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- Park Improvements/
- Completed Park Projects/
- McLaren Park - Completed Park Improvements/
- McLaren Park - Herz Playground/
McLaren Park - Herz Playground
Completed and open to the public August 2023!
Background
The renovation of the children’s pl
ay area at Herz Playground within John McLaren Park was part of the Let’sPlay SF ! Initiative, a partnership between the Recreation and Park Department and the San Francisco Parks Alliance that seeks to inspire creativity and play throughout the City. In the coming years, 13 playgrounds prioritized for improvement by a citizen task force will be reimagined and redesigned for this and future generations of San Francisco’s children.
Scope of Work
This project included a complete renovation of the toddler and school-aged children’s play areas at Herz Playground with all-new play equipment and surfacing. Additional site improvements included new:
- Benches
- Fencing
- Landscaping
- Pathways
- Picnic Tables
Additionally, the restrooms at Herz Clubhouse were brought into current code compliance and received cosmetic upgrades.
Funding
Funding came from multiple sources including: $1,195,000 SF General Fund, $1,169,109 Parks Alliances, $310,000 IPIC, $$825,892 2012 Bond, and $80,000 Forestry 2012 Bond, for a total of $3,580,000.
The construction contract award for this project was approved by Recreation and Parks Commission on August 3, 2022 ( PDF ); Recreation and Parks Commission approved a contract amendment on March 29, 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
Phase | Timeline |
|---|---|
Planning | Fall 2018 |
Design | Spring 2021 |
Construction contract awarded | August 3, 2022 |
Construction | Fall 2022 - Summer 2023 |
Open to the public | August 2023 |
Get Out and Play!
Thanks for supporting park improvements in your San Francisco parks! To stay informed and involved, we encourage you to subscribe to Rec and Park eNews .
You can also explore Rec and Park volunteer opportunities – We have park needs in every corner of the city and volunteer opportunities that are as diverse as your interests, skills, and abilities. Have fun in your parks, and get out and play!
Project Updates
McLaren Park Trails | Construction update, May 2025
In late April and early May, our contractor completed trail work along the western portion of “Main,” wrapping up planned improvements to this major trail artery between the Upper Reservoir and Jerry Garcia Amphitheater. You’ll notice that much of the Read on…
McLaren Park Trails | Construction update, April 2025
We’ve made good progress on the trail work and natural features restoration at the Upper Reservoir and throughout the Shelley Inner Core. At the Upper Reservoir, the sloping walkway from the parking lot to the reservoir level was completed, and our Read on…
Herz Recreation Center | Construction update, April 2025
Construction is progressing well at the Herz Recreation Center. Utilities are being tied in, basketball hoops have been installed, and both interior and exterior finishes are underway. These finishings will continue in the coming months. We anticipate 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…
Crocker Amazon Baseball and Softball Fields Renovation | Community meeting on February 20, 6-7:30pm
Join the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department to discuss the renovation of the baseball and softball fields at Crocker Amazon. The San Francisco Giants organization approached the Department with a proposal to partner to install six baseball and Read on…
Herz Recreation Center | Build Your Future with CityBuild Academy!
Rec Park is proud to collaborate with CityBuild and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development to support workforce development. These partnerships have enabled us to engage local laborers, who are currently making an impact at Herz Rec Center. Read on…
McLaren Trails | McLaren Park Upper Reservoir Parking Lot closed, starting 1/20
Upper Reservoir Parking Lot and nearby trails and paths will be closed for more than a month, weather depending, starting 1/20. The pathway circling the Upper Reservoir remains open as do the connections to this pathway from Philosopher’s Way in the Read on…
McLaren Trails | Trail work underway in McLaren Park, near Jerry Garcia Amphitheater
The long-anticipated trail work has begun! Our contractor started work near the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, putting in place erosion control measures to reduce runoff that has flowed towards the Amphitheater Restroom in recent years. They’ve also begun Read on…
Let’sPlaySF! Initiative | Take the Let’sPlaySF! Playground Survey open through January 31, 2025
Thanks to the successful Let’sPlaySF! Initiative funded by the 2012 Park Bond, SF Parks Alliance, and philanthropic partners we are renovating 13 dilapidated playgrounds across our city. With 11 playgrounds already beautifully renovated and two more Read on…
McLaren Park | McLaren Park Collaborative meeting, November 18, 6:30 pm
Rec and Park staff will share various capital project updates at the virtual McLaren Collaborative meeting this evening, Monday 11/18, starting at 6:30 pm Read on…
McLaren Trails | McLaren Trails tree work almost complete
Our contractor has finished work on Philosopher’s Hill! Hazardous tree removals have made the trails more safe and improved the health of remaining trees by decreasing crowding and increasing light penetration and airflow through the forest Read on…
Herz Recreation Center | Construction update, October 2024
This month, we enjoyed celebrating the opening of the Sunnydale Community Center along with our partners from Mercy Housing, Related California, Boys & Girls Club, and Wu Yee Children’s Services Read on…
McLaren Trails | Tree work is beginning on Philosopher’s Hill
Our contractor has just completed tree work in the heart of the Shelley Inner Core. In the central grove of large cypress trees—a well-shaded favorite of school groups and dog walkers—potentially hazardous branches were removed, and a eucalyptus stand was Read on…
McLaren Trails | Tree Work begins in Inner Core
Our contractor returned to site last week, completing tree work around Grey Fox Creek and setting up fencing to begin work near the middle of Shelley Loop this week. The current active work area is near the intersection of Read on…
Herz Recreation Center | Construction update, August 2024
Herz Recreation Center is starting to take shape! The building’s slab is in place and the contractor is now working on the exterior walls Read on…
McLaren Trails | Tree work continues & Contract award at Rec Park Commission this Thursday
Tree work continues as part of the first phase of construction for the McLaren Trails Priority Improvements project. Please be advised – Access to the University Hill area is now open again. Please use caution when traveling along the Read on…
McLaren Park – Shelley Promenade | Parking area opening near Mansell Street
Rec and Park is happy to announce the opening of a small parking area on John Shelley Drive West near Mansell Street at the Field of Dogs. Accessed from Mansell Street to the south, the area will accommodate over 20 vehicles, parked parallel to the Read on…
McLaren Park – Yosemite Creek Daylighting | Project updates, July 2024
We wanted to share that we will be wrapping up the design phase for the Yosemite Creek Daylighting Project by late 2024. The project is slated to begin construction by early 2025. Read on…
Herz Recreation Center | Construction update, July 2024
We are making exciting progress on the new Herz Recreation Center. The contractor recently installed cross laminated timber elements and glulam beams. They will be pouring the building’s foundation next and performing additional site grading. Read on…
McLaren Trails | Tree work begins on University Hill
Our contractor has wrapped up initial work south of the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, and has moved out of the area to accommodate Shakespeare summer camps. The remainder of the tree work in this area will resume after a stretch of summer events. We continue Read on…
Herz Recreation Center | Construction update, June 2024
Construction is moving along at the new Herz Recreation Center! The steel columns are in place and the building is starting to take shape. We are looking forward to having our cross laminated timber elements installed starting next week. Read on…
McLaren Park | Temporary closures at the Amphitheater Parking Lot
Tree work continues south of Grey Fox Creek, with the removal of dead wood and hazardous trees, pruning of large branches extended over trails, and tree removals that will allow more light into the habitat restoration area around the riparian zone Read on…
McLaren Trails – Tree work continues south of Grey Fox Creek
A few weeks ago, we completed the planned tree work north and south of Jerry Garcia Amphitheater. This work is the first phase of project-related habitat restoration to support ecological health in the area surrounding Grey Fox Creek. The tree pruning and Read on…
Herz Recreation Center | Construction update May 2024
Check out these recent photos of the on-going activities at Herz Playground. The building’s walls are starting to go up! Read on…
Herz Recreation Center | Construction update April 2024
The project site has been busy as our contractor has poured the building’s concrete footings, and they are working on constructing the walls and Read on…
McLaren Trails Improvement Project | Construction update, April 2024
It’s been a quiet few weeks in McLaren Park, as our contractor postponed planned work due to bird nesting activity. A biologist conducted follow up pre-construction surveys over the weekend and Tuesday evening, and having received reports of no bird Read on…
McLaren Park – Yosemite Creek Daylighting | Project updates April 2024
We will be wrapping up the design phase in Spring 2024. Next, the project will move through permitting, review of contractor bids, and contract award. We’re on-track now to Read on…
McLaren Trails Improvement Project | Tree work wrapping up along Visitacion Avenue
Significant progress has been made on the tree work along Visitacion Avenue, with most of the pruning and removals complete. The focus has now shifted to restoration efforts, including grading and wood chip spreading. To ensure the health of the Read on…
Herz Recreation Center | Construction update March 2024
Since our last update in January, we installed rebar, are building a mock-up for a portion of the exterior of the building, and the contractor will soon begin pouring the building’s concrete footings. We’ll keep Read on…
McLaren Park – Yosemite Creek | Project updates February/March 2024
We are on track to have the final design for this project completed soon. Once the design is finalized, the project will Read on…
Documents and Materials
Commission Materials
- R ec Park Commission staff report - contract amendment, September 6, 2023 (PDF)
- R ec Park Commission staff report - contract amendment, March 29, 2023 (PDF)
- Rec Park Commission staff report - contract award, August 3, 2022 (PDF)
- Rec Park Commission, staff report, Let’sPlaySF! Related Agreement for Herz Playground renovation, March 6, 2019 (PDF)
Community Meetings - Notes and Presentations
- Herz Playground Community Meeting #4, September 29, 2022 (PDF)
- Herz Playground Community Meeting #3, October 13, 2020 (PDF)
- Herz Playground Community Meeting #2, August 17, 2019 (PDF)
- Herz Playground Community Meeting #2, August 17, 2019 (PDF)
- Herz Playground Community Meeting #1, June 22, 2019 (PDF)
- Herz Playground Community Meeting #1, June 22, 2019 (PDF)
Additional Project Documents