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.
The Tenderloin
Sgt. John Macaulay Park
Giddy children run up and down the redesigned playground while adults rest on the bordering benches. While you're in the area, take in the current exhibits at 941 Geary, which is just a block away. // Larkin and O' Farrel (Little Saigon), sfrecpark.org
Father Alfred E. Boeddeker Park
You likely know this one-acre inner-city park as "that place with the metal sunflowers." The plaza houses a historic clock and kiln and two public sculptures, including a globe that celebrates the area's diverse heritage and Bruce Hassan's bronze "Ark," a symbol of safety for neighborhood families. Pick up a game of basketball. // 246 Eddy St. (Little Saigon), sfrecpark.org
Tenderloin Rec Center
Aside from the small playground and green patch, there's little in the way here of outdoor activities. If you're in the neighborhood with the kiddos, pop into the center for a free community arts class or story time. // 570 Ellis St. (Little Saigon), sfrecpark.org
Turk and Hyde Mini Park
If you've got young ones and find yourself in the Tenderloin, stop by this paradise with two cable cars and a two-story play structure for climbing on. Aside from a few benches, there's not much in the way of amenities for watchful parents. Be prepared to cop a squat. // Turk and Hyde St. (Little Saigon), sfrecpark.org
Joseph L. Alioto Performing Arts Plaza/Park
This five-acre park in front of City Hall hosts big-game watch parties and larger-than-life public-art installations. Stop by the bordering Asian Art Museum or SF Library for a bit of cultural exploration; a neighborhood farmers market sets up weekly, too. // Grove and Larkin St. (Little Saigon), sfrecpark.org
