- Welcome to another SF Parks site! :tada:/
- Park Improvements/
- Bonds and Initiatives/
- Park Trails Improvement Program (2008 and 2012 Bond)/
Park Trails Improvement Program (2008 and 2012 Bond)
One of the things San Franciscans value most about our parks and open spaces is the opportunity they provide for hiking and enjoying the beauty of our natural landscapes. Urban trails allow residents to escape the city’s hectic pace and explore nature in their own neighborhoods.
The Recreation and Park Department’s Urban Trails Program is a two-part initiative to restore key trails and expand the current volunteer trail corps to help create and maintain a trail network in the city’s natural areas.
1. Natural Areas
San Francisco’s natural areas contain almost 30 miles of trails, but many are in poor shape-difficult to access, uneven, steep, and prone to erosion. The Urban Trails Program restored and enhanced miles of trails for hikers and recreational enthusiasts of all ages to enjoy.
2. Renovated Trails
Renovated trails improved access to a variety of urban nature outings, from streamside rambles to breathtaking climbs to panoramic viewpoints. New and improved trail connections helped establish regional trails, enabling residents and visitors to experience miles of uninterrupted natural beauty in the middle of the city.
Funding
Because funding for trail improvements is limited, the Department has worked with community groups and stakeholders to focus on spending on parks and open spaces that have the greatest needs and would provide the greatest benefits if improved.
Voters approved the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond, which allocated $4 million to the Park Trail Improvement Program, and the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond, which included $5 million for the Park Trail Improvement Program. The Park Trail Improvement Program funds the restoration of recreational trails, protection of our natural resources, development of trail networks, and improvement of overall trail safety. Thanks to these two voter-approved bonds, RPD has created and improved miles and miles of safe and renovated paths to explore!
Parks Currently Slated for More Park Trail Improvements
Parks with Completed Trail Reconstruction Projects
- Bayview Hill
- Bernal Heights Park
- Billy Goat Hill
- Corona Heights
- Glen Canyon Park
- Golden Gate Park Oak Woodlands
- Grand View Park
- Mount Davidson Park
- Tank Hill Improvement Project
- Twin Peaks
Project Update Blog
Twin Peaks Pedestrian Walkway update | February 2023
We’re happy to share that our design team at the Department of Public Works (DPW) has completed a major project milestone… 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…
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…
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…
McLaren Trails | Tree work is beginning on Philosopher’s Hill
Our contractor has just completed tree work in the heart of the Shelley Inner Core. In the central grove of large cypress trees—a well-shaded favorite of school groups and dog walkers—potentially hazardous branches were removed, and a eucalyptus stand was Read on…
McLaren Trails | Tree Work begins in Inner Core
Our contractor returned to site last week, completing tree work around Grey Fox Creek and setting up fencing to begin work near the middle of Shelley Loop this week. The current active work area is near the intersection of Read on…
McLaren Trails | Tree work continues & Contract award at Rec Park Commission this Thursday
Tree work continues as part of the first phase of construction for the McLaren Trails Priority Improvements project. Please be advised – Access to the University Hill area is now open again. Please use caution when traveling along the Read on…
McLaren Park – Shelley Promenade | Parking area opening near Mansell Street
Rec and Park is happy to announce the opening of a small parking area on John Shelley Drive West near Mansell Street at the Field of Dogs. Accessed from Mansell Street to the south, the area will accommodate over 20 vehicles, parked parallel to the Read on…
McLaren Trails | Tree work begins on University Hill
Our contractor has wrapped up initial work south of the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, and has moved out of the area to accommodate Shakespeare summer camps. The remainder of the tree work in this area will resume after a stretch of summer events. We continue Read on…
McLaren Park | Temporary closures at the Amphitheater Parking Lot
Tree work continues south of Grey Fox Creek, with the removal of dead wood and hazardous trees, pruning of large branches extended over trails, and tree removals that will allow more light into the habitat restoration area around the riparian zone Read on…
McLaren Trails – Tree work continues south of Grey Fox Creek
A few weeks ago, we completed the planned tree work north and south of Jerry Garcia Amphitheater. This work is the first phase of project-related habitat restoration to support ecological health in the area surrounding Grey Fox Creek. The tree pruning and Read on…
McLaren Trails Improvement Project | Construction update, April 2024
It’s been a quiet few weeks in McLaren Park, as our contractor postponed planned work due to bird nesting activity. A biologist conducted follow up pre-construction surveys over the weekend and Tuesday evening, and having received reports of no bird Read on…
McLaren Trails Improvement Project | Tree work wrapping up along Visitacion Avenue
Significant progress has been made on the tree work along Visitacion Avenue, with most of the pruning and removals complete. The focus has now shifted to restoration efforts, including grading and wood chip spreading. To ensure the health of the Read on…
McLaren Trails Improvement Project | Tree work starts along Visitacion Ave the week of February 19
For the last four years, the Recreation and Park Department has been engaging neighbors and other stakeholders, developing designs, and working through regulatory compliance for priority trail improvements and natural features restoration in McLaren Park Read on…
Louis Sutter Playground | Path improvements complete | Construction update July 2023
Our replacement of a failed asphalt pathway south of Louis Sutter Playground is now complete! The fencing has been Read on…
Louis Sutter Playground | Construction update July 2023
A quick construction update on Louis Sutter Playground. We passed our accessibility inspections and construction fencing is coming down soon Read on…
Complete the McLaren Park 2020 Bond Planning priorities survey
We’ve created a new map-based survey to collect your thoughts on possible programming, infrastructure, and connectivity improvements in John McLaren Park. Please take 15-20 minutes Read on…
Shelley Promenade Project in McLaren Park | Reminder: Proposal at Rec & Parks Commission tomorrow
The Recreation and Parks Commission will hear the proposed Shelley Promenade Project tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Read on…
Shelley Promenade Project in McLaren Park | Proposal goes to Recreation and Parks Commission in June
The Operations Committee of the Recreation and Parks Commission will hear the proposed Shelley Promenade Project Read on…
McLaren Trails design is underway! Virtual meeting, 4/11 at 6pm
We have been working on environmental compliance for the McLaren Trails project, which is complicated, as most of the trail work Read on…
Virtual Community Meeting, April 11 | McLaren 2020 Bond – Possible Projects and Priorities
Join us for a Virtual Community Meeting on April 11. The project team will share possible project ideas for specific program areas, infrastructure improvements, and Read on…
SF Rec and Park Commission Meeting at Joe Lee Rec Center | March 16 at 10 a.m.
Come meet your Rec and Park Commissioners at our offsite Commission meeting at Joe Lee Rec Center Read on…
Louis Sutter Playground update | February 2023
Construction is underway south of Louis Sutter Playground! We are removing a failing pathway… Read on…
Documents and Materials
Bernal Hill Urban Trails Project
Glen Canyon Urban Trails Project
Glen Canyon Park and Trail - Community Meetings Flyer (Chinese) (PDF)
Glen Canyon Park and Trail - Community Meetings Flyer (Spanish) (PDF)