About Us

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department currently manages more than 220 parks, playgrounds and open spaces throughout San Francisco, including two outside city limits—Sharp Park in Pacifica and Camp Mather in the High Sierras. The system includes full-complex recreation centers, swimming pools, golf courses, sports fields and numerous small-to-medium-sized clubhouses that offer a variety of sports- and arts-related recreation programs for people of all ages. Included in the Department’s responsibilities are Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, the Marina Yacht Harbor, the San Francisco Zoo and Lake Merced. In 2017, San Francisco became the first city in the nation where all residents have access to a park within a 10-minute walk, a direct result of the Department’s commitment to increasing and improving parkland in the city.

News And Highlights

Proposed Concerts Would Include Free Muni, Increased Funding for Neighborhood Projects.

A proposal to put on a series of outdoor concerts in the Golden Gate Park Polo Fields and downtown plazas has been updated to include key benefits: free Muni rides for concertgoers and more funding for community interests in the Sunset/Richmond districts.

Celebrate National Park and Recreation Month

Since 1985, people in the United States have celebrated National Park and Recreation Month in July. Check out events, programs and activities in our parks this July that bring community together.

New Mission Bay Parks Webpage

Welcome to our new Mission Bay parks webpage. As of July 1, 2023, San Francisco Recreation and Parks will assume the management and maintenance of a unique collection of park spaces in the city's Mission Bay neighborhood.

Points Of Interest

Coit Tower

Coit Tower, a slender white concrete column rising from the top of Telegraph Hill, has been an emblem of San Francisco’s skyline since its completion in 1933, a welcoming beacon to visitors and residents alike. Its observation deck, reached by elevator, provides 360-degree views of the city and bay, including the Golden Gate and Bay bridges. The simple fluted tower is named for Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a wealthy eccentric and patron of the city’s firefighters.

Palace of Fine Arts

Don’t forget your camera! The iconic Palace of Fine Arts is one of the most photographed sites in the city, featured in numerous film and TV productions. It’s also a popular wedding location and dazzling performance venue, as well as a wonderful place for a stroll. Admire the Greco-Roman style Rotunda and colonnades, and watch swans drift across the peaceful lagoon. Originally built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exhibition, this urban temple has become a San Francisco treasure, beloved by residents and visitors alike.

Golden Gate Park

World-renowned Golden Gate Park is San Francisco’s largest park. At 1,017 acres, the park has something for everyone, whether you’re looking to check out the popular Japanese Tea Garden, Conservatory of Flowers or museums; or simply looking for a quiet spot to read a book. You can hike, roll, stroll or run through the park. Rent a bike or Segway; row or pedal your way across Stow Lake; hop on a horse; ride the carousel. The possibilities are endless, and it can all be found here in Golden Gate Park.

TPC Harding Park Golf Course

TPC Harding Park is a must-play for San Francisco and Bay Area residents and visitors alike. TPC Harding Park’s championship layout championship follows the original routing designed by architect Willie Watson and Sam Whiting in 1925. The Harding Park golf course is lined with towering Monterey Cypress trees and borders Lake Merced. TPC Harding Park has contoured green complexes and four sets of tees will challenge every golfer from beginner to the most skilled player.