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 . If you would like to receive updates about all our active capital improvement 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.

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!