eNews from SF Recreation and Parks- January 15, 2025

[SF Recreation and Parks]

Email from SF Recreation and Parks Updates, news and events in San Francisco parks   Highlights, News & Announcements 2024 Rec & Park Community Report Highlights Transformative Year As we enter 2025, we’re excited to share highlights from 2024 through our annual community report. 2024 was a transformative year for our parks, with key achievements including the opening of India Basin Waterfront Park at 900 Innes Avenue; the completion of renovations at Middle Lake in Golden Gate Park, Lake Merced trails, and Richmond Playground; and the groundbreaking of projects for Gene Friend Recreation Center, South Sunset Playground Clubhouse, and Japantown Peace Plaza. We also moved closer to transforming the Great Highway into a permanent park. Programmatically, 320,000 people visited the revitalized UN Plaza, our parks hosted a dizzying number of concerts and performances citywide, we celebrated 100 years of Camp Mather, the San Francisco Bay Sox Girls Baseball Program won another national championship, daily public swimming returned to our pools, 11,720 volunteers supported our parks, and we distributed 4,200 plant starts and 600 cubic yards of compost through Garden Resource Days. Read the full report at the link below. Community Report   Bay FC Unveils Soccer Mini-Pitch at Crocker Amazon Playground Today, Bay FC, Sixth Street, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, and Rec and Park, along with Mayor Daniel Lurie, Supervisors Shamann Walton and Chyanne Chen, community members, and youth soccer players, kicked off a new era of soccer at Crocker Amazon Playground with the unveiling the first-ever Bay FC-themed mini-pitch in the Bay Area. The opening of this new park feature was celebrated with a ceremonial first kick, followed by a youth clinic hosted by Bay FC players Tess Boade and Maddie Moreau. The mini-pitch, including both materials and installation, were donated to the City through a partnership between the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Bay FC, and Sixth Street Foundation. The new mini-pitch, measuring 50 feet by 84 feet, is a customized, hard-court surface that transforms an underused area into a safe and accessible soccer space for children and adults to learn and play. It incorporates the Club’s Bay Blue and Fog Gray colorways, prominently featuring the Bay FC logo in the middle of the pitch. It is available for play on a first-come-first-serve basis during regular park hours. Bay Football Club (Bay FC) is the new women's professional soccer franchise representing the Bay Area and the 14th team to join the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).They finished their inaugural season with 11 wins – securing the most regular season victories ever by an expansion team, including record-setting six wins on the road, and clinched a playoff spot, becoming only the second team in NWSL history to qualify. The installation is part of the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Safe Places to Play initiative, which aims to install 1,000 soccer mini-pitches throughout the country by 2026, ensuring that children in underserved communities have access to secure and reliable spaces for soccer. For more information, click the link below. Bay FC Mini-Pitch   Rec & Park Recognizes Community & Staff at MLK Luncheon Rec and Park, city officials, and community members celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the values he embodied at our 41st Annual MLK Luncheon earlier today. At the event, Rec and Park gave out the Keeping the Dream Alive Awards to honor those who embody Dr. King's legacy. The community award went to the India Basin Waterfront Park Equitable Development Plan (EDP) Leadership Committee.  On October 19, 2024, we celebrated the opening of the first phase of India Basin Waterfront Park, a once-in-a generation environmental justice project that connects Bayview-Hunters Point with a healthy shoreline and provides the community with recreation, workforce development and climate resilience. India Basin Waterfront Park is one of the few parks in the nation to be guided by an Equitable Development Plan —a groundbreaking, community-led process that ensures the park reflects the identity, culture, and needs of the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood. The EDP Leadership Committee is a group of passionate and dedicated residents of Bayview-Hunters Point who worked tirelessly to craft a vision for this park that uplifts the community far beyond its boundaries. We are grateful for their work and look forward to their continued guidance.  Rec and Park also gives out an internal Keeping the Dream Alive award, and the department's Partnerships Division received this honor. Philanthropy is vital to our department and behind the scenes, this team has secured funding and support for our world class parks, playgrounds and recreation programs. Their efforts have been instrumental in initiatives like LetsPlaySF!, the Golden Gate Tennis Center renovation, India Basin Waterfront Park, and our new Bay FC soccer mini-pitch.  We want to express our gratitude to the awardees for their work to lift up all those who have been overlooked and for honoring Dr. King's legacy.   MLK Day of Service: Volunteer in our Parks on January 18 Interested in giving back this New Year? Volunteer with us in our parks on Saturday, January 18 in honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and day of service. Park sites range from the Bison Paddock in Golden Gate Park to the nature exploration area in Heron's Head Park. For the full list of volunteer events this Saturday and to sign up, click the link below. Volunteer Calendar   India Basin Waterfront Park's RecFest on January 19 Join India Basin Waterfront Park (900 Innes Avenue) and community partners for RecFest on Sunday, January 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be free food, a DJ, prizes, a fitness station, recreational activities and contests, and more. Come out for a day of community during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend! For more information, click the link below. India Basin Waterfront Park   Last Day of the Union Square Ice Rink on January 20 It's the last full week of the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square (333 Post Street). Presented by Kaiser Permanente, be sure to hit the ice before its last day on Monday, January 20. For more information, click the link below. Union Square Ice Rink   Dedicated Timeslots for Tennis & Pickleball Courts to Roll Out January 21 Rec and Park, in partnership with Rec Technologies, is thrilled to share an exciting improvement to the tennis and pickleball court reservation system. Starting on Tuesday, January 21, a dedicated timeslot system will debut at Balboa, Joe DiMaggio, Mountain Lake, and Sunset courts. This highly requested feature ensures more efficient scheduling, reducing wasted gaps and giving the community more opportunities to play. The overall reservable hours remain the same, but players can now reserve courts for either 90-minute or 60-minute sessions at fixed times. This update is designed to simplify the booking experience and optimize court use, making it easier for everyone to enjoy their favorite sports. Reserve your spot today at the link below. Court Reservations   Community Meeting to Rename Waller Street Skate Park on January 18 Join community partners for a meeting to consider renaming Waller Skate Plaza in honor of Zion Williams-Gaines on Saturday, January 18 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Stanyan Park Hotel Cafe (750 Stanyan Street). Zion was a legendary skateboarder who lost his vision in 2021 to gun violence, but had relearned his daredevil tricks. A fixture at San Francisco skateparks, he was integral as an advocate in pushing for recent improvements to Waller Street Skatepark. Read more about Zion's life from the San Francisco Chronicle at the link below. Remembering Zion   Let'sPlaySF! Initiative Survey Open through January 31 The Let’sPlaySF! Initiative, a partnership between Rec and Park and the San Francisco Parks Alliance to transform 13 of San Francisco’s most timeworn playgrounds into dynamic hubs for creativity and family life, is nearing its goal. The initiative, funded by the 2012 Park Bond, San Francisco Parks Alliance, and philanthropic partners, has renovated 11 playgrounds, with two more transformations on the way. The renovated playgrounds have already become cherished community spaces. Please take this survey to share your feedback on how Let’sPlaySF! playgrounds have impacted your community. The deadline for feedback is on Friday, January 31, 2025. For more information, click the link below. Let’sPlaySF! Initiative Survey   Upcoming Events Ikebana International 65th Anniversary Celebration on January 17 Join Ikebana International's San Francisco Bay Area Chapter for its 65th anniversary celebration on Friday, January 17 from noon to 2 p.m. in the County Fair Building (1199 9th Avenue) in Golden Gate Park. It will feature the school's advisors, who are teachers that have long inspired and mentored this chapter's Ikebana journey. Ikebana, or Japanese flower arrangement, is an ancient Asian art vibrantly practiced in contemporary interpretations by this organization's members. For more information, click the link below. Ikebana International   Girls Sports Extravaganza at Kezar Sports Complex on January 25 Register for our Girls Sports Extravaganza on Saturday, January 25 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Kezar Sports Complex (755 Stanyan Street). This annual event provides an opportunity for girls ages 6 to 12 to learn new sports such as archery, skateboarding, and parkour; make friends, and build confidence. For more information and to register, call (628) 652-2900 or click the link below. Girls Sports Extravaganza   Harvey Milk Photo Center: "Oceano" Exhibit Opening on January 25 Join the Harvey Milk Photo Center (50 Scott Street) for the opening reception of "Oceano - for Seven Generations" on Saturday, January 25, from 2 to 5 p.m. This exhibit by Lana Z Caplan explores the history of the Oceano Dunes, examining the lives of its successive inhabitants and the evolution of photographic history and convention. Through co-constructed, performative portraits, Caplan contrasts the historical occupants—including the Indigenous yak tityu tityu yak tiłhini (ytt) Northern Chumash Tribe, Cecil B. DeMille’s 1923 ancient Egyptian film set, the Modernists, and a colony of Depression-era artist and mystic squatters—with the present-day all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riding community, highlighting the ongoing public health crisis affecting neighboring areas. The exhibit will run through Saturday, March 1. For more information, click the link below. HMCA: Oceano   YPTMTC's "Once Upon a Mattress" Opening Night on January 31 Join Young People's Teen Musical Theatre Company's (YPTMTC) for its production of "Once Upon a Mattress." This production celebrates YPTMTC's 40th Anniversary by reviving this classic—the first musical the company performed in 1985. In a kingdom where no one can marry until Prince Dauntless finds a bride, the quirky swamp princess Winnifred faces the Queen's impossible Sensitivity Test, hoping to secure her prince and help another couple reach the altar. This lively retelling of The Princess and the Pea is filled with humor, romance, and catchy songs. The show will run at the Randall Museum (199 Museum Way) over two weekends: January 31 to February 2 and February 7 to 9, with Friday and Saturday shows beginning at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday shows beginning at 2 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, click the link below. Once Upon a Mattress   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   Chess Club Thursdays in Glen Park Join the San Francisco Public Library and Rec and Park for chess club Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. Sessions take place at the Glen Park Branch Library (2835 Diamond Street) on the first, third and fifth Thursdays of the month, while sessions on the second and fourth Thursdays take place at Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street). These sessions are for players of all skill levels including kids (6 and older), teens and adults. Improve your memory, concentration and logical thinking skills through this time-honored game! For more information, contact Glen Park Recreation Center at (415) 239-4007.     Mobile Rec at Joe DiMaggio Playground on January 18 Mobile Rec comes to Joe DiMaggio Playground (651 Lombard Street) on Saturday, January 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy free BMX biking, skateboarding and more. 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 (will fit people at least 5-feet tall). Let's get hooping! Additional questions? Contact Glen Park Recreation Center at (415) 239-4007.   Sundays at the Beach on the Great Highway: Tai Chi on January 19 Join the Friends of Ocean Beach Park for its Sundays at the Beach programming. These free activities, from live music to mat yoga, will be hosted four times a month. The next program will be Tai Chi on Sunday, January 19 from 10 to 11 a.m. on the Great Highway at Judah Street. For more information, click the link below. Tai Chi   Movie Night at Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center on January 21 Join our staff at Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) for classic movie nights! The next will take place on Tuesday, January 21, beginning at 6 p.m. and will feature the 1942 film "Bowery at Midnight." Come meet your neighbors and enjoy these vintage films. For more information, contact Glen Park Recreation Center at (415) 239-4007.   Winter Rock Climbing Classes Beginning on February 12 Come out to Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) for rock climbing classes for those 18 and older beginning on Wednesday, February 12 at 6 p.m. Learn the basic skills and fundamentals of indoor rock climbing including techniques, knot tying, how to secure your harness and more. For more information and to sign up, click the link below. Rock Climbing 101   Girls Softball League Beginning on February 25 Come out for girls softball this spring beginning on February 25! Divisions will be split into ages 10 and under and 14 and under, with one practice a week and games to be held on Saturdays at Rossi Playground (600 Arguello Boulevard). Beginners are welcome and entry includes uniform and coaching. For more information and to register, click the link below.  Additional questions? Email rachelle.henley at sfgov.org. Girls Softball League     Video of the Week First Kick at Crocker Amazon Soccer Mini-Pitch Our Video of the Week features the ceremonial first kick to open a new era of soccer at Crocker Amazon Playground with the first ever Bay FC themed mini-pitch in the Bay Area. It is available for play on a first-come-first-serve basis during regular park hours. Utilize this goal-den opportunity to tackle your soccer goals in 2025 and work on your game! Learn more about the mini-pitch at the link below. Bay FC Mini-Pitch     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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