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- Park Improvements/
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- Merced Heights Playground Lower Lawn Terrace Renovation/
Merced Heights Playground Lower Lawn Terrace Renovation
Completed and Opened to the Public May 19, 2023!
Scope of Work
We installed a new plaza, pathway, seating, natural lawn and separate synthetic turf dog play area, plantings, and adult exercise equipment. The project included an upgraded, accessible entrance at the field level on Shields Street, as well as accessibility improvements between the lower lawn entrance and Byxbee Street side playground entrance. The site now features a tile mosaic on the wall above the plaza that recognizes specific community members who have invested a lot of time over many years, caring for the park and advocating for its renovation.
Funding
Total project budget: $ 1,670,000 , including:
- $1,329,000 Local Assistance State Grant
- $291,000 General Fund
- $50K 2012 Bond Forestry Program
The construction contract award for this project was approved by Recreation and Parks Commission on February 17, 2022 ( PDF ); Recreation and Parks Commission approved a contract amendment on October 12, 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 | Spring 2019 |
Design | Spring 2021 |
Construction contract awarded | February 6, 2019 |
Construction | Spring 2022 |
Open to the Public | May 19, 2023 |
Get Out and Play!
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Project Updates
Community Opportunity Fund (COF) | Final Workshop on Feb 21; Register by Feb 14
To apply, attending a pre-application workshop is mandatory. The last pre-application workshop is Saturday, February 21 with the workshop registration deadline this Saturday, February 14. Rec and Park’s Community Opportunity Fund is a program that Read on…
Gene Friend Rec Center | PG & E Begins Energization Work
We are excited to report that PG & E has begun work to energize the new facility. Please be advised: We expect energization will involve some night work by PG & E along 6th Street, but we do not have Read on…
Twin Peaks Promenade Project | Project Update, February 2026
Construction bids for the Twin Peaks Promenade Project were received on January 14, with four competitive bids submitted, all within budget – marking a major milestone in the next phase of reimagining this iconic San Francisco destination. With the Read on…
Randolph-Bright Mini Park Improvements | Project update, February 2026
We’re excited to share an important milestone as the project moves forward. In early February, the project was presented to the Recreation and Park Department’s Capital Committee. The committee reviewed the final design and approved it to Read on…
Tenderloin Rec Center Play Area | Construction update, February 2026
The new play structure at Tenderloin Recreation Center is taking shape and it’s a big one! The new play structure features a two-story climbing structure made of stacked cubes, with a central climbing net and a stainless-steel tube slide that kids can Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | Traffic and Parking impacts on Golden Gate Ave on Friday, February 13
On Friday, February 13, our contractor will remove a hazardous tree on Golden Gate Avenue near Rosa Parks Senior Center. Expect work vehicles in the roadway, lane closures, slow traffic, and temporary “No Parking | Tow Away” restrictions near the Read on…
Golden Gate Park - JFK Promenade | Construction advisory, February 9, 2026
Please be advised that most of Conservatory Drive East will be closed to pedestrians and cyclists for road work Tuesday, Feb. 10 through Friday, Feb. 13. This closure may resume the following week, if needed. There will be orange road barricades and Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | Construction update, February 2026
The tree work on Golden Gate Avenue near Rosa Parks Senior Center, originally scheduled for Wednesday, February 4, was postponed. We will keep you posted once a new date for this tree work has been determined. Other project work is continuing at a Read on…
South Sunset Clubhouse | Construction update, February 2026
On the roof of the main building, we completed the installation and painting of the soffits and rain gutters. In back, the base and columns of the new pavilion are now in-place, and the roof and site concrete will be installed soon. Inside the Read on…
Golden Gate Park - JFK Promenade | Construction update, February 2026
Please be advised that curb work started this week at Pompeii Circle in front of the Conservatory of Flowers. JFK Promenade will remain open to pedestrians throughout construction, and pedestrians and cyclists will be directed around the Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | Traffic and Parking impacts on Golden Gate Ave on Wednesday, February 4
On Wednesday, February 4, our contractor will remove a hazardous tree on Golden Gate Avenue near Rosa Park Senior Center. Expect work vehicles in the roadway, lane closures, slow traffic, and temporary “No Parking | Tow Away” restrictions near the Read on…
Community Opportunity Fund (COF) | First important deadline is next Tuesday, February 3
Nominations are open for Rec and Park’s Community Opportunity Fund, a program that supports community-driven park improvement projects across the city. The first deadline is approaching, and attendance at one of two February workshops is a required Read on…
With Contractor Lined Up, Portsmouth Square Renovation Moves Toward Summer 2026 Groundbreaking
After years of planning and community engagement, the long-anticipated renovation of Portsmouth Square is moving closer to construction. Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, January 2026
We’re happy to report that the project is two-thirds complete! This includes significant portions of the structure and utilities systems. Please be advised that we expect limited Saturday construction work in February. For the Plaza and Pagoda, the Read on…
McLaren Park Trails | Construction update, January 2026
We’re getting very close to completing the McLaren Park - Trails Improvement Project! Our contractor has completed planting and a small bridge in the restored drainage area north of the Upper Reservoir and will be working on the planting area near Read on…
Louis Sutter Upper Playground Renewal | REMINDER: Two Community Information Sessions in January
We have two community information sessions scheduled: Saturday, January 24, 11am and Monday, January 26, 2:30pm. Join the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department to learn more about the upcoming renovation of the playground equipment and Read on…
India Basin Waterfront Park | Construction update, January 2026
Construction at India Basin Shoreline Park continues, with earthwork and grading underway, along with soil import and installation of drainage infrastructure. Please note there was a minor delay related to clearing the PG & E pit, with Read on…
Kezar Pavilion Renovation Project | Project update, January 2026
We are excited to share that we will be releasing a Release for Qualifications/Proposals (RFQP) for a Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) for the Kezar Pavilion Renovation Project in early 2026! This will allow us to integrate the Read on…
Community Opportunity Fund (COF) | Nominations for projects are now open!
Nominations for Community Opportunity Fund (COF) projects are now open! To get started today: Visit the program page, review the sample application, application instructions, scoresheet, FAQs, and the Implementation Plan! Sign up for a Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | Construction update, January 2026
Please be advised: PG & E will be working on McAllister Street on January 12-16. The work requires a lane closure on McAllister during working hours. Expect work vehicles in the roadway, as well as impacts to parking and traffic. Please follow all Read on…
Tenderloin Rec Center Play Area | Construction update, January 2025
Exciting progress is underway at the Tenderloin Recreation Center as the new play area continues to take shape, bringing a warm, natural, and adventurous space to the neighborhood. Playground equipment crafted from natural wood has been Read on…
Twin Peaks Trail Improvement Project and Promenade Project | Project Update, January 2026
With the Twin Peaks Trail Improvement Project now complete, focus has shifted to the delivery of the Twin Peaks Promenade Project, an important next phase in reimagining this iconic San Francisco destination. Over the past several months, the project Read on…
State-of-the-art Herz Rec Center Opens with Community Celebration
San Francisco’s first new recreation center in more than two decades brings modern amenities and new opportunities to Herz Playground. Read on…
India Basin Waterfront Park | Community Notification and Public Meeting Notice, January 23, 1 PM
San Francisco Recreation and Park Department will hold a public meeting to discuss the draft EPA grant proposal and to solicit public comments on the proposal. The meeting will be held Friday, January 23, 2026, 1-2 p.m., at the community gathering room at Read on…
Gene Friend Rec Center | Weekend Work Advisory for Saturday, January 10
Please be advised that our contractor will have a crew working this Saturday, January 10. This will be our electrical subcontractor crew, who will be working on the main electrical conduits and installing rebar for the secondary conduits. This work will Read on…
Precita Park Improvements | Construction update, January 2026
The new prefabricated restroom has arrived! Big thanks to everyone who came out to watch this morning. It was a fun atmosphere. Our staff saw neighbors standing on the play structure to get a peek and heard a Read on…
Esprit Park | Tree Replacement now complete
Work this week to replace 15 young trees at Esprit Park is now complete. These trees were currently under warranty after the recent park renovation. Our crew planted 12 London Plane trees along the Minnesota Street frontage and 3 multi-stemmed Read on…
India Basin Waterfront Park | Community Notification and Public Meeting Notice | January 23, 1 PM
San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (RPD) is applying for a United States Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Cleanup Grant to cover the cost of remediating legacy contaminated subsurface soil at India Basin Shoreline Park Read on…
Golden Gate Park - JFK Promenade | Construction update, January 2026
Construction to upgrade the crosswalks and curb ramps on JFK Promenade near the Conservatory of Flowers resumes this week. Our contractor will begin at Conservatory Drive East before turning attention to the intersection at Pompeii Circle. All crosswalk Read on…
Louis Sutter Upper Playground Renewal | REMINDER: Two Community Information Sessions in January
We have two community information sessions scheduled for January. Join the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department to learn more about the upcoming renovation of the playground equipment and surfacing at the Louis Sutter Upper Playground. These Read on…
Documents and Materials
Commission Materials
- Rec and Park Commission, staff report, March 3, 2021 (PDF)
- Rec and Park Commission, staff report, Merced Heights Playground Renovation – Construction Contract Award, February 6, 2019 (PDF)
Community Meetings - Notes and Presentations
- Herz Playground Community Meeting #2, February 2021 (PDF)
- Herz Playground Community Meeting #1, November 2019 (PDF)
Additional Project Documents