Park Improvements
Capital and Planning Division
Our Capital and Planning Division oversees a large portfolio of park renovations, developments, and acquisitions. Together with community members and park advocates, our Capital and Planning team strives to create and renovate parks that address social problems and enhance community resilience. The Capital and Planning Division was created in 2005 in response to the passage of the 2000 Neighborhood Parks Bond. Soon after the creation of the Division, the Mayor and Board of Supervisors adopted RPD’s first ten-year Capital Plan to assess the City’s future infrastructure needs, the investment required to meet them, and the plan of finance. The Capital Plan is now updated and reissued every two years. It is used to prioritize critical capital projects that impact public safety. It places a strong emphasis on accountability, transparency, and meeting the highest level of fiscal responsibility.
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.
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…
Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation | REMINDER: Survey Closes Tuesday, July 29
The second survey closes Tuesday, July 29. Public spaces are for everyone, and your input is essential to ensure the project reflects the needs and priorities of the wide range of users that will utilize this area. Please share your Read on…
Bernal Heights Playground | Construction Starting Soon! August 2025 through Late 2025
For the duration of construction, the playground will be closed. Expect construction noise, intermittent street/sidewalk closures, and pedestrian detours. We’re giving the playground a fresh new look this year! This playground renewal project Read on…
Stern Grove Playground Renovation | Construction update, July 2025
We’re excited to report that the new playground’s final piece of custom play equipment – the large, curved, metal slide – arrived on July 16 and installation of the slide is now underway. Our contractor is also working to complete the Read on…
Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation | REMINDER: Survey Open through Tuesday, July 29
REMINDER! The second survey is open now through July 29. Public spaces are for everyone, and your input is essential to ensure the project reflects the needs and priorities of the wide range of users that will utilize this area. Please share your Read on…
Golden Gate Park - Botanical Garden Access Improvements | Construction update, July 2025
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…
Buchanan Street Mall | REMINDER: Night work scheduled for July 22 & July 23
Notice of Night Work: Please be advised that there will be 48 hours of continuous construction activity from July 22, 7 a.m. to July 24, 7 a.m. Cured-in-place lining work will be completed on the sewer between Fulton and McAllister on Read on…
India Basin Waterfront Park | PG & E Tower Removal Project Begins, IBWP-Phase 3 to Begin Soon
Earlier this month, PG & E began work to decommission its existing transition tower at 5000 Hunters Point Blvd. near the intersection of Hawes St. adjacent to India Basin Shoreline Park (IBSP). This tower has stood between IBSP and the Read on…
South Sunset Clubhouse | Construction update, July 2025
Demolition and utility work are currently underway. Storm drainage work is moving forward. We’re also managing our orders of materials with long-lead times, such as ADA signage and glass doors, to keep the project on track. We’re still on pace to Read on…
Sunset Dunes | Community Open House this Saturday, July 19, 11 a.m. to noon
Join Rec and Park for a Sunset Dunes Open House, on Saturday, July 19 from 11 a.m. to noon at Sunset Dunes and Judah Street. This open house will kick off a community engagement process that runs through 2025. Provide feedback on Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | Night work scheduled for July 22 & July 23
Notice of Night Work: Please be advised that there will be 48 hours of continuous construction activity from July 22, 7 a.m. to July 24, 7 a.m. Cured-in-place lining work will be completed on the sewer between Fulton and McAllister on Read on…
Portsmouth Square Elevator Modernization | Construction complete!
The Portsmouth Square Elevator Modernization project is now complete. Thank you for your support throughout construction. This will be our last blog update for this project. Please visit our park improvements webpage to learn about other major Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, July 11, 2025
This month, we’ve completed a substantial amount of work on the pagoda, coring, concrete pouring, new beams, and fiber wrapping. On the plaza, the Post St seating nook planter foundations layout and formwork take shape (see comparison to Read on…
Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation | Project update, July 2025
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend our community meeting for the Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation Project on Tuesday, July 8! You can check out the meeting presentation which walks through what we’ve learned so Read on…
Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation | REMINDER: 2nd community meeting, July 8, 5:30-7p
San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (RPD) invites you to join us for our second community meeting on the Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation Project. This is an opportunity to hear project updates, learn about the initial Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | Construction update, July 2025
Construction fences are now in place on the four southern-most blocks, from Grove St to Turk Street. Construction fencing will be installed on the northernmost block between Turk Street and Eddy Street starting next Monday, July 7. All doors and Read on…
Portsmouth Square Improvements | Call for Public Comments: Portsmouth Square Public Art
The San Francisco Arts Commission Is Seeking Your Feedback on Public Art Proposals that have been selected for Portsmouth Square Clubhouse Wall and Portsmouth Square Entrance Plaza Sculpture before Monday, July 21, at 5 p.m. Read on…
Twin Peaks Trail Improvement Project and Promenade Project | Construction update, June 2025
Cazadoro Construction, our project contractor, continues to make steady progress on the stairway portion of the trail, which is now approximately 75% complete. Next up, crews will begin constructing the retaining walls along the south side of the Read on…
Marina Improvement and Remediation | Project update, June 27, 2025
Due to permitting delays, environmental investigations in the form of borings and sediment sampling scheduled for mid-June will now take place offshore between June 30 to July 8, 2025. Work hours will be between 7:00am and 7:00pm, Monday through Read on…