- Welcome to another SF Parks site! :tada:/
- Park Improvements/
- Active Park Projects/
- Tenderloin Recreation Center Children’s Playground Improvements/
Tenderloin Recreation Center Children’s Playground Improvements
Scope of Work
San Francisco Recreation & Park Department (RPD), in partnership with KABOOM!, Wu Yee Children’s Services, and Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), will be making improvements to the Tenderloin Rec Center Children’s Playground.
This Green Schoolyard Project at Tenderloin Rec Center will transform the existing playground into a nature-based, multi-functional space that balances active play, nature exploration, and quiet retreat. The project will prioritize accessibility, safety, and community-driven design elements while maintaining flexibility for programming needs.
Key Improvements:
- Nature-Based Play Areas: A Children’s Play Area (CPA) and Nature Exploration Area (NEA) with climbing structures, a nest swing, slides, and carved logs for exploration.
- Reorganized Layout for Safety & Supervision: The soccer court will move to the front as a buffer between the street and playground, while the children’s play area will shift to the rear for improved protection and sight-lines.
- Enhanced Accessibility: Playground design will meet ADA and CPSI standards, with reconfigured entry ramp handrails and an added cane detector at the drinking fountain.
- Increased Nature & Greenery: More tree plantings, expanded planting areas, and an improved irrigation system will bring elements of nature into the urban environment.
- Seating & Gathering Spaces: A flexible seating area near the entrance for outdoor classrooms or quiet retreat, plus additional seating throughout with clear views of the playground.
- Durable & Inclusive Play Materials: Play structures will use natural wood elements and be designed for all ages, eliminating the need for a separate toddler area.
- Minimal Hardscape, Maximum Play Space: Reduced asphalt areas will create a more engaging, nature-integrated setting, while a portion of the hardscape will remain for flexible programming and events.
This thoughtful redesign will provide a safe, engaging, and nature-rich environment for the Tenderloin community, ensuring access to quality play spaces for local children and families.
Background
Located in the heart of the Tenderloin, the Tenderloin Rec Center Children’s Playground is a vital resource for the neighborhood’s large and diverse population of children. As a priority equity zone, the facility provides a safe and welcoming space for youth, offering outdoor classroom opportunities for preschools, after-school programs, and organized sports five days-a-week. The fenced outdoor area ensures a protected environment for children to learn, play, and socialize.
Regular users include Wu Yee Children’s Services and GLIDE for preschool outdoor activities, Up On Top for afterschool programs serving 80+ children, and various community organizations such as SF Street Soccer, Boys & Girls Club, SEADC, Tenderloin Achievement Group, and City Kids.
Despite its importance, the playground equipment, installed in 1993, is outdated and no longer meets safety standards. The playground surface is worn, and the space lacks nature engagement and shaded areas. To address these concerns, the Tenderloin Rec Center Playground Improvement Project is underway. Supported by KABOOM! and a $1M CAL FIRE Green School Yard grant, this initiative will deliver a nature-rich play area, enhance accessibility, introduce tree plantings, and reorganize the outdoor space to better serve the children and families of the Tenderloin.
This transformation will ensure protected, inclusive, and enriching play opportunities for the community’s youth for years to come.
Funding
This project will cost $3.3 million. Funding for this project comes from the 2020 Health and Recovery Bond , a Cal Fire Green Schoolyard Grant and a Head Start Grant via Wu Yee Children’s Services, and Kaboom! via a 3rd party donor.
Estimated Project Schedule
Phase | Timeline |
|---|---|
Planning | 2022 |
Design | 2024 |
Construction | Mid 2025 |
Open to the public | Mid 2026 |
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.
Contact Us
Keri Ayers
Project Manager- Capital and Planning Division keri.ayers@sfgov.org Phone: (628) 652-6642