San Francisco has not one brand-new park, but two. On Friday morning, Mayor London Breed cut the ribbon on the Presidio’s Battery Bluff, a six-acre open space not far from the long-anticipated Tunnel Tops park, which is now slated to open in July.
“What better way to celebrate Earth Day than to celebrate the opening of a park over a freeway?” Michael Boland, chief of Park Development at the Presidio Trust, said to a gathering of dozens of public and private agency team members who attended the dedication.
Named for a set of military defenses built around the turn of the last century, Battery Bluff is the second phase of the thirty-years-in-the-making redo of spaces surrounding the Presidio Parkway that connect to the trails and marsh near the Quartermaster Reach, an earlier phase of the project that opened in December 2020.
Since 1936, the area has been officially off-limits to the public. And its location on the curve of Lincoln Boulevard across from the National Cemetery kept it out of reach from all but the most committed taggers.
The Presidio Trust-driven project has since scrubbed down the former artillery sites, added an “anti-graffiti coating” to their walls, installed picnic tables, built trails to Crissy Field, and opened up a perch for new spectacular views that stretch from the Golden Gate to Downtown.
Meanwhile, Francisco Park’s playground bay vistas will debut in Russian Hill next week. This green space, created by the community’s Francisco Park Conservancy and SF Recreation & Parks, will top an old reservoir on Bay Street — another seemingly out-of-nowhere new playground for city dwellers.
Read on for more ideas of new green spaces around SF to get your toes in the grass this Earth Day weekend.
April 2022
A full-fledged team effort of local, state and federal government agencies unveiled San Francisco’s newly appointed and refurbished Battery Bluff, named after the four U.S. Army gun batteries (Blaney, Baldwin, Slaughter and Sherwood) and tucked along the hillside just above Chrissy Field (and not to be confused with the “Battery to Bluffs Trail” on the west side of the Presidio.) Visitors can now enjoy breathtaking views of the Golden Gate, Angel Island, Alcatraz and San Francisco Bay, take a break at one of the newly installed picnic tables or mosey along its multi-use path, surrounded by 60,000 native and ornamental plants, connecting visitors to the Golden Gate Bridge. (Pro-tip: Despite what Google Maps might show, Battery Bluff is not accessible from Mason Street; drivers can park along Lincoln Blvd. or in the Main Post.)
April 2022
Nothing’s better than free! As of today, San Franciscans can now stroll (free of charge) in two more of Golden Gate Park’s historic gardens. Both the pagodas, koi ponds and steep drum bridge of the Japanese Tea Garden and the tropical oddities of the Conservatory of Flowers became part of the “free pass” ordinance signed into law by Mayor Breed in March. The two join the San Francisco Botanical Garden as parks free to city residents and all U.S. veterans with I.D.
April 2022
Community effort and SF Rec & Parks combined to transform the once-abandoned reservoir site into a public park flourishing in native landscaping and boasting some of the most awe-inspiring views of Alcatraz, Angel Island, Marin County, the Golden Gate Bridge and SF Bay. In addition to a fenced-in dog park, Francisco Park will have a fully ADA-compliant pathway beginning at Bay Street that leads to the lawn area and childrens’ playground when it officially opens April 27.
March 2022
Whether it’s Yang, Chen or Sun style tai chi, locals can now master their moves in the city’s second-largest park. The McLaren Park Courts Project kicked off its newest space, Mansell Tai Chi Court in Mid-March with an elaborate demonstration of this Chinese martial art. The court is officially earmarked for public multi-use, so park goers will be able to use the space for yoga, dancing — and, of course, perfecting their “Parting the Wild Horse’s Mane.”
February 2022
Though Rec & Park might not count the playground’s repairs and resurfacing as a “major” project, local families disagree. After a six-month closure, they’re thrilled to have the playground back in action, telling The Standard they love the renovation’s new artificial grass-covered play surfaces and return to old-school sand for slide landing zones.
February 2022
Dive in! After a two-year, $15 million renovation, the Angelo J. Rossi Pool has reopened to the community near USF. The project included improvements to the pool and its building, as well as the park’s sports fields.
February 2022
Three new bike share stations will open this weekend in the Presidio: Anza Avenue at Lincoln Boulevard, Torney Avenue at Lincoln Boulevard and MacArthur Avenue at Fernandez Street. (Non-members should check rates before riding.)
January 2022
Cal Academy opened a new outdoor space for children wanting a break from their immersive indoor exhibits. Wander Woods offers opportunities for unstructured play, including heaps of native greenery and structures built from reclaimed wood found in nearby parks.
January 2022
Need an excuse to wander around the Presidio? Field Notes is a new, self-guided experience that invites visitors to learn more about the park’s flora and fauna. Wooden markers share seasonal facts and provide QR codes to get even more information.
December 2021
The community wanted a better playground—and that’s what they got: A $6 million renovation that includes a larger play area, exercising equipment for adults, a walking path, grassy picnic area and a renovation of the ball field where namesake basketball great K.C. Jones played as a child. The design boasts 29 new trees and a bioretention area with native vegetation to prevent flooding.
November 2021
The new nature exploration area at Heron’s Head Park grew from inspiration provided by local children. The play area is woven with paths through native vegetation, massive boulders, locally sourced trees, and repurposed wood that lead to a lookout with views of San Francisco Bay.
September 2021
Strap into a full-body harness and grab a helmet at McLaren Park Ropes Course for some tree-top adventure. The 313-acre course offers 11 elements with a combination of low and high challenges. “The Leap” from the tippy top of a telephone pole to a dangling buoy a dozen or so feet away will tempt only the most brave. Managed by Outward Bound California, building the confidence of local students is the primary goal but spots are occasionally available to the general public.
September 2021
The mini park’s $1.9 million renovation aimed to create a hidden natural oasis for the neighborhood. With its improved playspaces for children, “tot” area, sprawling grass for dogs, and exercise area adorned with equipment for adults, Juri Commons hopes to help connect kids to nature.
August 2021
Eureka! The pathways that connect Aquatic Park to blufftop Fort Mason reopened to the public for the first time since the 49ers landed in SF. The one-acre park of terraced gardens offers incredible views and connections to the Bay Trail and the rest of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
July 2021
Ready to test your nerves on a new climbing wall? The $2.8 million makeover at Golden Gate Heights Park is a hopping, climbing, jumping, swinging great time for youngsters and the young at heart. The playground added new activities galore—monkey bars, slides, basket swings, spinner, rolling arches and spring disc steps.
June 2021
The community asked for a family-friendly place where multiple generations could gather in nature and the $3.3 million renovation project did not disappoint. Among the accessible pathways, new irrigation, plantings, landscaping, lighting, picnic area and furnishings lies the first ever playground “skywalk” in California.
April 2021
Known by neighbors as one of SF’s “best kept secrets,” George Christopher Park’s panoramic views and Glen Canyon trail access have been enhanced by a brand new playground. A $5.2 million renovation added structures for big and little kids, swings, an imagination garden, a playhouse, a dry nature riverbed and a performance stage.
April 2021
SF’s Filipino community grew paradise from a parking lot on Mission Street. Kapwa Gardens sprung to life during the pandemic, providing a new destination for arts, culture and wellness gatherings in the SOMA Pilipinas Cultural Heritage District. Check their calendar for upcoming events or stop by for an afternoon “green” break from the SOMA bustle.
March 2021
A 113-foot-long brightly colored glass mural now runs the length of the Garfield pool. The $19.7 million project transformed the “pool” into a neighborhood center, with a new playground, sports fields, restrooms and a courtyard connecting it all.
March 2021
Beginners and experts cheered the opening of the $27 million dollar tennis center in Golden Gate Park. The 16 lighted tennis courts, six pickleball courts, and numerous instructional opportunities allow everyone in the city to get their whites on.
February 2021
Chinatown’s favorite place to play got a $14.5 million facelift to ring in the Year of the Ox. The playground’s freshly-painted pagoda overlooks new sitting areas, two sand-floor play areas, tennis and volleyball courts, and a roof-top basketball court that would make local legend Willie Wong proud.
Additional research by Shelley Fargo.