities and scheduled classes available at the reimagined UN Plaza and surrounding Civic Center area. From the Heart of the City Farmers' Market at Fulton Plaza to free skateboarding lessons at UN Plaza, we have something for everyone to get out and play in San Francisco's core. See the workout class schedule from Rae Studios at UN Plaza, as well as the full amenity list and schedule at the link below. Civic Center Plazas   Programming at Union Square in 2025 Union Square Plaza (333 Post Street) is your 2025 destination for fun, free outdoor programming. Come out to the park Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a kids zone, giant games, recess cart, and reading and chess pavilion or break a sweat, listen to music or discover a new hobby. This week will have live music, cardio dance workouts, chess and juggling lessons, crafts activities including tulip themed mixed media, and more! This free programming is made possible through a grant from the Office of Mayor Daniel Lurie and San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development and Biederman Redevelopment Ventures. For more information and to view the programming schedule at the Square, click the link below. Union Square Programming   Bean Sprouts Family Days at the San Francisco Botanical Garden Come dig, smell, taste, build, and explore with the San Francisco Botanical Garden on Bean Sprouts Family Days presented by Kaiser Permanente. Come out for family fun in the Children’s Garden on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon and the first Saturdays of each month from noon to 4 p.m. Programs are free with admission to the garden with no pre-registration required. For more information, click the link below. Bean Sprouts Family Days   Mini Indoor Archery Range at Mission Recreation Center Check out the brand new mini indoor archery range at Mission Recreation Center (2450 Harrison Street). It's open on Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m. through May 15. There will be paper and 3D targets with all bow and arrow types welcome. Equipment for loan will also be available. For more information and to sign up for a session, click the link below. Archery Programming   McLaren Park Ropes Course Adventures on Saturdays Beginning April 5 Check out the McLaren Park Ropes Course on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting on April 5. Located among the trees on the corner of Mansell Street and Visitacion Avenue, experience a unique outdoor activity that encourages teamwork and trust among friends and family. The course consists of low and high elements, with helmets and harnesses provided. For more information and to sign up for a session, click the link below. McLaren Park Ropes Course   Mobile Rec at Sunset Recreation Center on April 5 Mobile Rec comes to Sunset Recreation Center (2201 Lawton Street) on Saturday, April 5 at from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy free BMX biking, skateboarding and more. Skateboarding equipment will be provided. For more information, click the link below. Mobile Rec   Drop-In Wheelchair Basketball at Glen Park Recreation Center Glen Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) is hosting a free drop-in wheelchair basketball session every Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. in partnership with BORP Adaptive Sports and Recreation. 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 for participants at least 5 feet tall. Let's get hooping! Additional questions? Contact Glen Park Recreation Center at (415) 239-4007.   Swing into Stories in San Francisco Parks The San Francisco Public Library's (SFPL) YouthMobile is coming to parks around the city. Movement and play are key to fostering literacy and a love of reading and the SFPL is bringing stories and song to San Francisco's parks through its Swing into Stories program. It takes place at a different park each Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to noon (Storytime begins at 10:30 a.m.) with the next at Koret Playground in Golden Gate Park (Kezar and MLK drives) by the carousel on April 8. See the monthly schedule here: 1st Tuesday of the month Garfield Playground (Treat and 26th streets) 2nd Tuesday of the month Koret Playground in Golden Gate Park (by the carousel) 3rd Tuesday of the month Hilltop Park (Newcomb Avenue and Whitney Young Circle) 4th Tuesday of the month Redwood Grove Playground in McLaren Park (200 John F. Shelly Drive) Join us for a high-energy story time in our beautiful outdoors!  The YouthMobile offers a diverse selection of children’s library materials available for checkout with an SFPL library card. From the city’s only kid-focused bookmobile, staff circulates materials, creates library cards and provides the public with information about library services and programs. For more information and the Swing into Stories schedule, click the link below.  Swing into Stories   Movie Night at Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center on April 8 Join our staff at Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) for classic movie nights! The next will take place on Tuesday, April 8 beginning at 6 p.m. and will feature the 1943 film "The Black Raven." Come meet your neighbors and enjoy these vintage films. For more information, contact Glen Park Recreation Center at (415) 239-4007.   Tot Futsal at Moscone Rec Center Begins on April 10 Come out for Tot Futsal classes taking place at a number of recreation centers citywide, including Moscone (1800 Chestnut Street). These classes aim to introduce participants to the fundamentals of soccer in a safe, fun, and positive environment. All classes will be held inside the gymnasium. For more information and to register, click the link below. Tot Futsal   Heron Watch at Blue Heron Lake in Golden Gate Park Starting April 12 San Francisco Nature Education is hosting heron watch events at Blue Heron Lake (50 Blue Heron Lake Drive) in Golden Gate Park throughout the spring nesting season in April and May. They take place on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the first on Saturday, April 12. Bring binoculars if you have them. For more information and to register, click the link below. Heron Watch   California Academy of Sciences to Host First Ever Summer Camp For the first time, the California Academy of Sciences (55 Music Concourse Drive) is offering fun and exciting week-long summer camps for children ages 9 to 11. Taking place from July 14 through August 8, these weekly camps will feature a different future-focused theme with hands-on, experiential, and play-based activities for children as they reimagine ways to protect, restore, and enhance nature throughout San Francisco. For more information and to sign up, click the link below. Cal Academy Camp   Video of the Week SFGovTV: Golden Gate Park Adventures Ahead of Golden Gate Park's birthday, our Video of the Week comes from SFGovTV and features its Golden Gate Adventures series! Join host Michael Baltazar as he dives headfirst into the wonders of Golden Gate Park, including the Golden Gate Park Archery Range, Blue Heron Lake, and Skatin' Place. Learn more about the places visited in this video at the link below. Golden Gate Park     SF Rec and Park Job Openings Get Your SF Rec and Park Swag Here Volunteer with SF Rec and Park   San Francisco Recreation and Parks | sfrecpark.org         SF Recreation and Parks | McLaren Lodge-Golden Gate Park 501 Stanyan Street | San Francisco , CA 94117 US Unsubscribe | Constant Contact Data Notice
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