July is National Park and Recreation Month, and this year’s theme is “Build Together, Play Together.” Our Urban Agriculture team has been doing just that by hosting Urban Ag Days at Alemany Farm. By the end of the summer, about 250 of our campers will have taken part in Urban Ag Days, exploring environmental education through hands-on activities like animal encounters, honey bee and worm composting demos, herbal tea and butter making, garlic planting, produce tasting, and more. 

A special thanks to the Friends of Alemany Farm, Tree Frog Treks, Randall Museum, Agricultural Institute of Marin, San Francisco Beekeeper’s Association, San Francisco Children and Nature, Love Dolores, and Rec and Park’s recreation and operations staff for making these days possible. We hope this program has taken root in our young summer campers’ minds and look forward to seeing what they grow, make and raise in the future. Learn more about our Urban Agriculture Program at the link below.

Join Rec and Park for a Sunset Dunes Open House, on Saturday, July 19 from 11 a.m. to noon at Sunset Dunes and Judah Street. It will kick off a community engagement process that runs through 2025. Provide feedback on interim park amenities and future park improvements. Rec and Park staff, with assistance from CMG Landscape Architecture, will meet residents in small groups to facilitate interactive community feedback boards and conduct an online survey. This 2025 community engagement process, along with site feasibility studies, will prepare for a vision and planning process to begin in 2026. 

Interpretation will be available in Cantonese and Russian. For language or accessibility services, contact Pete Moore at pete.j.moore@sfgov.org or (415) 496-6204. Providing at least 72 hours advance notice will help to ensure availability.

RSVP for the open house to help us track community engagement at the link below. Can't make the open house? There will be a second one on Saturday, September 27.

The San Francisco Arts Commission is selecting an artist to create a 600-square-foot artwork—possibly in mosaic or ceramic tile—for the entrance of the new Portsmouth Square clubhouse, spanning both interior and adjacent exterior walls. The piece should reflect the culture and spirit of community service in San Francisco’s Chinatown, offer a cohesive indoor-outdoor narrative, strengthen ties between the clubhouse and Portsmouth Square, and include a community engagement component. Finalists selected by a public art review panel are Kayan Cheung-Miaw, Jenifer K. Wofford, and Christine Wong Yap. To view the proposals and provide feedback by 5 p.m. on Monday, July 21, click the link below. 

The Golden Gate Park Concerts series and Outside Lands Music Festival are just around the corner, starting with Dead and Company from August 1 to 3. Please note that meadow and road closures in Golden Gate Park begin on Wednesday, July 23 with the Polo Field and Middle Drive between MLK and Transverse drives to accommodate the load in/load out for the concerts. See the map above for bike and car detours in the park. For more information and to stay up to date, click the link below.

Thank you to everyone who attended our community meeting for the Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation Project earlier this month. You can see the meeting presentation at this link.

If you were unable to attend the meeting, our project survey is now live. Public spaces are for all, and your input is essential to ensure the project reflects the needs and priorities of the community. Share your thoughts with us by filling out the survey at the link below, which is open through Tuesday, July 29.

The baseball fields at Balboa Park are closed for the rest of the year to accomodate a project that will repair their irrigation system. Nearby athletic fields including Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreation Center (650 Capitol Avenue), Glen Canyon Park (70 Elk Street), and Crocker Amazon Playground (799 Moscow Street).

As we hit the dog days of summer, it means that we're in the midst of coyote pupping season. While coyotes are generally wary of humans, parent coyotes may become territorial if you or your pet stumbles upon their den. 

To foster a safe coexistence between yourself and our natural neighbors, please take the following precautions:

If you encounter a coyote, slowly back away carrying any small children or pets. Do not run. You may also scare the coyote away by appearing large and making loud noises.

If you encounter a coyote or see someone putting out food for a coyote, report it to Animal Care and Control (ACC) at (415) 554-9400, or by email at acc@sfgov.org.

For more information, visit ACC's coyote page at the link below.

Photo credit: Nick Stone Schearer from “Don’t Feed the Coyotes”

Civic Center Soundtrack, a free concert series by Illuminate Live, is at Fulton Plaza (Fulton and Larkin streets) between San Francisco Main Library and the Asian Art Museum. These diverse musical performances will be held every Tuesday and Thursday. See the upcoming shows:  

For the full concert schedule, click the link below.

The legendary San Francisco Bay Area Pro-Am basketball league has returned to Kezar Pavilion (755 Stanyan Street). The league features many talented hoopers ranging from professionals to college players, with league alumni including Steph Curry and Jason Kidd. Attend these free games throughout the summer with the next game on Thursday, July 17 beginning at 8 p.m. For more information including the full schedule, click the link below. 

Join the National Fitness Campaign for pop-up fitness courts on the JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park at 8th Avenue on Saturday, July 19, and the Little Marina Green (3950 Scott Street) on Sunday, July 20. Both pop-ups will take place from 8 to 11 a.m. Enjoy this free outdoor fitness experience and take the 1-Minute Challenge for a chance to win a free Starbucks gift card. Test out the court and be part of the movement to make fitness more accessible across America. Learn more about National Fitness Campaign at the link below. 

Join India Basin Waterfront Park and community partners for the Hoop 4 Peace basketball tournament—a month-long series promoting peace and unity across neighborhoods. This exciting 3-on-3 tournament features youth and adult teams from across the city competing for $2,000 grand prize.

Games are happening every Saturday through July at courts across District 10 of San Francisco including in Sunnydale, Potrero Hill, Alice Griffith (Double Rock), Hunters Point West (Oakdale), Hunters Point East/Westbrook (Harbor), and Huntersview (Westpoint).

The finals will be held on Saturday, August 2 from noon to 3 p.m. at Mission Creek Park North (401 Berry Street), where there will also be free raffles, giveaways, and family-friendly fun. To see the full tournament schedule, click the link below.

Join us for free concerts with Illuminate Live at the Golden Gate Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive) between the California Academy of Sciences and de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. See the upcoming shows:  

For the full concert schedule, click the link below.

Join us for our next garden resource day on Saturday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be free compost, mulch, plant starts and seeds, as well as a tool care station. Compost will be limited to five 5-gallon buckets per household– bring your own buckets. Additionally, volunteers from the UC Master Gardener Program of San Mateo and San Francisco counties will be on site to answer your gardening questions! These events will take place at the overflow parking lot at Gleneagles Golf Course (2100 Sunnydale Avenue), adjacent to the McLaren Bike Park. For more information, click the link below.

Join En2Action for its pop-up series at the India Basin Waterfront Park Food Pavilion (900 Innes Avenue) in July. Enjoy delicious food from some returning businesses:

- Big H BBQ - July 19 and 20: Known for its variety of meats, savory sauces, and southern-style sides, Big H BBQ is ready to serve up some serious goodness.

- En2Action - July 26 and 27

For more information, click the link below.

The Whale's Tail outdoor garden bar is in Golden Gate Park on Saturdays, Sundays, and select Monday holidays from noon to 6 p.m. 

Located off of the JFK Promenade just west of the Rose Garden at the 14th Avenue East Meadow, this family- and dog-friendly spot transforms into a vibrant weekend destination with drinks, lawn games, public art, and curated local food trucks.

It also hosts live music, with this weekend's lineup featuring:

The Whale's Tail is a collaboration between Rec and Park, Non Plus Ultra, and Illuminate. For more information, click the link below. 

Everything old is new again at the Brilliant Society Vintage Market in Fulton Plaza (Fulton Street between Larkin and Hyde streets), which returns on Saturday, July 19 from noon to 5 p.m. The market will feature a DJ along with vendors focusing on clothing, jewelry, handmade goods and more! See the full list of activities going on at the Civic Center Plazas at the link below.

Join the Harvey Milk Center for the Arts and Photo Center (50 Scott Street) for its 11th Annual Art and Pride exhibit, “Unapologetically Queer,” a bold showcase curated by Nicola Bosco-Alvarez. It lasts through July 31, amplifying queer voices in a time of resistance and visibility. This community exhibit features artwork from more than 62 artists, the largest Art and Pride exhibit to date at the center.

Come out for a conversation with Rev. Dr. Megan Rohrer, author of the new photo book "San Francisco’s Transgender District," on Saturday, July 19 at 1 p.m. This free event will feature an inspirational talk from Rohrer, who will use photos from the past as a roadmap for an unapologetic life of love and queer activism. To RSVP for this free event, click the link below.

Join Precita Eyes Muralists for its Urban Youth Arts Festival on Saturday, July 19 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Precita Park (348 Precita Avenue). Both youth and experienced street artists/muralists will share their work and bridge generational gaps through music, dance and spray can art. For more information, click the link below.

Join RAE Studios for its Boombox Sundays series on July 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UN Plaza fitness court. This free event for the community will have classes like K-Pop, Hip Hop and Contemporary Fusion. Experience back-to-back classes with a rotating roster of instructors. Note that registration is required for this event. For more information and to RSVP, click the link below.

Join the Golden Gate Park Band for its Bonnie Scottish Cultural Celebration show on Sunday, July 20 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Golden Gate Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive). This show will feature the Dunsmuir Scottish Dancers, while Dr. German Gonzalez will lead the band in Scottish folk tunes. The wearing of tartans and kilts is encouraged! For more information, click the link below.

Join Cloud Surfin and the India Basin Waterfront Park project partners for their Poetry on the Bay event on Friday, July 25 from noon to 3 p.m. at the park (900 Innes Avenue). It will feature spoken word performances by local artists including Poe Rich, So Vicious and San Quinn, as well as refreshments and a raffle. Come out for an afternoon of magic and unity!

Interested in performing? Email mrprincedean@gmail.com. For more information, click the link below.

All the Way Live Foundation's Hip Hop on the Plaza is at Fulton Plaza (Fulton Street between Larkin and Hyde streets) on Friday, July 25 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. It will feature a breaking workshop followed by a dance session. For more information, click the link below.

Join the Francisco Park Conservancy for a community yoga class at Francisco Park (Bay and Larkin streets) on Sunday, July 27 from 10 to 11 a.m. Bring a yoga mat, blanket, or towel and meet on the lawn for some morning movement. This event is open to the community with all levels welcome. For more information, click the link below.

San Francisco tennis players, advanced beginners through intermediate, are invited to play in the Tennis Coalition of San Francisco's (TCSF) Sunday afternoon doubles workshop series. The sessions will be led by TCSF board member Sean Dizon. Sean is a private instructor, as well as an assistant coach with the St. Ignatius College Preparatory School. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach for the USF Tennis Team. 

For more information and to register for the next social on Sunday, July 27 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Crocker Amazon Playground courts (Moscow Street and Amazon Avenue), click the link below.

Head over to Noe Valley Town Square (3861 24th Street) for the expanded night market on Tuesday, July 29 from 5 to 8 p.m. The night market spans the full block of 24th Street between Sanchez and Vicksburg streets. Join neighbors, local vendors and performers in the square for an evening of community, music and summer fun. For more information, click the link below.

Come dig, smell, taste, build, and explore with the San Francisco Botanical Garden (1199 9th Avenue) on Bean Sprouts Family Days presented by Kaiser Permanente. Come out for family fun in the Children’s Garden on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the first Saturdays of each month from noon to 4 p.m. Programs are included with garden admission and do not require pre-registration. For more information, click the link below.

Union Square Plaza (333 Post Street) is your 2025 destination for fun, free outdoor programming. There’s something happening every day through October 20. See the weekly schedule: 

For more information, click the link below.

Check out all of the amazing drop-in activities and scheduled classes available at the reimagined UN Plaza and surrounding Civic Center area.

From the Heart of the City Farmers' Market at Fulton Plaza to free skateboarding lessons at UN Plaza, we have something for everyone to get out and play in San Francisco's core. See the workout class schedule from Rae Studios at UN Plaza, as well as the full amenity list and schedule at the link below.

Check out the indoor archery ranges at Mission Recreation Center (2450 Harrison Street) and Moscone Recreation Center (180 Chestnut Avenue) that are open for the summer! Mission Rec is open on Wednesdays from 4 to 7:30 p.m. and Moscone Rec on Fridays from 4 to 7:30 p.m. There will be paper and 3D targets with all bow and arrow types welcome. Equipment for loan will also be available. For more information and to sign up for a session, click the link below.

San Francisco's free Adaptive Bike Program is back in Golden Gate Park.

In partnership with BORP, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, we're providing free adaptive bikes for use on a first come, first served basis in the park on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the summer and fall months.

They will be available at the Music Concourse behind the Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive) and next to the accessible parking lot. 

For more information, contact BORP Cycling Center at (510) 848-2930 or email sfcycling@borp.org.

Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) is hosting a free drop-in wheelchair basketball session every Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. in partnership with BORP Adaptive Sports and Recreation. All ages are welcome. You don't have to have a mobility disability to participate, but you must be able to maneuver a wheelchair. Wheelchairs are available for participants at least 5 feet tall. Let's hoop!

For more information, click the link below.

Join the Friends of Sunset Dunes for its Sundays at the Beach programming. These free activities, from chair yoga to live music, will be hosted four times a month. The next program will be Tai Chi on Sunday, July 20 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Sunset Dunes and Judah Street. For more information, click the link below.

The San Francisco Public Library invites you to visit the Bookmobile at the JFK Promenade. Every Monday through August 11, you can find the library on wheels at the corner of JFK Promenade and Conservatory Drive, west of the Conservatory of Flowers, from 4 to 7 p.m. Stop by to browse books, borrow materials, and take part in free activities for all ages. For more information, click the link below.

The San Francisco Public Library's (SFPL) YouthMobile is coming to parks around the city through its Swing into Stories program. It takes place at a different park each Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to noon (Storytime begins at 10:30 a.m.) with the next on July 22 at Redwood Grove Playground (200 John F. Shelley Drive) in McLaren Park. 

The YouthMobile offers a diverse selection of children’s library materials available for checkout with an SFPL library card. For more information and the Swing into Stories schedule, click the link below.

Join our staff at Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) for Tuesday movie nights! The next will take place on July 22 beginning at 6 p.m. and will feature the 1961 film "101 Dalmations." Come meet your neighbors and enjoy these films. For more information, contact the center at (415) 239-4007.

San Francisco Nature Education (SFNE) is hosting summer bird walks, with the next taking place on Saturday, August 2 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Lands End Coastal Trail. Meet in the El Camino del Mar Parking Lot at the USS San Francisco Memorial. SFNE volunteers will lead these walks, offering one program for children ages 5 to 12 (accompanied by a parent or guardian), and another for youth and adults ages 13 and up. For more information and to register for these field trips, click the link below.

Rec and Park is accepting submissions for its free Glen Park Rec Short Film Festival, which will take place at the Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center (70 Elk Street) on Friday, October 10 at 6 p.m. The deadline for submissions is Sunday, August 31 at 11:59 p.m. To submit your film or for additional information, email conor.casey@sfgov.org.

The San Francisco Police Activities League (SFPAL) hosted its first-ever regional PAL flag football tournament in partnership with Rec and Park and the San Francisco 49ers. Youth athletes from across the Bay Area, including Oakland and Richmond PAL, came together for a powerful day of flag football, mentorship, and community connection. Our Video of the Week comes SFPAL and highlights the event. Learn more about SFPAL and its offerings at the link below.

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