Park Improvements
Capital and Planning Division
Our Capital and Planning Division oversees a large portfolio of park renovations, developments, and acquisitions. Together with community members and park advocates, our Capital and Planning team strives to create and renovate parks that solve social problems and enhance community resilience. The Capital and Planning Division was created in 2005 in response to the passage of the 2000 Neighborhood Parks Bond. Soon after the creation of the Division, the Mayor and Board of Supervisors adopted RPD’s first ten-year Capital Plan to assess the City’s future infrastructure needs, the investment required to meet them, and the plan of finance. The Capital Plan is now updated and reissued every two years. It is used to prioritize critical capital projects that impact public safety. It places a strong emphasis on accountability, transparency, and meeting the highest level of fiscal responsibility.
Project Updates
If you would like to sign-up for Project Update blog posts like the ones below, click here , scroll down to the News Flash section, and then select “RPD Park Improvements | All Project Updates” to receive updates on all our active projects, or pick-and-choose your blog subscriptions by project name. You’ll receive an email that includes a link to confirm your new subscription for each blog for which you sign-up.
Kimbell Athletic Field Renovation | Construction update, April 2024
We are excited to announce that we have now begun construction on the Kimbell Athletic Field Renovation project! Over the next few weeks, you will see construction fence going up and old turf and fencing being removed all in preparation for new Read on…
Trocadero Clubhouse | Construction update, April 2025 - Construction complete!
The Trocadero Clubhouse Repair project is now complete! Thank you for your support throughout construction. This will be our last blog update for this project. Please visit our park improvements webpage to learn about other major Read on…
Marina Project Update | Environmental Review Process Initiated
We are pleased to announce that on Tuesday, March 25th we submitted a project application to the San Francisco Planning Department for the Marina Improvement and Remediation Project. This submittal initiates the formal environmental review per the Read on…
Randolph Bright Mini Park Improvements | Second Design Survey extended through Tuesday, April 8
Thank you to everyone who has taken our second design survey! If you haven’t taken it yet, good news! We’re extending the survey until next Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 10:00 pm. Please take a few minutes to complete the design survey and help us create a Read on…
Stern Grove Playground Renovation | Construction update, March 2025
The first shipment of the custom play equipment has been received, and the contractor is preparing the site to install the same Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | Mayor Lurie Breaks Ground on Renovation of Buchanan Street Mall
Long-Anticipated Project Marks the Culmination of a Partnership Between the City and Fillmore Community. Community Space Will Celebrate the History of the Neighborhood While Marking a New Chapter for Western Addition. Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, March 27, 2025
Plaza surfaces have more waterproofing (see all those stripes on the plaza slab and reinforcements) and planter concrete foundations are being formed to pour concrete walls next month. Waterproofing work continues on the concrete slabs near Read on…
Randolph Bright Mini Park Improvements | Project update, March 26, 2025
Thank you to everyone who attended our online community meeting last Tuesday evening! It was great to meet and hear your feedback on the park designs. Reminder that our second design survey is open until 5:00pm on April 4, 2025. If you haven’t taken the Read on…
South Sunset Clubhouse | Construction update, March 2025
We are excited to announce the renovation of South Sunset Clubhouse! Construction is slated to begin by the end of this month and will continue through early 2026. The project will reconfigure the 2,060 square-foot facility’s floor plan to create a more Read on…
Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update: Adjacent Public Works Project Right of Way Work
Please be advised that there is currently right of way work directly adjacent to Gene Friend Rec Center that is part of two Public Works projects: the Folsom Streetscape Project and the 6th Street Pedestrian Safety Project. We have been Read on…
Kezar Pavilion Renovation Project | REMINDER: Concept Design review at Rec Park Commission, April 17
On April 17, Rec & Park staff will be presenting the concept design for the Kezar Pavilion Renovation Project to the Recreation and Park Commission for approval. This marks an important milestone for the project, and we want to thank everyone for their Read on…
Portsmouth Square Improvements | Portsmouth Square Art and Interpretive Master Plan
We are happy to share the Portsmouth Square Art and Interpretive Master Plan. This plan is the culmination of extensive community engagement and will guide our work on all new interpretive elements, existing monuments and plaques, and new Read on…
Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update: Night Noise Timing Updates
UPDATE: Night Noise Permit and Timing. The Contractor team has confirmed that they will need the next two mornings, Tuesday, 3/18 and Wednesday, 3/19, to de-mobilize the last large rig and equipment. This work outside of normal work hours is Read on…
Buena Vista Park Improvements | Soil Sampling at Buena Vista Park Begins March 17
REMINDER: Starting the week of March 17, construction crews will begin drilling boreholes in Buena Vista Park to collect data on the subsurface conditions. This work will involve short, intermittent trail closures and detours at various areas around the Read on…
McLaren Park Trails | Construction update, March 2025
In February, work was completed on the new pedestrian trail along Visitacion Avenue. This trail improves connectivity between Hahn and the Visitacion Valley Middle School and creates a more accessible connection from the sidewalk at Leland into the Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | Groundbreaking event on March 27!
Join us for the groundbreaking of the Buchanan Street Mall Project on Thursday, March 27 beginning at 9:45 a.m. Buchanan Street Mall is a pedestrian walkway and city park that runs through a five-block section of the Western Addition, from Eddy Street to Read on…
Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update: Night Noise Timing Updates
UPDATE: Night Noise Permit and Timing. The Contractor was able to successfully de-mobilize a rig last week and confirmed that there will be no more night noise until next week. They anticipate one more early morning, next Monday or Tuesday, 3/17 or Read on…
Portsmouth Square Improvements | Project advertised for public bid!
We’re excited to announce that on March 12, 2025, the Portsmouth Square Improvement Project was advertised for public bid! Interested contractors can review the bid opportunity and access the bid documents via the City’s electronic Read on…
Randolph Bright Mini Park Improvements | REMINDER: Community Meeting (online), March 18, 6:30-7:30
Rec and Park will be hosting an online community meeting on Tuesday, March 18 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. to discuss the planned improvements to Randolph and Bright Mini Park. We’ll share the two concept plans for the site, featuring a nature-forward Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, March 10, 2025
We’ve made headway on the waterproofing and are switching the detours to the Post Street Mall entrances mid-March! Please follow signs leading into each of the mall entrances. Detour entrance to the East Mall will be adjacent to the building Read on…
Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation Project | Project update, March 2025
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend our community meeting for the Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation Project on Thursday, March 6! Folks stopped by to meet the team, listen to our presentation, take a survey, ask questions, and Read on…
Randolph and Bright Mini Park Improvements Project | Project update, March 2025
Reminder! We’re hosting two upcoming opportunities to meet with Rec & Park staff and discuss the planned improvements to Randolph and Bright Mini Park. We’re also pleased to announce that our second design survey is now open! Please take a few minutes to Read on…
Crocker Amazon Baseball and Softball Fields Renovation | Project update, March 2025
Thanks to everyone who attended our first community meeting on February 22, where we shared our initial project concept for community feedback. It was a very engaging meeting and we heard lots of important feedback. The project team will assemble all the Read on…
Buena Vista Park Improvements | Project update, March 2025
Soil Sampling at Buena Vista Park Begins March 17. Starting the week of March 17, construction crews will begin drilling boreholes in Buena Vista Park to collect data on the subsurface conditions around the park for upcoming project work. This work will Read on…
Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update: Night Noise Timing Updates and Weekend Work on 3/8
Please be advised that we anticipate that, weather permitting, the Contractor team will be working this Saturday, March 8, from 7 am to up to 7 pm. While performing this work, the contractor will continue to follow all noise ordinance-related requirements Read on…
Portsmouth Square Elevator Modernization | Construction update, February 2025
The first elevator car has been completed and is now in operation. The second of the three elevator cars is now undergoing modernization and will be under construction for the next few months Read on…
Stern Grove Playground Renovation | Construction update, February 2025
The contractor is currently installing gopher wires between the boulders and preparing to install the permeable rock base for the play area. There has been a delay in the delivery of the custom play equipment due to the snowstorms in Toronto but the Read on…
Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update: Weekend Work on 3/1 & 3/8 + Night Noise Timing Updates
Please be advised that we anticipate that, weather permitting, the Contractor team will be working this Saturday, March 1, as well as the following Saturday, March 8, from 7 am to up to 7 pm. While performing this work, the contractor will continue to Read on…
Trocadero Clubhouse | Historic Trocadero Clubhouse Reopens After Repairs Completed
Following a two-year closure from storm damage, the landmark building is once again available to host weddings and other celebrations Read on…
Bernal Heights Playground | Project update, February 2025
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our two community outreach sessions at the playground in January! We received a lot of helpful input through our survey and from those conversations with you. Based on what we heard, we are currently working with Read on…