Earlier this week, Rec and Park celebrated the reopening of the Bernal Heights Playground, unveiling a refreshed and fully accessible play space that also marks a major step forward in how the City delivers park improvements.

Bernal Heights Playground is the first project completed under San Francisco’s new Playground Renewal Program, which uses a cooperative purchasing contracting method to dramatically speed up playground delivery and reduce costs.

The approach—made possible through legislation approved by the Board of Supervisors last year—allows Rec and Park to purchase and install high-quality play equipment through pre-bid contracts shared by multiple agencies, cutting out layers of red tape and contractor markups.

The $1.3 million renewal project replaced outdated play structures and surfaces, transforming the space into a vibrant, modern, and fall-safe play area. Crews improved grading and drainage and installed new accessible surfacing to ensure children of all abilities can safely explore and play.

Guided by community input, the project reflects neighborhood priorities while meeting modern ADA accessibility standards. For more information, click the link below.

Lace up your skates because the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square (333 Post Street), presented by Kaiser Permanente, is back! Glide into the season with outdoor skating and festive fun in the heart of downtown San Francisco through January 19. Enjoy themed events like Drag On Ice, Silent Skate, and Polar Bear Skate. For more information, click the link below. 

Rec and Park is making improvements to Transverse Drive between John F. Kennedy Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The project includes:

Once striping is complete, the protected two-way bikeway between Overlook Drive and the JFK Promenade will also be reinstalled. All existing parking will remain.

If a road closure is needed during striping, one lane will stay open for two-way traffic between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Bicyclists are welcome to use the full drive lane alongside vehicles during this time.

Come out for a community meeting on the Crocker Amazon Baseball and Softball Fields Renovation at the June Jordan High School auditorium (325 La Grande Avenue) on Wednesday, November 12 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Rec and Park, in partnership with the San Francisco Giants, will share plans to upgrade six diamonds with lighting, batting cages, expanded parking, improved dog play areas, a new restroom, a central plaza, and better paths, irrigation, and park furnishings. 

For translation or accessibility requests, contact Pete Moore at pete.j.moore@sfgov.org or (415) 496-6204 at least 72 hours in advance. For more information, click the link below.

Stern Grove and Pine Lake are closed today, November 5 due to the wet and windy weather. These parks will remain closed until park staff inspect conditions, which we anticipate will take place the morning of Thursday, November 6.

If using your parks, please be alert as strong gusts can topple healthy trees and snap limbs. Stay up to date at sfrecpark.org.

Farewell to a Giant! Last week we said goodbye to an old friend, a 90-ft cypress on the eastern edge of Hellman Hollow, whose towering trunk finally split after standing strong for more than a century. From the Roaring 20s to the Summer of Love to this month’s Hardly Strictly, its branches shaded generations of San Franciscans. Though it can no longer stand, its story isn’t over. Its wood will be repurposed in our nature exploration areas, where it will continue to bring joy.

Join us for free concerts with Illuminate Live in Golden Gate Park:

Golden Gate Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive)

For the full concert schedule, click the link below.

Head to Harvey Milk Photo Center (50 Scott St.) for its next exhibit, "Into the Complete Unknown," on view from November 7 to December 6.

Curated by Melissa Castro Keesor and Katherine Akey, the exhibit features works by Annette LeMay Burke, Marna Clarke, Charlotta Maria Hauksdóttir, Rohina Hoffman, and Jacque Rupp—five women photographers whose art emerges from experiences of loss, upheaval and resilience.

The opening reception takes place Friday, November 7 from 5 to 8 p.m., with a book signing and artist talk on Tuesday, November 18 at 6 p.m. For more information and to register, click the link below.

Join En2Action for its pop-up series at the India Basin Waterfront Park Food Pavilion (900 Innes Avenue), held on the weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Papa Rudy’s will be back for November 8 and 9 with its slow-cooked marinated barbecue and family vibe. Chef Maritza from Pimiento Catering will be at the Food Pavilion for the rest of the month through November 30.

Maritza is a lifelong cook who grew up beside her mother, Mama Gaby, learning to turn love and tradition into flavor. She brings the soulful, vibrant tastes of Colombia to the Bay Area, blending heritage with creativity in every dish. For more information, click the link below. 

Celebrate local creativity at the India Basin Art Market on Saturday, November 8 from noon to 6 p.m. at India Basin Waterfront Park (900 Innes Avenue). Enjoy a free, all-ages afternoon of art, music, food, drinks, and local pop-ups hosted by SALÓN! and the India Basin Waterfront Park Curator-in-Residence. This event marks the culmination of the San Francisco Arts Commission’s yearlong artist-in-residence program at the park. For more information and to RSVP, click the link below. 

Join the Friends of Alemany Farm (700 Alemany Boulevard) for a two-part Soil Stewardship Workshop Series. The second workshop, Land-Based Soil Health Stewardship, takes place on Sunday, November 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and focuses on practical ways to work with your soil microbiome and improve soil health through hands-on activities like planting cover crops. For more information and to register, click the link below. 

Catch the 5th Annual Bruce Ettinger Bottle Yacht Regatta at Spreckels Lake (Fulton and 36th Avenue) in Golden Gate Park on Sunday, November 9 from 1 to 4 p.m. Watch homemade model yachts, crafted from recycled bottles and found materials, race across the water and continue a 125-year tradition.

Meet the “bottle fleet” along the north shore starting at 12:30 p.m., and sign up for a free learn-to-sail session after the regatta to try your hand at piloting a radio-controlled model yacht. All ages are welcome; sessions are recommended for youth 10 and up. For more information, click the link below. 

Join the San Francisco Bay Sox Girls Baseball Program for free clinics to work on your game this offseason! The next will take place on Saturday, November 8 at Moscone Recreation Center (1800 Chestnut Street) from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for ages 7 to 10 and noon to 1:30 p.m. for ages 11 to 14. For more information and to register, click the link below.

It's not too early to think about the 2026 San Francisco Youth Baseball League (SFYBL) season! Independent teams and individual registration for those returning to their 2025 Mustang, Bronco, Pony or girls softball teams is currently open. 

New Rec and Park players and those who have aged up to Bronco and Pony can register on Wednesday, November 12 at 10 a.m. For more information and to register, click the link below. 

Dogpatch Paddle’s 2026 summer camps are now open for registration—with early bird savings of $150. Campers can choose from a range of adventures, including beginner, intermediate, and advanced SUP, SUP/kayak, and the Teen Explorers Traveling Camp. There will also be a new Park to Park Camp for those who prefer to stay on land. For more information and to register, click the link below. 

In case you missed it, Rec and Park recently shared the successful removal of a Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) transition tower from the future site of India Basin Waterfront Park, marking a major step in transforming the Bayview-Hunters Point shoreline into a vibrant public open space. Our Video of the Week features the tower's removal over a week, and a glimpse of what the park will look like when complete. For more information, click the link below. 

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