Gene Friend Recreation Center

Scope of Work

Gene Friend - concept rendering - Harriet Street View

The transformative Gene Friend Recreation Center project will replace the old facility with a bright, modern hub with 50% more space to serve the needs of children, families, and seniors in the vibrant SoMa neighborhood.

At the heart of this $59 million project is a commitment to neighborhood connection and well-being. The 25,000 square foot center will be able to accommodate a diverse array of activities and classes aimed at all ages. It includes a gymnasium with two full-size basketball courts surrounded by expansive windows for natural light, as well as an inviting new entry on Harriet Street. The design features a modern exercise area, a kitchenette, reception area and office, and two multi-purpose rooms, one of which opens onto the new exterior playground, creating a safe and protected area for supervised play. Additional outdoor amenities in the dense urban area include a picnic area and sport court, all complemented by new landscaping and lighting.

Background

The former SoMa Rec Center was built in 1990 and renamed in 2002 in honor of Eugene L. Friend, who served on the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission for 24 years, including 13 years as its President. The rec center is a longtime community gathering spot located in the heart of the SoMa Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District. Youth programs keep the facility bustling, while its gym has been a busy spot for pickup basketball games, including wheelchair basketball.

Rec and Park began working with the community in 2014 to envision improvements to Gene Friend Recreation Center. A feasibility study was conducted to model various tiers of intervention. This study demonstrated that improvements to the existing building would be costly and would not fully accommodate community desires and the needs of the growing SOMA neighborhood. Construction of a new recreation center and facility allows RPD to provide more public amenities, improve site access and security, and will offer greater seismic strength and environmental benefits.

After a robust community outreach planning phase, Rec and Park Commission approved a concept design in September 2019 for a whole-scale replacement and expansion of the recreation center.

Estimated Project Schedule

Phase	Timeline
Planning	2014
Design	2022
Construction begins	Early 2024
Open to the public	Mid 2026

Project Updates

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Project Updates

Capital Project Update Opens in new window

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update, May 15, 2025

There will be weekend work on-site this Saturday, May 17. We expect noise to be limited due to the scope of work and minimal heavy equipment use. This is the last weekend work scheduled for May. Next week, on Monday, May 19 and Friday, May 23, between Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction Update and Weekend Work Advisory May 2025

We anticipate that there will be weekend work on-site on the following upcoming Saturdays: May 3, May 10, and May 17. We expect noise to be limited due to the scope of work and minimal heavy equipment use. The contractor team is working to Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Weekend Work Advisory and Construction Update, April 2025

The first concrete pour for the building’s foundation was completed this Monday, April 21. The footprint for the new building is now visible! The contractor team is currently working to install below-grade waterproofing and vapor barrier and will then Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update, April 2025

PLEASE BE ADVISED: This Monday, April 21, we will begin the first concrete pour for the building’s foundation. This work will require more than two dozen trucks entering and exiting the site on Monday. Following the concrete pour, the contractor team will Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update: Adjacent Public Works Project Right of Way Work

Please be advised that there is currently right of way work directly adjacent to Gene Friend Rec Center that is part of two Public Works projects: the Folsom Streetscape Project and the 6th Street Pedestrian Safety Project. We have been Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update: Night Noise Timing Updates

UPDATE: Night Noise Permit and Timing. The Contractor team has confirmed that they will need the next two mornings, Tuesday, 3/18 and Wednesday, 3/19, to de-mobilize the last large rig and equipment. This work outside of normal work hours is Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update: Night Noise Timing Updates

UPDATE: Night Noise Permit and Timing. The Contractor was able to successfully de-mobilize a rig last week and confirmed that there will be no more night noise until next week. They anticipate one more early morning, next Monday or Tuesday, 3/17 or Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update: Night Noise Timing Updates and Weekend Work on 3/8

Please be advised that we anticipate that, weather permitting, the Contractor team will be working this Saturday, March 8, from 7 am to up to 7 pm. While performing this work, the contractor will continue to follow all noise ordinance-related requirements Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update: Weekend Work on 3/1 & 3/8 + Night Noise Timing Updates

Please be advised that we anticipate that, weather permitting, the Contractor team will be working this Saturday, March 1, as well as the following Saturday, March 8, from 7 am to up to 7 pm. While performing this work, the contractor will continue to Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Weekend Work on 2/22, 3/1, and 3/8 + Night Noise Permit for 3/3-3/7

Please be advised that we anticipate that, weather permitting, the Contractor team will be working this Saturday, February 22, as well as the following Saturday, March 1, and then Saturday, March 8, from 7 am to up to 7 pm. While performing Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Weekend Work on 2/15 and 2/22 + Night Noise Permit for 3/3-3/7

Please be advised that we anticipate that, weather permitting, the Contractor team will be working this Saturday, February 15, as well as the following Saturday, February 22, from 7 am to up to 7 pm. While performing this work, the contractor will Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update: Weekend Work on 2/8 + Night Noise Permit for 3/3-3/7

Please be advised that we anticipate the Contractor team will be working this Saturday, February 8, from 7 am to up to 7 pm. Night noise permit dates are now 2/24-2/28 Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update: Weekend Work on 2/1 + Night Noise Permit for 3/3-3/7

Please be advised that we anticipate the Contractor team will be working this Saturday, February 1, from 7 am to up to 7 pm. While we have encountered several challenges with obstructions in the soil, we have worked collaboratively with the design and Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update: Weekend Work on 1/25 and Parking Reminders

Please be advised that we anticipate the Contractor team will be working this Saturday, January 25, from 7 am to up to 7 pm. While we have encountered several challenges with obstructions in the soil, we have worked collaboratively with the design and Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update: Weekend Work on 1/11 and 1/18

Please be advised that we anticipate the Contractor team will be working this Saturday, January 11, and, likely, the following Saturday, January 18, from 7 am to up to 7 pm. While we have encountered several challenges with obstructions in the soil, we Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update, December 2024

Please be advised that we anticipate the Contractor team will be working this Saturday, December 21, from 7 am to no later than 7 pm. We are authorizing this work to keep construction progressing as quickly as possible. Weekend work that was scheduled for Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update: Weekend Work on 12/14 and 12/21

Please be advised that we anticipate the Contractor team will be working this Saturday, December 14, as well as the following Saturday, December 21, from 7 am to no later than 7 pm. We are authorizing this work to keep construction progressing as quickly Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update, November 2024

The contractor team is continuing with Deep Soil Mixing (DSM) production. DSM work uses large, specialized equipment to stabilize the soil under the location where the new Rec Center will be built. DSM work is anticipated to continue into early 2025 Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update: Weekend Work on 11/9

Please be advised that we anticipate the Contractor team will be working this Saturday, November 9, from 7 am to 7 pm. We are authorizing this work to keep construction progressing as quickly as possible. While performing this work, the contractor will Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update, October 2024

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update: Weekend Work on 10/5 and 10/12

Please be advised that we anticipate the Contractor team will be working this Saturday, October 5 and the following Saturday, October 12, from 7 am to 7 pm. We are authorizing this work to keep construction progressing as quickly as possible Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update, September 2024

With the relevant site permit addendum from the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) now issued, we have begun work to support the foundation for the new building. The contractor team started Deep Soil Mixing (DSM) production this week Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Supervisors Approve Acquisition to Expand Park Space in SoMa

6th Street property next to Gene Friend Rec Center to provide nearly 10,000 sq. feet of outdoor space for underserved community Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update, August 2024 corrected

We have a few different things going on site this month, including working to clear debris from the top layers of the site within the next couple of weeks, ahead of ground improvements installation, to minimize conflicts with that work; wrapping up the Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update, July 2024

We are excited to share some significant project progress since our last update in June. Abatement and demolition work of the old facility has been completed. Our foundations subcontractor, Drilltech, is mobilizing to begin soil testing as a part of Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Rec & Park Moves to Expand Neighborhood Green Space in SoMa

Acquisition of 6th Street property next to Gene Friend Rec Center would add nearly 10,000 sq. feet of outdoor space to historically underserved neighborhood. Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Construction update, June 2024

Demolition work is wrapping up and scheduled to be completed by sometime next week. The project team has been working diligently to finalize the design for the below grade building foundation. In June, we will be Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | RESCHEDULED: Visual Arts Committee, now May 15

As a quick follow-up to our post yesterday, today’s Arts Commission Visual Arts Committee (VAC) is cancelled due to lack of quorum Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Demolition Starting and Public Art Update

We are excited to report that demolition of the existing facility is scheduled to begin this Friday, April 19. We anticipate that the building demolition will be completed by mid-week the week of April 22. The contractor will Read on…

Gene Friend Rec Center | Update from Arts Commission Civic Design Review meeting in March

Following up on our last project update, we’re excited to report that the Gene Friend Rec Center project received unanimous approval from the Arts Commission Civic Design Review Committee of our final construction documents (“Phase 3” approval). You can Read on…

Documents and Materials

Commission Materials

Grant Award Materials

Rec Park Commission, Eugene L. Friend Recreation Center Agreement and Gift Acceptance, January 15, 2014 (PDF)

Community Meetings - Notes and Presentations

Additional Project Documents

Contact Us

Melinda Sullivan

Project Manager Email Phone: 1-628-652-6648