Golden Gate and Dolores might get top billing, but San Francisco is literally blooming with public parks—did you know there is one city park per every half-mile here?
Grab your picnic blankets and a good read—here's our complete guide to SF parks, neatly organized for you by neighborhood.
Sunset + Parkside + Lake Merced
McCoppin Square
Dust-off your tennis racket and join a game of doubles! This recreational utopia is always filled with friendly sports-minded folks looking to strike-up a match. Be on the lookout for upcoming changes to the playground and courts themselves too in the coming months. // 24th and Taraval St. (Parkside), sfrecpark.org
Lower Great Highway Trail/Park
Looking to mix-up your normal running or walking scenery? Take on this 3.5-mile trail to see, first hand, why this swath of greenery alongside Ocean Beach is tops with surfers and beach babes. // Great Highway and Noriega (Outer Sunset), sfrecpark.org
Junipero Serra Playground/Park
Now with a fully renovated clubhouse and playground, it's as good a time as ever to checkout the only park in the Lakeside neighborhood. // 300 Stonecrest Dr. (Lake Merced), sfrecpark.org
15th Avenue Steps/Park
Knotty oak trees populate the hillsides along the 15th Avenue Steps could be a scene straight out out Alice and Wonderland. Be on the lookout for the various species of migratory birds that are known to perch along the contorted vegetation. // 15th Ave. and Kirkman St. (Inner Sunset), sfrepcark.org
Western Sunset Playground
With one of the few lacrosse fields anywhere in San Francisco, Western Sunset Playground is, weirdly enough, a bastion for the East Coasters who partake in the sport. But, for the less athletic among us, feel free to sprawl out on the well-manicured, dog-friendly greens surrounding the tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts. // 3223 Ortega St. (Outer Sunset), sfrecpark.org
Western Sunset Rec Center
Serving the Sunset community since the early 40s, the Western Sunset Rec Center has been a pinnacle part of both the inner and outer Sunset neighborhoods for more than 70 years. Complete with playgrounds, courts, and grasses, Western Rec Center has a bevy of activities to serve any patron. // 2201 Lawton St. (Outer Sunset), sfrecpark.org
Harding Park
Once limited by the PGA tours, Harding Park became quite a famous green space in the 1950s. Now it's more appreciated for its killer views of Lake Merced than its golfing greens. // 99 Harding Rd (Lake Merced), sfrecpark.org
Lake Merced Park
Bordering the San Francisco Zoo, Lake Merced Park has long been an epicenter for aquatic recreation. Rent a kayak at the boathouse to paddle through the iconic SF lake. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for osprey and other birds of prey that frequent the lake's shorelines. // Skyline Blvd and Harding Rd (Lake Merced), sfrecpark.org
Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove/Park
Thirty-three acres of lush greenery wrap this Sunset treasure. Weekly concerts can be see at the park's amphitheaters, hosting crowds of 10,000 people or more; check-out his year's lineup. // Sloat Blvd (Parkside), sfrecpark.org
Pine Lake Park
Steeped with opportunities for wildlife watching, Pine Lake Park is a birdwatcher's thirty-acre paradise. In fact, it's one of the stops on the Pacific Flyway.(Take note, bird watchers and avian enthusiasts.) // Sloat Blvd. and Vale St. (Parkside), sfrecpark.org
Parkside Square
Seven-acre Parkside Square features houses tennis and basketball courts, as well as a large baseball field for public use. The kiddos will love the generously sized sand pit and climbing structures.// 28th Avenue and Vicente (Parkside), sfrecpark.org
Carl Larsen Park
A popular play space in the neighborhood—filled with basketball and tennis courts and a baseball diamond—Carl Larsen Park is the perfect place for the whole family to get some fresh air. // 19th Ave. and Vicente (Parkside), sfrecpark.org
