The full playground: San Francisco’s open spaces
The full playground: San Francisco’s open spaces
When we talk about open space in San Francisco, we must span multiple jurisdictions, partnerships, and layers of management:
- San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department — including neighborhood parks, major regional parks, playgrounds, and infrastructure upgrades. (See sfrecpark.org)
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area and affiliated federal lands — the GGNRA (managed through the National Park Service, often in partnership with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy). (See parksconservancy.org)
- Other “quasi-public” parks and open spaces — for example, port-run parks (China Basin), The Presidio of San Francisco / Presidio Trust lands, and redevelopment-area parks.
Below is an overview of major open spaces, new ones in 2024–25, and key projects underway.
City-level Parks & Rec Highlights, 2024–25
New parks and major openings
- Sunset Dunes (Upper Great Highway / Ocean Beach stretch)
With the passage of Proposition K in Nov 2024, the upper Great Highway (between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard) was permanently closed to motor traffic and converted into a 43-acre, car-free park, opened on April 12, 2025.
This new park — now officially named Sunset Dunes — has become one of the era’s defining civic moves: a roadway reclaimed as public space on the city’s western edge.
The early months have tested the balance of uses, and city planners have begun dividing the site into zones (a quieter “park zone” on the west side, multi-use traffic paths on the east) to ease tensions between families, pedestrians, e-bikers, and runners. - Cityside Park / Treasure Island
After decades of planning, Cityside Park opened on September 13, 2025, marking the first substantial green space on Treasure Island, spurred by the island’s transition toward residential development. (San Francisco Government)
The park has already become a venue for events — for example, Off the Grid markets and gatherings now animate the space weekly. - China Basin Park (Mission Bay / Port-run park)
Though not under Rec & Park, this 5-acre park opened in April 2024 along Mission Creek, across from Oracle Park. It includes a hilly lawn, dog run, amphitheater seating, and Bay Trail connections. - India Basin Waterfront Park / India Basin Shoreline Park expansions
The “grand” India Basin Waterfront Park combines the legacy 7.5-acre India Basin Shoreline Park with newer adjacent parcels (such as 900 Innes) to produce a roughly 10-acre waterfront park. Its next phase (Phase 3) is slated to begin mid-2025 into early 2028, adding a gravel beach, cookout terraces, a boat house, docking, renovated playgrounds, fitness areas, new basketball courts, cycle tracks, and restored shoreline habitat. The southern half of the park has already been opened as part of environmental justice investments in Bayview–Hunters Point. - Outpost Meadow (Presidio / Tunnel Tops connector)
In 2025, the former parking lot adjacent to Sports Basement (on Mason Street) is being converted into a 1.5-acre meadow and picnic node, linking to the existing Presidio Tunnel Tops open space.
Major renovations, closures, and upgrades
- Upper Great Highway / Ocean Beach “promenade”
Alongside Sunset Dunes, the former roadway is being reconceived as a promenade and coastal park. The city plans to install sculptures, murals, and pedestrian amenities to anchor the transformation. - McLaren Park — Herz Recreation Center and trails
In 2025, McLaren Park is seeing the opening of the new Herz Recreation Center, the first ground-up multipurpose gym built in decades. Trail improvements and clearing are also underway, improving connections to the surrounding neighborhoods. - Twin Peaks trails & Promenade improvements
After late-2024 openings of the Noe Peak trail and Crestline trail, the final phase (turning the eastern portion of roadway into a walking promenade) is expected to begin in 2025. - Stern Grove (Trocadero Clubhouse & playground)
The historic Trocadero Clubhouse (storm-damaged) is scheduled to reopen in 2025. A $4.1 million renovated tree-house-style playground (Sigmund Stern Grove Playground) opened recently, featuring three towers, footbridges, play nets, slides, and nature-immersive play zones. - Esprit Park (Dogpatch)
A full renovation is expected to wrap in early 2025, restoring this 2-acre Dogpatch park with separate meadows, new lighting, benches, and upgraded amenities. - Golden Gate Park: Breast Cancer Memorial Garden
Within Golden Gate Park, a new contemplative Breast Cancer Memorial Garden is being designed at the Arguello Street entrance, funded by Bay Area Young Survivors. - Playground resurfacing across the city
Rec & Park has approved $1.68 million to refresh six neighborhood playgrounds (Sunset Rec Center, Potrero Hill, St. Mary’s Square, Mission Playground, McCoppin Square, St. Mary’s Rec Center). By fall 2026 a total of 14 playgrounds will be resurfaced. - Portsmouth Square (Chinatown)
A $71 million renovation is in the works for San Francisco’s oldest park, with plans to modernize the playground, landscaping, lighting, seating, and event space. The overcrossing on Kearny Street will be removed to reconnect the space to surrounding neighborhoods. Reopening is targeted for late 2027 or early 2028.
The GGNRA and federal / quasi-federal lands in San Francisco
San Francisco’s open space footprint is not limited to city jurisdiction. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), under the National Park Service (often in cooperation with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy), includes coastal lands, shoreline parks, dunes, cliffs, trails, and historic military sites.
Some of the primary GGNRA / federal-linked open spaces visible to San Franciscans:
- Ocean Beach — a 3.5-mile coastal stretch running along the city’s western flank. The beach is both a local recreation zone and part of the GGNRA’s coastal holdings.
- Lands along the Marin headlands, Fort Funston, Lands End, Baker Beach, Crissy Field / Presidio National Park — these are part of the GGNRA network (though some fall under Presidio Trust or other agencies).
- Presidio Tunnel Tops — Part of the Presidio of San Francisco / Presidio Trust domains, linking to GGNRA lands; this has become a vibrant urban-park project with gardens, trails, picnic zones, and views.
- GGNRA trails and shoreline corridors — the Parks Conservancy helps maintain trails, habitat restoration, public programs, and stewardship across San Francisco’s federal open space zones.
