District 9 update: Palaga visitation climbs and multiple capital projects move forward

Department staff gave the commission a district-level update on March 20, reporting increased visitation at Palaga Recreation Center and outlining ongoing and planned capital and operations work across District 9.

Carol Cienkowski, superintendent of parks and open spaces, told commissioners District 9 includes 29 public parks across about 244 acres and roughly 36 operations staff. She highlighted operational work: storm recovery plantings, new trees in Presidio Park, and workforce development programs including a newly launched urban reforestation pre-apprentice program started in January 2025 that trains participants in tree planting and relevant trade skills.

Nicholas (Nick) Williams, superintendent for recreation and community services, described recreation programming in District 9: “we provide year round programming at several recreation facilities,” he said, and reported more than 25 activities with over 1,000 enrolled programs in District 9 and over $17,000 in scholarship funds awarded to residents for participation. Williams also said summer camp registration has opened with about 1,800 slots for District 9.

Deputy Director of Planning Yael Golan presented visitation data from Placer.ai, reporting over 120,000 visits to Palaga Recreation Center in 2024, the highest year since the pandemic. Golan said about two‑thirds of visitors live within two miles of the center and that peak weekly visitation in 2024 occurred in November with nearly 4,000 weekly visits. She noted daily peak usage around 4 p.m. and that “nearly 1 fifth of visitors spent over 2 and a half hours on-site.”

Stacy Bradley, director of capital and planning, outlined projects: Bridal Heights Playground (using cooperative purchasing and scheduled to start in summer with completion expected in fall/winter 2025), Preseda Playground pathway and restroom work, McLaren Park trail improvements using 2012 bond funds (expected later this year), Lewis Sutter projects including a Yosemite Creek daylighting partnership with the Public Utilities Commission that will daylight the creek and create an underground detention basin beneath a soccer pitch, Shelly Promenade traffic and plaza improvements, and the new Hearst Playground recreation center construction with the building recently completed and opening anticipated later in 2025.

Staff emphasized continued community engagement on projects and the department’s focus on equity and accessibility in upcoming work.