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 address 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 Rec and Park’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 receive updates about all our active projects, please visit the News Flash section of our webpage and subscribe to “Rec Park Improvements | All Project Updates,” or pick-and-choose your subscriptions by project name.
Community Opportunity Fund (COF) | $6 million available: Nominate your city park idea!
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department is pleased to announce that nominations for Community Opportunity Fund (COF) project grants will open in January! Applications will be accepted January 2026 through March 2026. COF is a citywide Read on…
Golden Gate Park-Senior Center Outdoor Recreation Area | Community meeting #3, Dec. 17, 11a
Join Rec and Park for the third and final community meeting about the planned improvements to create a new Outdoor Recreation Area behind the Golden Gate Park Senior Center. At this meeting, we will share the final design for the new Outdoor Recreation Read on…
Golden Gate Park - Botanical Garden Access Improvements | Construction update, November 2025
The ADA Pathway Improvement Project at San Francisco Botanical Garden is now complete! All designated ADA-compliant paths are now complete and open to the public. Thank you for your support throughout construction. This will be our Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, November 2025
Waterproofing and drainage work continues on the second half of the plaza. We expect some odor during this process, and industrial fans will be used to help with airflow. Also, please be advised that we expect some limited Saturday construction work in Read on…
Crocker Amazon Baseball and Softball Fields Renovation | Project update, November 2025
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our second community meeting about the conceptual design for the Crocker Amazon Baseball and Softball Fields Renovation project. We received a great variety of thoughtful feedback from those in attendance. We will Read on…
Gene Friend Rec Center | Weekend Work Advisory for Saturday, November 22
Please be advised that our contractor will have a crew working this Saturday, November 22. This will be our electrical subcontractor crew, and they will be working along 6th Street, between Clementina and Howard. We anticipate minimal noise or Read on…
Bernal Heights Playground | Project update, November 2025
The Bernal Heights Playground Renewal 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 projects happening in the Read on…
Buena Vista Park Improvements | Soil sampling at Buena Vista Park this week
This week a crew of geotechnical engineers will drill six boreholes in the northern portion of Buena Vista Park to perform soil sampling. This will be similar to soil sampling completed last March. Workers will use a specialized, low-dust Read on…
Crocker Amazon Baseball and Softball Fields Renovation | REMINDER: Community Meeting, Nov. 12, 6 PM
REMINDER: Join Rec and Park for our second community meeting to discuss the revitalization of the baseball and softball fields at Crocker Amazon. The San Francisco Giants are partnering with Rec and Park to renovate six baseball and softball fields with Read on…
Gene Friend Rec Center | Weekend Work Advisory for Saturday, November 8
Please be advised that our contractor will have a crew on site this Saturday to work on trenching and excavation on 6th Street. We anticipate minimal noise or other disruption to neighbors. This work will help us bring Read on…
India Basin Waterfront Park | Construction update, November 2025
Night Work at India Basin Shoreline Park begins Monday, November 10. As part of the India Basin Shoreline Park renovation, essential construction work will take place at night and on weekends this month. This work involves earthmoving along the Read on…
Golden Gate Park | Construction begins soon on JFK Promenade near Stanyan Street
We are excited to announce that construction will begin next week to upgrade crosswalks and curb ramps on JFK Promenade near Stanyan Street. JFK Promenade will remain open to pedestrians throughout construction. Expect construction noise, intermittent Read on…
Bernal Heights Playground | Renewed Playground Unveiled with Ribbon Cutting
Beloved Playground reopens with fresh look, accessibility upgrades, and an innovative new approach to park improvements Read on…
Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation | San Francisco Arts Commission, Nov 3 at 2 PM
A motion concerning the removal and storage of the Vaillancourt Fountain (located within Embarcadero Plaza) will be heard by the San Francisco Arts Commission’s Full Commission on Monday, November 3 at 2:00 p.m. at City Hall Room 416, Item #8. Public Read on…
Sava Pool Tile Repair Project | Construction Underway at Sava Pool: Building Enclosure Remediation
We’re excited to share that construction to renovate the exterior of Sava Pool has officially begun! Please note that there are no current impacts to the posted pool schedule. Work is expected to last through early 2026. Construction activities will be Read on…
Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update, October 2025
We’ve made major construction progress on the new building. On October 17, we placed the new rec center’s very first window glass (on the Folsom and Harriet side). The remaining windows will be installed in the coming weeks. Site work is also in Read on…
India Basin Waterfront Park | Removal of PG & E Tower Marks Major Milestone
Rec and Park is proud to share the successful removal of a Pacific Gas and Electric (PG & E) transition tower from the future site of India Basin Waterfront Park, marking a major step in transforming the Bayview-Hunters Point shoreline into a Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, October 2025
Waterproofing and drainage work is complete in nearly half the plaza. We are working now to finish the other half. We expect some odor during this process, and fans will be used to help with airflow. Also, please be advised that we expect some Read on…
India Basin Waterfront Park | Construction update, October 2025
Construction at India Basin Shoreline Park (IBSP) has officially begun! The park is closed and fenced through early 2028, with construction noise, intermittent street and sidewalk closures, and pedestrian detours expected. Please note that Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | Construction update, October 2025
Sewer work is nearly complete, and electrical conduit and light pole footing installation begins this week. Irrigation mainline installation is underway, led by a Black-owned LBE plumbing subcontractor brought on by McGuire and Hester. Structural footing Read on…
Precita Park Improvements | Construction update, October 2025
Construction has begun on the Precita Park Improvements Project! So far, our contractor, Pacific Pars, has installed construction fencing around the site and they are now working to prep the areas that will be home to the new restroom facility and Read on…
Bernal Heights Playground | Reopening Celebration on November 3!
Join us for the reopening of Bernal Heights Playground (500 Moultrie Street) on Monday, November 3 from 4 to 5 p.m. The event will feature brief remarks, a ribbon-cutting, and community fun. The design, shaped by community input, features all new Read on…
Koshland Park Community Garden Renovation | Project update, October 2025
We’re excited to share that, last week, our Recreation and Park Commission unanimously approved the concept design for the Koshland Park Community Garden Renovation project. This marks an important milestone toward revitalizing one of the city’s most Read on…
Crocker Amazon Baseball and Softball Fields Renovation | Second Community Meeting, Nov. 12, 6-8 PM
Join Rec and Park for our second community meeting to discuss the revitalization of the baseball and softball fields at Crocker Amazon. The San Francisco Giants are partnering with Rec and Park to renovate six baseball and softball fields with new Read on…
Stern Grove Playground Renovation | Construction update, October 2025
We are happy to share that the new lawn below the playground is now open to the public! After completing its establishment period – resting, watering, and two mowing cycles, the grass is healthy and ready for visitors to enjoy. You may still see our Read on…
Portsmouth Square Improvements | Project update, October 2025
We’re excited to announce that the Portsmouth Square Improvement Project is now open for interested contractors to bid! The project will transform the park by constructing a new clubhouse, a large flexible event plaza, playgrounds, and Read on…
Marina Improvement and Remediation | Water Board Feasibility Studies and Project News
The California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay Region (Water Board), has finalized the Feasibility Studies for East Harbor Marina and Outside East Harbor environmental investigation Sites located in Read on…
Gene Friend Rec Center | Weekend Work Advisory for Saturday, October 11
Weekend Work Advisory: Please be advised that our contractor will be working this Saturday on flashing and polished concrete, to help keep the project on schedule before the winter rainy season. We anticipate minimal noise or other disruption to neighbors Read on…
Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation | San Francisco Arts Commission today at 2 PM
Recent information concerning the Vaillancourt Fountain (located within Embarcadero Plaza) and its current condition will appear as an informational item at the San Francisco Arts Commission’s Full Commission meeting today, Monday, October 6 at 2 p.m. at Read on…
Tenderloin Rec Center Play Area | Construction update, October 2025
Starting on Monday, October 6, Bauman Landscape and Construction will begin construction on the children’s play area at the Tenderloin Recreation Center. Once construction begins, the yard will be closed through Summer 2026. The Tenderloin Read on…