Rec and Park says volunteers vital to care for McLaren Park, cites 235-park system and 200,000 volunteer hours

Carol Shinkowski, superintendent of San Francisco Recreation and Parks, told Saturday volunteers that the department manages more than 235 parks spanning over 4,200 acres and that McLaren Park is the system's second-largest park at about 313 acres.

"This park has over 7 miles of trails, peaceful meadows, wetlands, forests, and scenic overlooks," Shinkowski said, listing facilities that include the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, McNabb Lake and local creeks. She emphasized the department relies on volunteers to maintain these spaces.

Shinkowski and other city speakers highlighted the scale of volunteer contributions across the park system: "We have over 200,000 hours of volunteer service," she said, and added that volunteers strengthen neighborhoods and help reduce pollution and protect local wildlife.

The nut graf: Rec and Park officials framed volunteer service as both practical labor and community-building, saying that the department cannot maintain large urban parks solely with city staff and that volunteers are essential to neighborhood stewardship.

Event logistics were handled with city departments coordinating with state volunteer programs. Jennifer G. from Rec and Park (introduced toward the end of the program) was scheduled to give volunteers instructions for field assignments and safety.

Speakers noted that while the event mobilized volunteers for planting, weeding and stewardship, the work is part of ongoing maintenance and requires continued partnership with city staff. No new maintenance contracts or funding awards were announced at the event.

Volunteers were encouraged to sign up for ongoing projects through the city's volunteer portals and partner sites referenced by organizers.