San Francisco commissions approve $2.8 million in Downtown Park Fund allocations for three park projects

The San Francisco Planning Commission and Recreation and Park Commission on Thursday approved joint allocations totaling $2,800,000 from the Downtown Park Special Fund for three park projects: a replacement Gene Friend Recreation Center, a renovation of Portsmouth Square, and planning and design work for Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park.

The Downtown Park Fund allocations were presented by Phoenix Alfaro, a planner in the Recreation and Parks Department’s capital and planning division, who told the commissions the department was requesting “a total allocation of $2,800,000 from the downtown park special fund for 3 park renovation projects.” Alfaro listed the requested amounts as $1,150,000 for the Gene Friend Recreation Center, $1,150,000 for Portsmouth Square, and $500,000 for Embarcadero Plaza and portions of Sue Bierman Park.

The allocations are intended for construction shortfalls and planning costs. Alfaro said the Gene Friend Recreation Center “will be replaced with a new 25,000 square foot center” including two full-size basketball courts and other indoor and outdoor amenities, and that the requested funds would help cover unanticipated construction costs so the project remains on schedule to open before the 2026 school year. Portsmouth Square’s allocation will support a complete renovation including a community clubhouse, playground consolidation and removal of a pedestrian bridge. The Embarcadero allocation is directed at planning and design for a multi-acre waterfront revitalization.

Public commenters urged that the project designs explicitly include skateboarding and small-wheeled mobility elements. Aaron Bree Orr, who identified himself as a skateboarding advocate, asked the commissions to “earmark in them space for skateboarding to be delivered, in an entry level and accessible way for all ages.” Rec and Park and Planning commissioners responded in discussion that skate elements and mobile skate programs are already being expanded elsewhere in the system and that staff track usage and program needs when shaping park designs.

Commissioners from both bodies spoke in support of the allocations, citing heavy use and visibility of the parks and the near-term benefit to communities. Planning Commissioner Braun asked staff about past uses of the Downtown Park Fund; staff said the department last requested money from the fund in 2019 for Turk Hyde Mini Park and other improvements and described how those funds were applied. A joint motion to approve the allocations passed on voice votes; the Planning Commission recorded a 6‑0 vote in favor and the Recreation and Park Commission recorded unanimous support in their roll call.

The commissions’ approvals are limited to the Downtown Park Fund allocations; other approvals or construction timelines remain governed by each project’s separate permitting and contracting processes.

The commissions moved on after the vote; staff and commissioners said they expected the fund allocations to help keep the Gene Friend project on track and to advance design work for the waterfront sites.