McLaren Park - Herz Recreation Center Project

Completed and Opened to the Public on January 9, 2026!

Scope of Work

The opening of the new Herz Recreation Center made it the first Recreation Center built from the ground up in San Francisco in more than 25 years.

The new facility delivers a modern, multifunctional recreation hub to the area, welcoming residents from the Sunnydale and Visitacion Valley neighborhoods.

Spanning 11,500 square feet, the facility features a full-size basketball court with bleacher seating for 200 people; a multipurpose room for community rentals and wellness classes; a welcoming lobby and reception area; staff offices; restrooms; a kitchen; and ample storage space—creating a flexible space designed to serve residents of all ages.

Background

The Recreation and Park Department partnered with the HOPE SF Team, including Mercy Housing and Related CA, to construct a new recreation center/gymnasium at Herz Playground, a site within John McLaren Park.

The new recreation center was designed and built to fit cohesively within the existing park landscape and “the Hub,” a new community center campus with childcare services and recreational facilities. The vision for the overall Hub is to be an inclusive, safe, friendly, family and youth focused place for neighborhood residents and visitors.

Funding

The project combines funding from federal, city, and private funds as follows:

• 2020 Health & Recovery Bond: $10,000,000
• 2020 Health & Recovery Bond, Sustainability Program: $4,000,000
• Sunnydale LLC Grant: $10,000,000
• General Fund Capital Baseline: $600,000
• Federal Appropriation:  $1,500,000

Total Sources: $26,100,000

The construction contract award for this project was approved by Recreation and Parks Commission on June 15, 2023 ( PDF ). This construction contract award obtained and complies with all city, state, and federal regulatory approvals, including any that are specific to this project’s funding sources.

Project Schedule

Planning , Late 2019

Design , Early 2021

Construction contract awarded , June 15, 2023

Construction begins , Mid 2023

Open to the Public , January 9, 2026

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