San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department
Recreation & Parks Department Headquarters
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1871 |
| Preceding agency |
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| Jurisdiction | San Francisco |
| Headquarters | McLaren Lodge |
| Employees | 850 |
| Agency executives |
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| Parent agency | City and County of San Francisco |
| Website | http://sfrecpark.org/ |
The San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department is the city agency responsible for governing and maintaining all city owned parks and recreational facilities in San Francisco, California. The Recreation & Parks Department also runs Sharp Park in Pacifica, California and Camp Mather in Tuolumne County, California. Current facilities include 4,113 acres (1,664 ha) of total recreational and open space with 3,400 acres (1,376 ha) of that land within San Francisco. The department runs 179 playgrounds and play areas, 82 recreation centers and clubhouses, nine swimming pools, five golf courses, 151 tennis courts, 72 basketball courts, 59 soccer fields, numerous baseball diamonds, and other sports venues.
The San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department began in 1871 when city officials responding to residents' demands for a large public park established the Park Commission to oversee the development of Golden Gate Park. As San Francisco grew over of the years, parks and facilities were added all over the city. Separately the city was running playgrounds, athletic fields, and recreational facilities under the direction of the Recreation Commission. In 1950 the two commissions were merged and the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department was born.
The General Manager is appointed by the mayor of San Francisco. General Manager Phil Ginsburg oversees a staff of 850, consisting of gardeners, foresters, recreation leaders, lifeguards, park patrol officers, custodians, electricians, and painters, from the historic headquarters inside McLaren Lodge at the east end of Golden Gate Park.
The Recreation & Parks Department is governed by a seven-member commission who are also appointed by the mayor of San Francisco to 4 year terms. The Commission President is elected by fellow Commissioners. Commission meetings are held once a month at San Francisco City Hall. Mark Buell (President), Allan Low (Vice President), Gloria Bonilla, Tom Harrison, Meagan Levitan, Eric McDonnell.
Concerns have been expressed by park advocates about the lack of diversity of opinion on the commission and in the department, due to the fact that all of the positions are appointed by the mayor of San Francisco. In the past, there have been efforts to change the selection process for commissioners. A prior proposal included having three commissioners appointed by the mayor of San Francisco, three commissioners appointed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and one additional appointment agreed to by the mayor of San Francisco and the president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. This proposal had 5 votes on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors but was not able to get the sixth vote necessary to put it on the ballot.
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Wikipedia