McLaren Park
McLaren Park - Herz Recreation Center Project
The Recreation and Park Department is partnering with the HOPE SF Team, including Mercy Housing and Related CA, to construct a new recreation center/gymnasium at Herz Playground.
McLaren Park - Louis Sutter Playground ADA
This project will remove existing barriers to public accessibility in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
McLaren Park - Louis Sutter Upper Playground Renewal
This project will fully renovate the playground adjacent to McNab Lake.
McLaren Park - Pedestrian, Bike and Streetscape Projects
The McLaren Park Pedestrian, Bike and Streetscape Projects is an effort to improve safety for people walking, biking, taking transit and driving on McLaren Park’s streets and wide pathways, including: Visitacion Avenue; Sunnydale Avenue; Crocker Amazon access; and John Shelley Drive Promenade.
McLaren Park - Shelley Promenade Project
Approved October 2023. This project converted nearly half-mile section of Shelley Drive in McLaren Park to a car-free promenade to improve safety and comfort for all park users.
McLaren Park - Trails Improvement Project
The improvements proposed by the McLaren Park Vision Plan build on the existing trail network, including Philosopher’s Way.
McLaren Park - Vision Plan
The Recreation and Park Department will be investing $6 million of 2020 Bond funding in McLaren Park. Learn more about the planning phase and get involved!
McLaren Park - Yosemite Creek Daylighting Project
Rec and Park, in partnership with SFPUC, is daylighting the historic Yosemite Creek in McLaren Park and piloting a high efficiency irrigation/stormwater reuse system at the Louis Sutter playfield
The list above includes active projects and initiatives. To check out some of our completed park improvements at McLaren Park, please visit our McLaren Park - Completed Park Improvements page.
Project Updates
If you would like to receive updates about all our active projects in McLaren Park, please visit the News Flash section of our webpage and subscribe to " Rec Park Improvements: McLaren Park | All project updates ,” or pick-and-choose your subscriptions by project name. To receive updates about all our active projects, subscribe to “Rec Park Improvements | All Project Updates.”
Project Updates
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Herz Recreation Center | Grand Opening Celebration, this Friday, January 9, 3:30-5 PM
We’re excited to invite the community to celebrate the grand opening of the new Herz Recreation Center at 160 Mrs. Jackson Way in McLaren Park on Friday, January 9, from 3:30–5:00 p.m. The new recreation center includes an indoor basketball court with Read on…
McLaren Park - Louis Sutter Upper Playground Renewal | Two Community Information Sessions in January
Two community information sessions now scheduled for January. Please 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…
Crocker Amazon Baseball and Softball Fields Renovation | REMINDER: Community Meeting, Nov. 12, 6 PM
REMINDER: Join Rec and Park for our second community meeting to discuss the revitalization of the baseball and softball fields at Crocker Amazon. The San Francisco Giants are partnering with Rec and Park to renovate six baseball and softball fields with Read on…
Crocker Amazon Baseball and Softball Fields Renovation | Second Community Meeting, Nov. 12, 6-8 PM
Join Rec and Park for our second community meeting to discuss the revitalization of the baseball and softball fields at Crocker Amazon. The San Francisco Giants are partnering with Rec and Park to renovate six baseball and softball fields with new Read on…
Herz Recreation Center | Construction update, September 2025
We’re getting close! The gym is nearly finished, all the outdoor fitness equipment has been installed, and we’re focused now on some of the final activities needed to complete the project, including installing furnishings, surfacing near the Read on…
McLaren Park Trails | Construction update, September 2025
Work is continuing on University Hill in McLaren Park, between Louis Sutter Playground and the courts near Mansell. The new ribbon trail is almost complete, with the finishing touches and accessibility inspections scheduled for this week and 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…
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…
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…
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…
Herz Recreation Center | Construction update, June 2025
Exciting progress continues at Herz Recreation Center! Inside the recreation center, the space is coming together beautifully. Many of the interior finishes are complete, including sleek tilework in the restrooms, new cabinetry for the office and Read on…
McLaren Park | Focus groups help refine maps and signs
Connectivity planning has been a major focus of McLaren Park 2020 Bond Planning and Vision Plan updates. As part of ongoing project scoping and outreach, Rec and Park staff held three focus groups in May 2025. Representatives from various Read on…
McLaren Park Trails | Construction update, June 2025
Our McLaren Trails contractor continues to make great progress on trail and natural features restoration work at the Upper Reservoir. In the last several weeks, they have finished grading work and installed new drainage and irrigation. They have poured Read on…
McLaren Park Trails | Construction update, May 2025
In late April and early May, our contractor completed trail work along the western portion of “Main,” wrapping up planned improvements to this major trail artery between the Upper Reservoir and Jerry Garcia Amphitheater. You’ll notice that much of the Read on…
McLaren Park Trails | Construction update, April 2025
We’ve made good progress on the trail work and natural features restoration at the Upper Reservoir and throughout the Shelley Inner Core. At the Upper Reservoir, the sloping walkway from the parking lot to the reservoir level was completed, and our Read on…
Herz Recreation Center | Construction update, April 2025
Construction is progressing well at the Herz Recreation Center. Utilities are being tied in, basketball hoops have been installed, and both interior and exterior finishes are underway. These finishings will continue in the coming months. We anticipate Read on…
McLaren Park Trails | Construction update, March 2025
In February, work was completed on the new pedestrian trail along Visitacion Avenue. This trail improves connectivity between Hahn and the Visitacion Valley Middle School and creates a more accessible connection from the sidewalk at Leland into the Read on…
Crocker Amazon Baseball and Softball Fields Renovation | Community meeting on February 20, 6-7:30pm
Join the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department to discuss the renovation of the baseball and softball fields at Crocker Amazon. The San Francisco Giants organization approached the Department with a proposal to partner to install six baseball and Read on…
Herz Recreation Center | Build Your Future with CityBuild Academy!
Rec Park is proud to collaborate with CityBuild and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development to support workforce development. These partnerships have enabled us to engage local laborers, who are currently making an impact at Herz Rec Center. Read on…
McLaren Trails | McLaren Park Upper Reservoir Parking Lot closed, starting 1/20
Upper Reservoir Parking Lot and nearby trails and paths will be closed for more than a month, weather depending, starting 1/20. The pathway circling the Upper Reservoir remains open as do the connections to this pathway from Philosopher’s Way in the Read on…
McLaren Trails | Trail work underway in McLaren Park, near Jerry Garcia Amphitheater
The long-anticipated trail work has begun! Our contractor started work near the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, putting in place erosion control measures to reduce runoff that has flowed towards the Amphitheater Restroom in recent years. They’ve also begun Read on…
Let’sPlaySF! Initiative | Take the Let’sPlaySF! Playground Survey open through January 31, 2025
Thanks to the successful Let’sPlaySF! Initiative funded by the 2012 Park Bond, SF Parks Alliance, and philanthropic partners we are renovating 13 dilapidated playgrounds across our city. With 11 playgrounds already beautifully renovated and two more Read on…
McLaren Park | McLaren Park Collaborative meeting, November 18, 6:30 pm
Rec and Park staff will share various capital project updates at the virtual McLaren Collaborative meeting this evening, Monday 11/18, starting at 6:30 pm Read on…
McLaren Trails | McLaren Trails tree work almost complete
Our contractor has finished work on Philosopher’s Hill! Hazardous tree removals have made the trails more safe and improved the health of remaining trees by decreasing crowding and increasing light penetration and airflow through the forest Read on…