This is an absolutely gorgeous parklet. While there are two rivaling parklets just footsteps away,…read morethis one by far has the most amazing aesthetic. It almost looks like a wooden ship, cruising down Judah Street. The parklet is all made of beautifully finished wood, with built-in planters, a platform for bike parking and plenty of seating. There are a handful of wooden benches to sit on and a couple of longer table-like features. This is a great place to people-watch, or enjoy your coffee and a snack. Make sure to check out the local shops that help maintain this space!

This park is great for toddlers ! It's gated which is a plus and has some good attractions and is…read moreclose by the basketball courts. Parking is ok you just have to really keep an eye out for parking.

Imagine if you were your basketball for a second. A basketball player pulls up for a shot, and…read morereleases you with a flick o' da wrist. The jumper is textbook, and you're put into a rotation that sends you on the trajectory of a fairly nice arc. You get a gorgeous view of the entire South Sunset Park in your brief moment of air time. A beautiful field of AstroTurf lies just across the fence. On it are dozens of elementary-aged children kicking a soccer ball aimlessly, to the apparent delight of the on-looking parents. That would explain the cavalry of mini-vans parked along-side the street right outside the park. Westward, you catch a glimpse of the ocean blue. Despite the hilly terrain of the Sunset District, the basketball hoop is essentially at sea level, making it even more susceptible to the winds of the Pacific Ocean. Ah, the wind. Instead of going through the hoop as the trajectory had originally planned for you, the wind had forced you left and down. On your descent, you only barely grazed the left side of the rim before thudding unceremoniously on the hard concrete floor behind the post. Out of bounds, take it from up top. Playing basketball at South Sunset Park, or better known as '40th and Vicente' (not to be confused with '26th and Vicente'), is as much a test of patience it is of a test of endurance. The backboard is semi-circle and not particularly wide, so forget any bank shots and any fancy English finishes off the glass. The wind, as illustrated above, is omnipresent, determined to forever blow away your confidence --- in your own shot, and in your teammates. "What do you mean I need to pass it to the wide open guy in the corner?!" Frustrated with the court? You won't be the only one. If you're over the enviable age of 23, chances are your two knees are complaining as well. Every millimeter of your bones take an anguishing pounding from the unforgiving concrete. Playing here is like playing for Coach Thibs. Your knees won't hold up for more than 4 years. I know a guy with pretty good elevation on his jumper. He prefers to shoot like flat-foot Paul Pierce here. Another guy I know likes to sky for the rebound like Jamario Moon. He's all about box-out-fundamentals-only when playing at South Sunset. I, myself, tried jumping for a rebound once. Landed on both feet, full impact. My lower back didn't forgive me for the next three days. I don't know why people even play here. Perhaps it's because there are four hoops and they are almost always available. For some people, that beats waiting 45 minutes to an hour watching other people play. "Hey I'm after the guy with the yellow shorts. He's gonna be on after the next game. Naw man, I already have my four." Here at South Sunset, I daresay you'll never have to track a guy down to call 'Next'. Sometimes, the best ability is indeed availability. If you still insist on hooping here after learning all that, then I can only admire your dedication. The wind, the backboard, your knees, and you back? ALL EXCUSES. A true hooper will play anywhere and anytime. LeBron James didn't become the high school phenom by refusing to play in the crappy courts of Akron --- he just didn't develop a jumper until he was 30 is all. One last advice though: don't wear your indoor ball shoes here. It'll leave without any of the grip left.

Not all places of serenity need to be eye popping modern designs. We gotta be able to let chill be…read morechill, let mellow be mellow. So it is with this comparatively understated zone of self-welcoming. First in SF to be built by youth.

This was an amazing parklet from back when parklets were new and noteworthy, and it was the most…read moreunusual parklet that I had ever seen, so why only one star? Really? You're asking me? Have you seen it lately? Well, check out those four photos I added for it circa 2015, and then read this review again in a few weeks when I've had a chance to add photos of it now. It has been destroyed, as most things in public in the Mission will be destroyed, but instead of just removing the entire thing or turning it into a nice old-fashioned parklet, they've removed parts of it and have left the rest to rot. There's graffiti all over it, and this is why we can't have nice things. Look, it's really great to be creative with public education and to grab people's attention in different ways, but we also need to be pragmatic not only with how we spend money, but with how our ideas will affect the public down the line. For all the kids and adults that learned about water when this thing was new and beautiful, there are probably ten times as many kids and adults who walk by this eyesore every day and wonder what the heck happened. Seeing blight makes people feel worse about their surroundings. If they live in the same place they feel bad about, they feel worse about themselves. Whoever's in charge--if anyone is in charge--please get rid of this thing; or if you're going to rebuild it, find a way to make it lasting, that is, Mission-proof. (Good luck with that!)

If you love science museums, this parklet is totally worth a short visit if you're in the area…read more The super cute water-science-themed parklet is between 24th and 23rd streets on Valencia (actually on the Valencia street. It is a parklet after all!) It's next to the Buena Vista Horace Mann Community School. It's a project of San Francisco Boys & Girls Clubs and the Exploratorium. According to the Exploratorium webpage, its mission is to "support informal education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics within the Latino community." It does so by "creating an informal science learning space accessible to all members of the Mission neighborhood." Neat! It's free and open to the public 24 hours a day. The first time I came here, there was an abandoned pair of pants in it, but for the most part, it's been kept up.

This is a very peaceful place to sit and relax during the day. At some points in the afternoon the…read morebenches get direct sunlight (if it is not too foggy), making it a decent place to bask. There are a couple of other parklets right around the corner on Judah, but they tend to get more foot traffic. I enjoy that this one is off Judah and has plenty of seating. The only time to avoid this place is when there is a crowd waiting outside the neighboring restaurant. The woodwork and the design of this parklet is beautiful, and I will certainly be back.

West Portal is an amazing place to hang out with friends, go with family, or just walk around by…read moreyourself late in the afternoon. There are many fun boutiques, yummy restaurants, and other little knick-knack shops around. There may be some homeless people roaming around from time to time, but they mean no harm. That is what you get when coming to San Francisco. This is still a great place for families to come and visit and just sit around at the park and play on the swings, it makes West Portal special.

Thank goodness a Navigation Center is being built soon. We so need one in District 7. It's about…read moretime our votes count.

This playground is just right for my son's age--everything feels thoughtfully designed for younger…read morekids, making it both fun and safe. One of the things I appreciate most is how easy it is to monitor the children; the layout gives you clear visibility, so you can relax while still keeping a close eye on them. It's also very convenient that the restroom is easily accessible, which is a huge plus when you're out with little ones. There are picnic tables and benches tucked under shady trees, making it a comfortable spot to sit, snack, or even have a small picnic while the kids play. For commuters, the location is incredibly convenient and easy to get to. Best of all, all the playground equipment is well-maintained and in great working condition, making the whole experience enjoyable and worry-free for kids and parents alike.

This park is close by to our home so we come here quite often. Great for both our 4yr old and 2yr…read moreold.

This is one of the reasons I love SF I've lived here 20 years and just discovered this place. It's…read morehuge! And SF park and recs hosting a camp for my daughter is how I discovered this hidden gem You are allowed to pick a small amount of items .. we picked fresh squash blossoms which we had for dinner. Plums and apples... tomatillos... herbs... peppers... wow!!!!

I volunteered for the first time on a Saturday and all the coordinators were extremely helpful,…read morekind, and informative. I learned a lot about planting and gardening, and even though it was definitely tiring work, it was so worth. At the end, you get to take home some delicious, organic produce!