Rec Centers & Playgrounds

With the support of Supervisor Matt Dorsey, the Bureau of Landscape Architecture is leading a grant-funded planning effort to create a new park space in the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood. The study will examine the potential of the underutilized right-of-way between 4th and 6th streets and Harrison and Bryant streets to address several long-standing challenges in SoMa, including flooding, unsafe pedestrian and bicycle routes, and the disproportionate impacts of the urban heat island effect and air pollution on community health.

Bayview Opera House Renovation

The $5.7 million renovation of the historic Bayview Opera House significantly improved ADA access throughout the landmark site and transformed the adjacent plaza into a welcoming community gathering space for music, performing arts, and cultural programming.
 

The Joe DiMaggio Playground is a two-acre park with a children’s play area, tennis courts, bocce courts, pool building and sports courts. It sits directly next to the newly constructed North Beach Library and will transform one block of Mason Street from a street with vehicular traffic into a public park space. This project will reorganize and renovate all portions of the park, including:
 

The SoMa West Improvement Projects include the development of a skate park and dog play area on the Caltrans right of way parcels located underneath the Central Freeway, between Valencia and Otis streets. In order to authorize the City to build, operate, and maintain the sites and facilities, an agreement was negotiated with Caltrans and the owners of the property. The leases were approved by the Board of Supervisors. The construction of both the skate park and dog play area were bid as one project and are currently under construction.

Skate park

The 1.2 acre site, on a plateau of a steep hillside, can be categorized into three levels: the upper level with the main level clubhouse and outdoor seating area; the intermediate level with the clubhouse basement and play area; and the lower level consisting of outdoor sport courts.

The project consisted of renovation work to an existing single story, wood framed and textured concrete block building. The work also included adding 440 square feet to the west side of building; construct an exterior ramp, improvement of the outdoor court/walk/playground and site furnishings at various locations throughout the existing three acres.

Building

Sunset Playground is a four acre park that occupies a full city block between 28th and 29th Avenues, at Lawton and Moraga. In addition to a recreation center, the site has two tennis courts, a basketball court, a baseball field, children's play areas, and a small community garden. A retaining wall topped with chain link fencing surrounds the perimeter of the playground. There are few trees within the playground, and the planted areas were minimal. The recreation center contains a large gymnasium with bleachers.

In February, 2010 we received the Project of the year Award from the American Public Works Association (APWA), Northern California Chapter, in the less than $5 million category of Historical Restoration/Preservation, for the Sunnyside Conservatory Renovation Project.
 

The award represents outstanding contributions to public works in Northern California and was officially announced at the February 25th, 2010 Northern California Chapter luncheon where the winners gave a presentation of their project work.
 

The $4.1 million Kimbell Playground project included renovation of the restrooms, a new children’s play area, new lawns, restoration of roads and pathways, lighting and irrigation improvements, as well as accessibility improvements.
 

Located at Geary Boulevard and Steiner Street, the playground offers a welcome respite with open space and a place to play for the community to enjoy.
 

Hundreds of neighbors celebrated the reopening of Palega Playground and Recreation Center on Nov. 16, 2013. Located on Felton Street in the Portola neighborhood, families cheered the restoration of this 80-year old, five acre complex, which includes new playground equipment; a renovated recreation building that houses a gymnasium, several multi-purpose rooms, kitchen, staff offices, storage and restrooms; basketball and tennis courts; and new soccer, baseball and softball fields.