Reminder: eNews from SF Recreation and Parks- March 5, 2025

[SF Recreation and Parks]

Email from SF Recreation and Parks Updates, news and events in San Francisco parks   Highlights, News & Announcements SF’s Newest Oceanfront Park to Open April 12—& the Public Will Name It A historic oceanfront park on San Francisco’s western edge will officially open on April 12. The new park, the largest pedestrianization project in California history, will give residents and visitors a place to walk, bike, relax, and connect with the coast like never before. At a press conference on the Great Highway last weekend, city leaders offered a sneak peek at planned park amenities, including vista points, gathering spaces, and public art. The 2-mile, approximately 50-acre park, will stretch from Lincoln Way to Sloat Boulevard. Additionally, San Franciscans have a once-in-a-generation chance to make history and leave their mark on the coast—by naming the city’s newest oceanfront park. The Great Park Naming Contest, which launched over the weekend, invites the community to dream up a name that reflects the spirit of this spectacular new space with categories including geography, nature, history and culture. For more information on the timeline for implementation, the park naming process, and the community vision behind this transformation, click the link below. Great Highway Project   Proposed Embarcadero Park Moves Forward After Board Approval San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved legislation creating a new civic partnership to transform Embarcadero Plaza into a revitalized and vibrant Downtown park. The legislation allows Rec and Park and the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) to enter into a partnership agreement with real estate developer BXP and the community benefit district Downtown SF Partnership to redesign and improve Embarcadero Plaza and the adjacent Sue Bierman Park. The public-private partnership calls for BXP Embarcadero Plaza LP, or BXPE, to spend approximately $2.5 million on a design, while Rec and Park and OEWD commit to work together toward securing $15 million to $20 million in public funding for the project. In addition, BXPE and Downtown SF Partnership commit to working to secure up to $10 million in private funding. Under the agreement, the partners will work together on a robust public outreach process to ensure the renovated plaza meets the needs of the City and the community. The existing playground at Sue Bierman Park will remain while new amenities could include a new fitness area, expanded seating areas and spaces for music or other entertainment. A first community meeting will take place this Thursday, March 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. at 4 Embarcadero Center to gather feedback from residents and key stakeholders. For more information, click the link below. Embarcadero Waterfront Park   Women's History Month: Bay Sox Battery Toes the Rubber for Lincoln In honor of Women's History Month, we're highlighting an all-girls pitcher and catcher battery that toed the rubber for Lincoln High School's junior varsity baseball team. Lola (pictured left) and Khloe (pictured right), both members of our Bay Sox Girls Baseball Program, combined to clear 2.1 scoreless innings in a recent game with Khloe tossing 15 of 18 pitches for strikes, striking out three batters. After finishing their work, the umpire snapped his own photo and stated “In 40 years of doing this, I’ve never seen an all-girl battery." This is not the first time either of these girls has done something historic in the game of baseball, as Lola played in the Pony Girls Baseball World Series last summer in the Philippines, while Khloe, who picked up the game just three years ago, played in the Baseball for All Nationals. Thank you both for your work in paving the way for girls to play America's pastime. Learn more about our Bay Sox Girls Baseball Program at the link below. Bay Sox Girls Baseball   Parks Reopen Ahead of Spring Season As we move from winter to spring, we're excited to share that a number of parks that have reopened after completing their winter closures including the Dolores Park north lawn, Holly Park ballfield and the Dog Play Areas at Esprit, Duboce, and St. Mary's parks. Never heard of Holly Park before? Check out the recent profile of the park from the San Francisco Chronicle at the link below. Holly Park   Recreation Facilities Closed from March 10 to 16 for Floor Refinishing Heads up! Mission Arts Dance Studio and the gymnasiums at Richmond and Upper Noe recreation centers will be closed from March 10 to 16 for floor refinishing works. Once complete, these facilities will be in peak condition for spring and summer.   Request for Proposal for Mission Creek Pavilion Calling all entrepreneurs to the Mission Creek Pavilion! Rec and Park is accepting proposals for the operations and management of the Mission Creek Pavilion (290 Channel Street), in the beautiful new 12-acre Mission Creek Park. The Pavilion is a modern facility with picturesque views of Mission Creek. With floor-ceiling windows, and two adjacent patios, this building can be used for a café or other recreational use. The building is currently available for events and rentals, but due to community interest in a permanent amenity, we are launching an RFP process for a long-term vendor. The request for proposal (RFP) is now open and proposals are due by Monday, May 12. Interested parties can learn more and apply to the RFP at this link. To learn more about all of our parks in Mission Bay, click the link below. Mission Bay Parks   Randolph & Bright Mini Park Outreach Events on March 8 & 18 Rec and Park will be hosting discussions about the planned improvements to Randolph and Bright Mini Park this March. The first will be an outreach table at OMI Cleanup Day on Saturday, March 8 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the park, as well as an online community meeting on Tuesday, March 18 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. During these sessions, two concept plans for the site, featuring a nature-forward play space for children, seating areas, upgraded irrigation, improved pathways, new plantings, and enhanced fencing, will be shared. Attend and give feedback on these designs for the new play space. For more information, click the link below. Randolph & Bright Mini Park   Summer Day Camp Registration Opens on March 15 Summer Day Camp registration begins on Saturday, March 15 at 10 a.m. From classics such as Silver Tree and Pine Lake to the new Margaret Hayward and Superstar Adventure summer camps, we have something for everyone! To view camp offerings, click this link. For more information, class catalogs, and how to register the day of, click the link below. Registration Page   Upcoming Events Illuminate Live at the Bandshell on March 7, 9 & 12 Join us for free concerts with Illuminate Live at the Golden Gate Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive) in Golden Gate Park. In honor of Women's History Month, March's concert slate features women or women-fronted musical groups. See the upcoming schedule below: March 7 | 4:30-7 p.m. Friday Happy Hour featuring the Tracy Cruz Band March 9 | 4:30-7:30 p.m. Reggae Sunday featuring DJ Ay Que Linda, DJ Guid8nce, DJ Sep, and Irie Dole March 12 | 4-7 p.m. Singer/Songwriter Wednesday featuring Aireene Espiritu, Rebecca Chapa, and Sara Rodenburg Golden Gate Bandshell Concerts   Archery Showdown at the County Fair Building on March 15 Join Rec and Park for its first indoor archery tournament at the County Fair Building (1199 9th Avenue) in Golden Gate Park on Saturday, March 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Inspired by the International Vegas Shoot tournament, this event for ages 8 and up welcomes archers of all levels for a thrilling competition. Adult distance will be at 20 yards on 40 centimeter target faces. Youth distance will be at 10 yards on 60 centimeter target faces. Bow categories include Olympic Recurve, Barebow Recurve, Traditional, Compound Freestyle, Compound Bowhunter, and Compound Barebow. Trophies will be awarded after the event. Participants must provide their own equipment. 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 and to register, click the link below. Additional questions? Email joe.arnaldo at sfgov.org. Archery Showdown   Harvey Milk Photo Center: "Salt of the Earth" Exhibit Opening March 15 Come out to the Harvey Milk Photo Center (50 Scott Street) for its "Salt of the Earth" exhibit opening on Saturday, March 15 from 2 to 5 p.m. 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. For more information and to RSVP, click the link below. Salt of the Earth   Young at Heart Intergenerational Program Returns March 24 Our Young at Heart intergenerational program, which takes place at the Golden Gate Park Senior Center (6101 Fulton Street), returns on Monday, March 24 from 10 to 10:40 a.m. This event will feature a story time and a rainbow making craft activity. These programs aim to bring children, families, and seniors together in a unique way to share stories, participate in activities, and more. For more information and to RSVP, call (415) 518-7725 or email katherine.villasin at sfgov.org.   The Kids' Games at Kezar Stadium on May 4 Registration is now open for our Annual Kids' Games at Kezar Stadium (670 Kezar Drive) on Sunday, May 4 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This will be a free Olympic-style track meet for kids ages 5 to 14. The meet will feature the 50-meter dash, 100-meter dash and long jump. For details and to register, click the link below. Kids' Games   Programming and Regular Series Dino Days at the California Academy of Sciences Come out to the California Academy of Sciences (55 Music Concourse Drive) in Golden Gate Park for Dino Days! Walk among prehistoric giants as 13 life-size animatronic dinosaurs take over both of the Academy’s outdoor gardens. Marvel at the different dinosaur species that ruled the Earth millions of years ago, from the massive and mighty Tyrannosaurus rex to the elaborately feathered Deinonychus and even a duck-billed Parasaurolophus with a nest of babies. For more information, click the link below. Dino Days   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 we have live music, a pirate party for kids, a cardio dance workout, chess and juggling lessons, crafts activities including an abstract dot collage and mural banner, an Irish heritage celebration, 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   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.     MRC Rebels Girls Basketball High School Tryout on March 7 The Mission Recreation Center (MRC) Rebels are hosting girls AAU basketball tryouts with the last high school tryout on March 7 at Mission Recreation Center (2450 Harrison Street) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Come out to hoop for this storied program! For more information and to register, click the link below. MRC Rebels   Mobile Rec at Hilltop Park on March 8 Mobile Rec comes to Hilltop Park (Newcomb Avenue and Whitney Young Circle) on Saturday, March 8 at from 11 a.m. to 2 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.   Sundays at the Beach on the Great Highway: Live Music on March 9 Join the Friends of Ocean Beach Park for its Sundays at the Beach programming. These free activities, from mat yoga to live music, will be hosted four times a month. The next program will be live music with DJ Juanchi on Sunday, March 9 from noon to 2 p.m. on the Great Highway at Judah Street. For more information, click the link below. Live Music   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 (Kezar and Martin Luther King Jr. drives) in Golden Gate Park on March 11. 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 Playground (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 March 11 Join our staff at Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) for classic movie nights! The next will take place on Tuesday, March 11 beginning at 6 p.m. and will feature the 1959 film "High School Big Shot." Come meet your neighbors and enjoy these vintage films. For more information, contact Glen Park Recreation Center at (415) 239-4007.   Video of the Week KTVU: Great Park Naming Contest Our Video of the Week comes from KTVU and highlights the press conference on the Great Highway from last weekend, where city leaders offered a sneak peek at planned park amenities, including vista points, gathering spaces, and public art. The video also highlights The Great Park Naming Contest, which invites community to dream up a name that reflects the spirit of this spectacular new space with categories including geography, nature, history and culture. To submit a name, as well as the reason behind it, click the link below. Great Park Naming Contest     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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