Bonds and Initiatives
The Capital Plan relies on a series of bonds to modernize the City’s parks and recreation facilities. With passage of the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond for $185 million, the department was able to renew and renovate 12 neighborhood parks, playgrounds, and recreation facilities and begin addressing the infrastructure needs in our urban forest, trail network, playfields, and restrooms. In November 2012, voters approved an additional $195 million in Bonds to improve 15 more neighborhood parks, including three pools, remediate failing playgrounds, bring long-awaited investment to our citywide parks, and continue the vital renewal projects in our urban forest, trails, and water conservation needs. Even with the significant infusion of funds received by the Bonds, more than $1 billion in deferred maintenance and modernization needs remain.
Active Initiatives
Completed Initiatives
Capital and Planning Reports The Capital and Planning Division submits monthly financial reports on the status of our projects and initiatives to the Recreation and Park Commission . These available on the Commission’s webpage. Click the green box for 2023 materials from Full Commission meetings:
For archive of Full Commission Documents from previous years, Click here .
The Division also produces reports on projects with bond funding for the Citizens’ General Obligation Bond Oversight Committee (GOBOC). These are available on the GOBOC webpage under Recreation and culture bond programs .
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. Y ou’ll receive an email that includes a link to confirm your new subscription for each blog for which you sign-up.
Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation | Second community meeting, July 8, 5:30-7p
San Francisco Recreation and Park Department invites you to join us for our second community meeting on the Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation Project. We want to hear your thoughts and ideas about the future of this important Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | Construction update, June 2025
Construction at Buchanan Street Mall is making great progress! Major work has been focused on carefully mapping and assessing existing utilities, and refining our plans for health and safety, site logistics, and traffic control. There has also been some Read on…
Kimbell Athletic Field Renovation | Construction update, June 2025
Construction at Kimbell Athletic Field Renovation is making good progress. Over the last several weeks, the contractor has been working to replace all the fence fabric and damaged posts, as well as completing all the upgraded drainage improvements. Over Read on…
Jackson Playground Improvements | Update from SF Arts Commission Civic Design Review meeting in June
We’re excited to report that the Jackson Playground Improvement Project received unanimous approval from the San Francisco Arts Commission Civic Design Review Committee for the Design Development construction documents (“Phase 2” approval) Read on…
Portsmouth Square Elevator Modernization | Construction update, June 2025
The modernization of all three elevator cabs and equipment has been completed. Final waterproofing work is still in progress. To safely complete this work, one elevator will be taken out of service at a time. We expect all the remaining work to Read on…
Bernal Heights Playground | Project update, June 2025
We are pleased to announce that construction on the Bernal Heights Playground is scheduled to begin in early August. During construction, the entire play area will be fenced off and closed. Construction is expected to last from early August through 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…
Marina Improvement and Remediation | Project update, June 10, 2025
As an initial phase of the Marina Improvement and Remediation Project, geotechnical and environmental investigations in the form of borings and sediment sampling will take place offshore between June 17 to June 24, 2025. Work hours will be between Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, May 27, 2025
While waterproofing and concrete pours continue in the plaza, work on the underside of the plaza is also happening in the garage. Construction highlights include Plaza/Pagoda Work: Strengthening the Pagoda concrete ring beams and columns, Installing Read on…
Marina Improvement and Remediation | Project update, May 20, 2025
As an initial phase of the Marina Improvement and Remediation Project, geotechnical and environmental investigations in the form of borings will take place on land on May 21, 2025 and offshore in June. Work hours will be Read on…
Stern Grove Playground Renovation | Construction update, May 2025
The playground continues to take shape with the installation of the playground towers and other climbing elements. We are looking forward to wrapping up construction this summer 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…
Buchanan Street Mall | Construction update, May 2025
Our contractor has mobilized, and tree work has begun at Buchanan Street Mall. Tree work on the southern blocks is well underway, with a cluster of pine trees south of McAllister to be removed next week. Tree work will continue progressing to the Read on…
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…
Buchanan Street Mall | Upcoming Job Fair + Opportunities for Artists
We want to make sure folks are aware of these upcoming opportunities. First, if you are interested in making art for the Memory Walk at Buchanan Street Mall, please compete the interest form by Friday, May 23. This is a great chance for both new and Read on…
Golden Gate Park - Bay Area Young Survivors (BAYS) Memorial Garden | Construction update, May 2025
The Golden Gate Park - BAYS Breast Cancer Memorial Garden 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 Read on…
Mayor Lurie, Breast Cancer Survivors Unveil Nation’s First Permanent Breast Cancer Memorial Garden
Golden Gate Park’s First New Memorial in More Than 30 Years Honors Lives Lost to Breast Cancer, Offers Place of Healing for All. Read on…
Randolph Bright Mini Park Improvements | Project update, April 2025
Over the past few months, we connected with the community through in-person and virtual outreach, including a neighborhood cleanup day and an online meeting. More than 60 participants completed our questionnaire, providing valuable insight into Read on…
Tenderloin Recreation Center Playground | Design Update, April 2025
The reimagining of the Tenderloin Rec Center Play Area is well underway. After receiving unanimous approval from the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department Commission, the design team has been hard at work finalizing construction documents. As of Read on…
Golden Gate Park | Traffic Improvements Near Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park Begin May 12
Rec and Park, in partnership with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), is making roadway and curb changes in Golden Gate Park along northbound Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, near Shakespeare Garden, to improve traffic flow and 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…
Twin Peaks Trail Improvement Project and Promenade Project | Construction update, April 2025
We’re excited to share that construction has officially begun on the connector trail linking Crestline Drive to the upcoming Twin Peak Promenade. Following the successful demolition phase led by San Francisco Conservation Corps, Cazadoro Construction has Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, April 29, 2025
We hope everyone enjoyed the Cherry Blossom Festival this month! Our contractor is continuing to pour the concrete footings and waterproof the plaza. Construction highlights include demolition of the entrance path against the Read on…
Portsmouth Square Elevator Modernization | Construction update, April 2025
We’re excited to share that the second elevator is now fully modernized and open for public use. Work on the third and final elevator is currently underway and is expected to continue through early summer. Once that elevator is complete, we’ll begin Read on…
Buchanan Street Mall | Construction update - Tree Removals and Construction Fencing in early May
PLEASE BE ADVISED: Tree work and tree removal will begin at Buchanan Street Mall the week of May 5. This work is expected to take approximately 2 weeks. Tree work will happen between 7am - 3pm. Expect to see barriers around work zones, marked detours for 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…
Bernal Heights Playground | Project update, April 2025
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department is pleased to share the final design for the Bernal Heights playground. This design grew from the invaluable input of hundreds of community members via our design survey and in-person feedback sessions Read on…
Stern Grove Playground Renovation | Construction update, April 2025
The second shipment of custom play equipment was received last week, and the final delivery is expected within the next two weeks. On-site installation of catch basins is currently underway, and the construction team continues to make steady progress on 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…