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- Park Improvements/
- Completed Park Projects/
- McLaren Park - Completed Park Improvements/
- McLaren Park - Park Playground & Group Picnic Area/
McLaren Park - Park Playground & Group Picnic Area
Completed and Open to the Public in October 2020!
Background
The McLaren Park Playground and Group Picnic Renovation Project was funded by the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond. This project is part of the overall McLaren Park Planning Process. Additionally, the renovation of the children’s playground is part of the Let’sPlaySF! Initiative , which 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.
The Group Picnic Area is located off of John F. Shelley Drive within John McLaren Park. The closest cross street is Cambridge Street. The site features two reservable picnic areas with tables, counters, and BBQ s. To reserve those space please visit our Permits and Reservations page by clicking here .
Project Scope
The project included restoring a children’s playground at the Group Picnic site and removing the old sand areas. The new playground is situated between the two picnic areas to capitalize on the park’s hilly topography. A slide descends from the top of the playground towards the central lawn. Natural elements such as boulders, timbers, and native plantings were incorporated. A large net structure climbs the playground and allows children amazing views of the City. There were additional improvements to the overall site including upgrading the picnic areas, pathways, and lawn as well as the addition of a loading zone, as well as a new permanent restroom.
Funding
The Playground and Picnic Area Renovation project was funded by private donations and public sources including the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond and had a total budget of $3.6 Million. The restroom project (PDF) was also funded by the 2012 Parks Bond and had a total budget of $1.7 million.
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
South Sunset Clubhouse | Construction update, August 2025
Our contractor has completed most of the new structural footings and poured the rear retaining wall. Installation of new storm drain infrastructure is now in-progress. In the course of work, we encountered a damaged drain line on the east side of the Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, August 29, 2025
This month, you’ve seen the existing Geary Blvd wall was stripped of its tiles and being strengthened while the new wall form work is being built. This wall will mitigate traffic noise and visuals from the plaza. Other construction highlights include Read on…
Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update, August 2025
We’ve made substantial progress on the exterior framing, and we are now starting the installation of the roofing. Unfortunately, this past weekend, there was another break-in at the construction site. We are working together with the contractor to Read on…
Golden Gate Park | Construction begins soon on Stanyan Street Sidewalk Improvements
We are excited to announce that the Stanyan Street Sidewalk Improvements Project will be starting construction soon. This project will upgrade existing sidewalks and driveway aprons at the parking lot entrances on the west side of Stanyan between Read on…
Stern Grove Playground Renovation | Playground Ribbon Cutting on September 10
Come out for the reopening of Stern Grove Playground on Wednesday, September 10 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. The event will feature brief remarks, a ribbon cutting ceremony, and the debut of the new, nature-based play area of the Read on…
Mission Bay Future Parks Project | Project update, August 2025
We are excited to share that the Mission Bay Future Parks Project is moving ahead with the design phase. A RFQ was released in early August, and a design team should be selected by mid-October. The project includes two distinct areas: 1) the final three Read on…
Rachele Sullivan Park | Project update, August 2025
We want to share an important update about the future Rachele Sullivan Park. In recent years, the development impact fees that traditionally support capital projects in the parks have shrunk considerably due to slower development rates and Read on…
Twin Peaks Trail Improvement Project and Promenade Project | Construction update, August 2025
We’re excited to announce that the Crestline Connector Trail is now complete and open to the public! This new connector not only restores access between Crestline Drive and the Twin Peaks summit but also serves as the final piece of the Read on…
Golden Gate Park - Botanical Garden Access Improvements | Construction update, August 2025
Phase 1 of the project is now complete and open to the public! Phase 1 involved pathway improvements in the southeast section of the gardens (Mesoamerican Cloud Forest), including paving work and installation of concrete ramps and metal handrails. This is Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | REMINDER: Workforce Development Community Meeting, this Thursday, 8/21 at 2pm
REMINDER: Workforce Development Community Meeting, this Thursday, August 21 at 2pm at Rosa Parks Senior Center on Buchanan Mall (at Golden Gate Ave.). Come learn more about job opportunities, training, and employment support. For the Read on…
McLaren Park | McLaren Park Vision Plan Update + 2020 Bond Funding Allocations at Commission on 8/21
Please join us (in-person or online) for a presentation of the Vision Plan Update and 2020 Bond Funding Allocations at Recreation and Park Commission. This Thursday, August 21st at 10am. The McLaren Park Vision Plan (2018) has guided our Read on…
Mayor Lurie Breaks Ground on Final Phase of India Basin Waterfront Park Project
Project Continues Mayor Lurie’s Work to Foster Vibrant Public Spaces, Support Bayview Community Read on…
McLaren Park Trails | Construction update, August 2025
Our contractor has finished grading for accessibility at the ribbon trail on University Hill. They have installed several salvaged granite benches along the route to take advantage of the sweeping views over the Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | Construction update, August 2025
Construction is currently focused on specialized sewer work, surface demolition, and careful investigations to locate and protect existing utilities. The project team has completed the second of three 48-hour sewer lining operations, where a Read on…
Bernal Heights Playground | Construction update, August 2025
Bernal Heights Playground is now closed for the duration of construction: August 11 through Late 2025. Construction of the new playground begins this week. This playground renewal project includes replacing all play equipment and playground surfacing by Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | REMINDER: Night work scheduled for August 11 and 12
DAY AND NIGHT WORK REMINDER: Sewer and construction work will be continuous for 48 hours from August 11-13. This includes two evenings of night work (August 11 & 12). The contractor will Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | Saturday work scheduled for August 9
NOTICE OF WEEKEND WORK: There will be on-site construction work this Saturday. The contractor will follow all noise ordinance requirements. DAY AND NIGHT WORK REMINDER: Sewer and construction work will be continuous for 48 hours from August 11-13. This Read on…
India Basin Waterfront Park | India Basin Shoreline Park Groundbreaking on August 19
Join the partners of the India Basin Waterfront Park project—the Trust for Public Land, San Francisco Foundation, A. Philip Randolph Institute, San Francisco Recreation and Parks, and the Bayview-Hunters Point community—for the groundbreaking on Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | Workforce development update, August 7, 2025
For the past two years, we have partnered with Success Centers, a hyper-local community-based workforce nonprofit dedicated to connecting local Western Addition and Fillmore residents with trade job opportunities, training, and employment support for Read on…
Kimbell Athletic Field Renovation | Athletic Fields Reopen After Renovation Project
We’re excited to share that the renovation project at Kimbell Playground (1901 Geary Boulevard) is now complete! As part of the project, the synthetic turf on these fields was replaced after 14 years of use. Additional improvements include Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | Night work scheduled for August 11 and 12
Notice of Night Work: Please be advised that there will be 48 hours of continuous construction activity from Monday, August 11, 7 a.m. to Wednesday, August 13, 7 a.m. Work will be performed on the sewer between Turk St. and Eddy St. Sewer lining work must Read on…
Stern Grove Playground Renovation | Construction update, August 2025
There has been an unforeseen delay in the installation of the safety surfacing at the playground. This will push the playground’s reopening to sometime in September. We will follow up with more information once an opening date is Read on…
McLaren Park Trails | Park ready for Jerry Day!
The biggest event of the year is happening at Jerry Garcia Amphitheater this Saturday, and the McLaren Trails project is reopening the Upper Reservoir parking lot to accommodate the crowds. The contractor has completed the ADA van parking space in the Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | Workforce development update
Thanks to the nearly thirty people who stopped by office hours yesterday. Rec and Park and Success Centers staff shared information about the various workforce development initiatives that are in place on the Buchanan Street Mall Renovation project as Read on…
Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update, July 2025
The structural steel frame of the building is in place, and the contractor team is working on the roof decking and starting to frame exterior windows. Site work includes installation of the new storm drainage system. This past weekend, there was Read on…
Portsmouth Square Improvements | Project will be advertised for bids again in fall 2025
Earlier this year, we announced that the Portsmouth Square project was advertised for construction bids from March 12 to May 21, 2025. Unfortunately, all the bid proposals submitted by qualified contractors exceeded the project’s budget. The significantly Read on…
Mission Creek Park South Extension Project | Project update, July 2025
We are excited to announce the creation of the Rec and Park website for the Mission Creek Park South Extension Project. The Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure (OCII), along with the Mission Bay Development Group (MBDG), is responsible for Read on…
McLaren Park | Project update, July 2025
Starting in late 2022, Rec and Park conducted extensive community and stakeholder engagement to get feedback on how to prioritize the investment of $6 million from the 2020 Health and Recovery Bond in McLaren Park. Throughout June and July 2025, we Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | Workforce development
We’re hosting workforce development-focused office hours this Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 10:30am at Rosa Parks Senior Center computer lab. We encourage everyone to attend to learn more about our workforce development initiatives and about Read on…
Golden Gate Park - Botanical Garden Access Improvements | REMINDER: North Gate Closed, Use Main Gate
Construction Advisory: Please be advised that the Friend Gate (North Entrance) will close for over a month beginning Monday, July 21, 2025. Please use Main Gate entrance at 9th Avenue. This work at the Friend Gate is “Phase 2” of the Read on…
Documents & Materials
Schematic Design Renderings
McLaren Park Playground and Group Picnic Area Rendering View Number 1 (JPG)
McLaren Park Playground and Group Picnic Area Rendering View Number 2 (JPG)
McLaren Park Playground and Group Picnic Area Rendering View Number 3 (JPG)
Commission Documents
Workshop 3
Workshop 3 Group Picnic Playground Concept Design (PDF)
Workshop 2
Workshop 2 Group Picnic Playground Boards (PDF)