Mayor Daniel Lurie today appointed Sarah Madland as general manager of Rec and Park. Madland brings more than two decades of city service to the role, where she will oversee San Francisco’s world-class park system and work to expand access to recreation programs, community spaces, and neighborhood amenities that help San Franciscans of all ages stay active and engaged in their communities.

Her appointment builds on Mayor Lurie’s and the city’s work to expand welcoming public spaces and affordable recreation opportunities for families and young people. Recreation and parks are central to Mayor Lurie’s Family Opportunity Agenda, offering accessible, year-round programming for all ages at more than 25 community recreation centers across the city, including youth sports, summer camps, after-school care, aquatics, fitness, and senior activities. 

Madland has served the city under six mayoral administrations. Prior to her appointment by Mayor Lurie, she spent more than 15 years as the director of policy and public affairs at Rec and Park. She previously worked on the Board of Supervisors and in the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office. 

Throughout her career, Madland has helped lead some of San Francisco’s most transformative park and recreation initiatives. She has worked to ensure the long-term success for the Golden Gate Park JFK Promenade, launched programs such as Love Dolores and San Francisco Children and Nature, and helped expand a citywide volunteer network supporting neighborhood parks across San Francisco. She also led public investment efforts that secured more than $500 million for park improvements, contributing to San Francisco becoming the first city in the nation in which every resident lives within a ten-minute walk of a park. Learn more at the link below.

Mission Community Pool (101 Linda Street), Rec and Park’s only outdoor pool, has reopened for the summer season. Plan a visit as sunny weather is forecast for the rest of the week. View the pool schedule at the link below.

Rec and Park’s summer class registration begins Saturday, May 16 at 10 a.m. Explore a wide range of offerings for all ages, from Tiny Tot programs and youth surf experiences to senior fitness and dance classes, along with family-friendly activities across the city. To view offerings and register on Saturday, click the link below.

Celebrate the reopening of the Tenderloin Recreation Center Children’s Play Area (570 Ellis Street) on Tuesday, May 26 from 11 a.m. to noon. The newly redesigned space features a nature-based playground with climbing structures, slides and a nest swing, along with expanded greenery, improved accessibility and flexible seating areas for play and community use. Learn more about the project at the link below. 

Submit your work for the Harvey Milk Center for the Arts and Photo Center’s ART + PRIDE Exhibit for 2026, “Let’s Have a Ball!” The deadline to submit work is Sunday, May 31 at 11:59 p.m.

The Pride exhibition celebrates joy, expression and the many ways queer communities gather and take up space, with artists invited to contribute work across mediums including photography, sculpture, painting, textiles and digital media. The show will run at the center (50 Scott Street) from June 20 through July 31, with an opening reception on June 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. Learn more and apply at the link below.

(Photo Credit: Sarah Deragon Portraits to the People)

With its sweeping 360-degree views of San Francisco and beyond, Twin Peaks holds a special place for Joji, who has been coming here since she was a teenager.
 
“This is where I come when I need to clear my mind,” she said.
 
For Joji, Twin Peaks is more than just a place to relax and reflect — it’s also a place that keeps her active and connected to nature.
 
“You can bike, walk, or jog up to the peak and accomplish your steps for the day,” she said. “And the air at the top of the park feels lighter, less polluted, and you can breathe easier while hiking around.”
 
As someone who visits often, Joji said it’s exciting to see Twin Peaks continue to evolve into an even better destination for hiking, walking, and exploring, especially with the new trail improvements recently completed.
 
And there’s even more on the way. Construction on the Twin Peaks Promenade Project began last month and will bring major upgrades to the car-free stretch of Twin Peaks Boulevard. Once completed next year, the project will include smoother paving for walking and rolling, a new ParkTread trail for walkers and joggers, upgraded seating areas, bike racks, informal skate features, and additional native plants to support local wildlife like the beloved Mission Blue Butterfly.
 
“This really is my favorite park,” she said. “It’s great to see it getting better and better.”

People of the Parks is a series of short stories, based on conversations with people we meet in San Francisco parks.

The infant and toddler yard at FACES Bayview got a stunning makeover last month, transforming it into a nature-filled play space. Over two weekends, more than 65 volunteers with Rebuilding Together SF came together to add climbing logs, a nest swing, picnic tables, and more than 200 native plants. Little ones can now dig, explore, and let their imaginations run wild.

The transformation was made possible by the Connecting Children with Nature program, created by Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) with funding from the Department of Early Childhood (DEC) and in collaboration with Rec and Park and San Francisco Children and Nature. The program brings together public and private partnerships, along with community volunteers and in-kind donations of natural materials including logs and stumps from the Presidio and Golden Gate Park.

Join Ikebana International’s San Francisco Bay Area Chapter for its Wonderful World of Men in Ikebana event at the County Fair Building (1199 9th Avenue) in Golden Gate Park on Friday, May 15 beginning at noon. It will feature demonstrations from male artists in the schools Aratame, Ikenobo, and Sogetsu. 

Ikebana, or Japanese flower arrangement, is an ancient Asian art vibrantly practiced in contemporary interpretations by this organization's members. Learn more at the link below.

Check out the 3rd Annual Pawz for Pierce’s Playaz at Civic Center Plaza (335 McAllister Street) on Friday, May 15 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. This community dog competition raises awareness for gun violence prevention. The youth-led event features kid-and-dog teams from across the Bay Area coming together to inspire hope and change, with proceeds supporting gun buyback and other prevention programs. Learn more at the link below.

Bay Area families are invited to the de Young Museum (50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive) for the 5th annual de Youngsters Day Out on Saturday, May 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This free event features hands-on art-making, entertainment led by teaching artists and community partners, collaborations with local artists interpreting the museum’s permanent collection, and live performances in the galleries. Tickets include entry to the event, access to all permanent collection galleries, and same-day admission to the Legion of Honor. For more information and to register, click the link below. 

Head to In Chan Kaajal Community Garden (1300 17th Street) for free seeds and plant starts available for pickup on Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This free event is open to all San Francisco residents and offers a chance to connect with the UC Master Gardeners of San Mateo and San Francisco counties, who will be on-site to answer questions and share expert gardening advice. Registration is not required. Learn more at the link below. 

Celebrate Southeast Asian New Year at Fulton Plaza (Fulton Street between Larkin and Hyde streets) on Saturday, May 16 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hosted by the Bamboo Voice, this free community event features Thai and Southeast Asian food vendors, artisans, live performances, and traditional ceremonies throughout the day. For more information, click the link below. 

Join us for free weekly concerts in our parks, including with Illuminate Live and the Golden Gate Park Band at the bandshell, as well as Illuminate Live at Fulton Plaza. See upcoming shows below:  

Fulton Plaza (Fulton Street between Larkin & Hyde streets)

May 14 | noon-3 p.m. - Barb Murphy, Louiza, & Michael Annotti

May 19 | noon-3 p.m. - Dan Agnello, Laia, & No Country

 

Golden Gate Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive)

May 15 | 4:30-7:30 p.m. Friday Happy Hour featuring Wreckless Strangers

May 16 | 2-6 p.m. The 3rd Annual Retro-Future Revuer featuring Dinner Date, Lazer Beam, Miss Hits, & Mitch Rocket

May 20 | 4-7 p.m. - Midweek Melodies featuring Jeff Desira, JimBo Trout, & Latchkey

Take aim at the indoor archery range at Mission Recreation Center (2450 Harrison Street). The range offers two-hour sessions on Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m. through May 28, with both paper and 3D targets available. Personal equipment is recommended, but loaner equipment is available. For more information and to sign up for a session, click the link below.

Join the Francisco Park Conservancy for a volunteer day at Francisco Park (Bay and Larkin streets) on Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. to noon. Help care for the park, spend time outdoors and connect with neighbors. For more information and to sign up, click the link below.

Golden State Valkyries guard Gabby Williams, a WNBA All-Star and one of the league’s top defenders, is bringing her career full circle in the Bay Area. Williams, who signed with the team this spring, recently reflected on her childhood summers playing at Mission Recreation Center with the Mission Rec Rebels (MRC).

Our Video of the Week comes from her introductory press conference where she gives a shout-out to the program (4-minute mark). Read more about her connection to the Bay Area from Mission Local at the link below.