San Francisco Sun

San Francisco, CA —Mayor London N. Breed today announced the City ‘s plans to begin operating the more than 24 acres of public parks in the Mission Bay neighborhood beginning July 1. The Port of San Francisco and Recreation and Park Department will jointly manage the space, previously overseen by the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure (OCII).  

The process to transition the Mission Bay Parks network to City management has been 25 years in the making and marks a significant milestone for San Francisco. The community’s redevelopment began in 1998 under the direction of the former San Francisco Redevelopment Agency. It is one of the largest and most innovative urban developments initiated by the City.  

Previously, OCII, formerly known as the Redevelopment Agency, operated the Mission Bay Parks through a private management company that handled the day-to-day operations, such as permits for special events, security, gardening, and janitorial duties. The parks system includes playgrounds, dog parks, picnic areas, boat launches, sport courts and pocket parks.   

“Mission Bay is a vibrant, inclusive neighborhood and its parks are no exception,” said Mayor Breed. “The City of San Francisco is proud to take over stewardship of these public treasures and build upon the vision and success of OCII. Thanks to our investment in recreation and public spaces, San Francisco’s parks are considered among the best in the world. We are thrilled to welcome Mission Bay into our legendary park system.”  

On July 1, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department will begin operating the Mission Creek Complex sport courts, dog play area, plazas, lawn, esplanades, pavilion, boathouse and launch. Additionally, the Department will oversee Mariposa Park, Mission Bay Commons, the Channel Street Dog Park and the Mission Bay Kids Park. The Port of San Francisco will manage the Bayfront parks along the Bay and Terry Francois Boulevard.  

“Every San Franciscan deserves access to nature and high-quality recreation, and we are so pleased to now serve those who live, work, and visit Mission Bay,” said Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Our highly trained staff is looking forward to caring for these important green spaces and ensuring they remain well-maintained, accessible, and fun for everyone.”    

“It is a priority for the Port of San Francisco to connect our residents to the City’s iconic waterfront with extraordinary parks and open spaces,” said Elaine Forbes, Executive Director of the Port of San Francisco. “We are excited to welcome new great public parks in the Mission Bay neighborhood to our portfolio. We will partner with the Recreation and Parks Department to deliver clean, safe, and vibrant waterfront parks and open spaces for generations to come.”  

“OCII’s special financing enabled the creation and operation of Mission Bay's Parks.  Years of OCII planning the design and construction of these parks with the community has helped develop a special and unique park system, and we are now at the beginning of a new and exciting chapter,” said OCII Executive Director Thor Kaslofsky.    

“The Eastern part of San Francisco has historically been underinvested in and disenfranchised. This transfer marks the culmination of a process that has provided much-needed housing, jobs, and open green space, parks, and recreation,” said Sarah Davis, Chair of the Mission Bay Community Advisory Committee, and long-time Mission Creek Harbor resident. “Mission Creek originally flowed from what is now Mission Dolores, into the San Francisco Bay, and provided a natural habitat and refuge for wildlife. These parks are the next step in reclaiming nature and open space for all San Franciscans. We will be providing crucial access to the waterfront and water activities, particularly for low-income and BIPOC communities that live here.”  

San Francisco’s Recreation and Parks Division manages more than 225 parks, 25 recreation centers, nine swimming pools, and 4,113 acres of open space throughout San Francisco. The Port of San Francisco manages more than 150 acres of parks along its 7.5 mile of San Francisco shoreline. In 2017, San Francisco became the first U.S. city in which every resident lived within a 10-minute walk to a nearby park.   

A community celebration will be held on Thursday, July 20 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at Mission Creek Park Pavilion located at 290 Channel Street.  

Original source can be found here.