san francisco playgrounds
Golden Gate Mothers with lots of playground photos and maps
PDF of parks by district, keep a print out in your glove box
San Francisco Government Park & Recreation Department
San Francisco Neighborhood Parks Council
Help improve SF parks by submitting information and photos of parks in need of repair to: Park Scan
OPINIONS, REVIEWS & RAMBLINGS
* * * * * McKinley Square— Vermont & 21st st.
Great fenced in park for ages 2-5 with three play structures, sand covered ground, some rubber grounding under one swing and on the playground perimeter, 4 bucket swings and 4 regular swings. Outside the playground are a few picnic tables and a grassy area for dogs. Parking is easy and it's not too crowded.
* * * * * Holly Park — Holly Park Drive at Highland Avenue
I need to go here everyone raves about it.
* * * * Duboce Park — Duboce & Scott Street (by N tunnel)
Medium sized fenced in and fully rubberized playground with small sandbox area. Two play structures with slides, tunnel and monkey bars, 2 bucket swings, 2 regular swings. Outside is a large grassy area for dogs. Parking isn't too easy and this park gets really crowded.
* * * * Eureka Valley Playground — Collingwood & 18th (by Cala Foods)
Fenced playground with rubber flooring and medium size sandbox, great play structure very new and really safe in comparison to any other I've seen, only 2 bucket swings, teeter-totter, and dome climbing structure. This playground is gated and though it's supposed to be open 9-5 it is sometimes not unlocked due to SF staffing problems. Parking is a little tough.
* * * * Potrero Hill Recreation Center/Jackson Playground 17th & Arkansas
Two separate fenced play areas for younger and older kids, with safe play structures in each and teeter-totter both with sand ground, 4 bucket swings in toddler area (not sure how many big kid swings). There's a large field with teams practicing baseball/soccer etc. and there's a recreation center building with other activities. Parking is easy.
* * * * KidPower Playground — Hoff St between 16th/17th & Valencia & Mission
Great gated playground with rubberized flooring and lots of play structures suited to toddlers, 2 bucket swings. Only drawbacks are there are never any kids in the park which is creepy, the neighborhood is dodgy and parking is tough.
* * * Douglass Playground — 26th & Douglas
Large open sand playground with two play structures. There are also some donated plastic huts, and kitchen stoves to play with and a plastic slide, 2 bucket swings, 2 regular swings. There's a nice tennis court that I've seen kids learning to ride bikes, scooters or skate boards on. There's a medium size grassy area for dogs and a slide up in the trees for older kids. Parking is easy.
* * * Mission Playground — 19th & Linda (between Guerrero & Valencia)
Fenced in playground half with rubberized flooring the rest is sand, 2 play structures for older and younger kids, 2 bucket swings, 2 regular swings, 1 tire swing. Outside the playground is a large basketball court and a recreation center (and I think a pool?). Not too crowded but parking isn't too easy either.
* * * Dolores Park — Dolores St. between 18th & 19th.
Large hilly and grassy park busy with all types of people and lots of activities. the children's area often has some older kids so it can be a little challenging with under 4 year old age group, 4 bucket swings in the upper playground, 4 regular swings in the lower playground, with lots of cement and a sloping grade (tough on toddlers), there's a fun wooden boat structure kids like to run across or snack on. There are 3 fun metal slides with varying slopes to slide down, and lots of sand to dig up. Lots of picnic tables (though you need to reserve them on weekends) and often the park is quite busy. Parking can be trying and the park is often pretty junky with cigarette butts, garbage and other nasties. On a clear day the city view is really beautiful.
* * * Precita Park Playground — Precita from Folsom to Alabama
Fenced in large size playground with cement and sand ground, 2 bucket swings, 2 regular swings, 2 play structures, and a spinning ride-on. There are some picnic tables and benches as well. Outside is a grassy slope for dogs. Parking is easy.
* Hayes Green Park — Octavia & Hayes St.
Fully rubberized gated park with only one climbing structure, better for lunch or strolling. Great for getting a fabulous latte from Blue Bottle Coffee and letting junior run around while you sip and enjoy.
* South Park — 2nd & 3rd/Bryant & Brannan
This open park is better for older kids, but really it's just better for local business people to eat their lunches. The play structures are dangerous and really old and though they have 2 bucket swings and a separate bigger kid area the sand is filled with cigarette butts, the grass has endless dog poop and there are lots of homeless on the benches and picnic tables and parking is tough too.
* Mission Recreation Center — Harrison & Treat Sts.
This place needs a serious cleaning and face lift, too yucky to review.