TIDA board approves five‑year park management MOU with San Francisco Recreation & Park Department
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Summary
The Treasure Island Development Authority approved a memorandum of understanding with the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department to manage Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island parks beginning July 1, 2026, clarifying roles on ownership, operations, permits, security and funding arrangements.
The Treasure Island Development Authority on Jan. 9 approved a five‑year memorandum of understanding that assigns day‑to‑day operation and maintenance of the Treasure Island–Yerba Buena Island (TI–YBI) park system to the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department, while retaining TIDA’s ultimate jurisdiction and design authority.
Peter Somerville, TIDA staff, told the board the MOU will commence July 1, 2026, with an initial termination date of 06/30/2031 and an option to extend another five years by written agreement. Somerville described the MOU’s structure: Rec & Park will perform horticulture, arboriculture, natural resource management, custodial and trade services and will be included in the city’s annual park and maintenance scoring program; TIDA retains ownership and final authority on park design through the DDA and related land‑use agreements.
Somerville said the document clarifies funding and staffing: park operations will be supported by committed revenue through the community facilities district (CFD) and developer park subsidy, and annual staffing levels will be adjusted year‑to‑year through collaborative budgeting rather than being fixed for the five‑year term. He added that service responsibilities and the boundaries of Rec & Park’s geographic scope are shown in an exhibit and map included in the packet.
Antonio Garrett of Rec & Park (read on behalf of absent senior staff) said the department’s commission approved the amended terms in December and that Rec & Park ‘‘looks forward to a fruitful partnership’’ with TIDA. Somerville and board members discussed operational coordination: Jack Nathanson (events and permits) will manage larger event permitting; routine barbecue and picnic reservations will use Rec & Park’s automated reservation system; and the park manager will serve as the liaison for security coordination with the island’s contractor, A‑One Protective Services.
On security, Somerville said TIDA will continue to fund security through a contractor until ranger staffing is phased in (staffing anticipated to begin in fiscal year 31–32), and that the contracts and invoicing for Rec & Park‑managed permit revenues are structured so fees generated on island will return to TI–YBI parks operations.
After clarifying amendments to sections on ownership, management, staffing and permits, Commissioner Donald moved to approve the MOU; the motion was seconded and the board approved it on a voice vote.
The MOU directs Rec & Park staff to include the TI–YBI parks in the city’s park scoring program, requires collaboration on event review and security planning, and affirms that capital improvement authority and final implementation decisions remain with TIDA. Staff said additional details on on‑island office and yard space for Rec & Park and a future lease for those spaces will be provided as the parties finalize the operational transition.
Implementation steps noted by staff include continued coordination meetings among TIDA, Rec & Park and other city partners, a staff facilities working group to finalize space determinations, and onboarding of the park manager position once filled.
The board directed staff to continue coordination and to return with any necessary follow‑ups; commissioners requested a future agenda item identifying smaller ‘legacy’ parks that will remain under TIDA’s contractors so responsibilities are clearly delineated.
