The new Herz Recreation Center has opened in San Francisco, marking the city’s first recreation center built from the ground up in more than 25 years, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced.
The 11,500-square-foot facility, located within Herz Playground in John McLaren Park, serves residents of the Sunnydale and Visitacion Valley neighborhoods.
It includes a full-size basketball court with seating for 200, a multipurpose room for classes and events, offices, a kitchen, and a community space designed for all ages.
The project also added new pathways connecting the playground to nearby community facilities, along with outdoor amenities such as a fitness terrace, picnic areas, and landscaped open space.
“The opening of the Herz Recreation Center expands access to safe, welcoming public space for Sunnydale and Visitacion Valley and the families who call these neighborhoods home,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “This new recreation center will give San Franciscans a place to play, learn, and build community and it reflects our work to support public spaces in every neighborhood in our city.”
Funding for the $26.1 million project came from a mix of city bonds, federal grants and private partners. Planning began in 2019, with construction starting in 2023.