Flat open park leading up to the main entrance of Golden Gate Park. This is a park full of runners, walkers and bicyclists. I noticed little comely garden areas as well as fun playgrounds to let your kids run in. There are also a few toilets. Unfortunately they were closed when I last visited. It's not the prettiest park to picnic, but always good for a run or a walk. read more

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The Panhandle is a stretch of park that extends from the east edge of GGP to the Baker Street. It's bordered by the Haight-Ashbury and Western Addition neighborhoods, and there are running and biking paths, playgrounds for kids and grass fields for dogs. I like visiting it during a sunny day. read more

The Panhandle - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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East to Golden Gate Park is another park that functions as some sort of greenway between the streets but features a good amount of green space for chilling and exercise. It basically is an open space between two boulevards featuring grass and trees mostly. The Panhandle is kind of like an extension of Golden Gate Park just to the east of this. A lot of play area. You can jog along the path or stroll along the middle and maybe stop in the small businesses you pass on the way. Along the north of it is a bike path that always seems to be busy. It's popular because these bikers won't have to traverse the steep hills. The parkway features basketball courts, a playground, and a restroom. Previous proposals had it extended all the way to Market Street, but these were never completed. This currently is an urban oasis in the middle of heavy traffic. Either side of it features a parkway that moves traffic fast. There's minimal stops along the way so there's not much of a a traffic jam any time it seems. Had a few other proposals about it that thankfully didn't happen. Its worst one was the freeway which was to run through here in the 1950s, but thankfully citizens opposed it. The streets on either side were turned into ones which feature limited stops, which help to alleviate so much traffic. read more

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#20/2016 The Panhandle is a little ratty in sections with a few (mostly harmless looking) denizens, some appearing still hungover from the Summer of Love. Shade from old growth trees populate this rectangular patch of land that juts out from the northern end of (the big rectangle) Golden Gate Park (thus its name- The Panhandle). There's a cute children's playground with swings and climbing structures and a small area nearby with 2-top tables to set up a snack area for a small get-together or a kids' lunch. Joggers run through the edges of the park and some of the loveliest homes and apartment buildings line Fell and Oak that run one-way on either side of the park. If I'm walking, I like to cut through The Panhandle to Upper Haight where some of our friends live or to the Park library, enjoying slower pace of city life this little half mile stretch brings. The streets (Lyon, Central, Clayton, Cole, Ashbury) that surround this area are quiet and filled with families, a little peaceful slice of San Francisco. read more

The Panhandle - The Bay to Breakers party continues on in the Panhandle! - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

A difficult to miss stretch of park hanging off of Golden Gate Park. Beautiful, grassy areas and great for picnics and dog walks. You'll find: -- Moms with baby carriages -- Bench squatters -- Fetchers and walkers -- Loafers among the trees -- A playground -- Basketball courts -- Public restrooms -- Designated path for wheels (skaters, bikers, and the like) read more

The Panhandle - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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When are you going to fix the men's bathroom it's been months since this is closed and I haven't seen any improvement. What are the city doing with our taxes?? read more

The Panhandle - Men's bathroom - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

I really love my neighborhood, with its diversity (with the bars and restaurants), but also because of the naturey areas, which are reminders of how beautiful non-urban living can really be. The Panhandle is a prime example, as this beautiful area is right in the middle of two busy SF streets. In preparation for my half marathon, the Panhandle (and Golden Gate Park) was one of my training grounds. I loved running past the tall gorgeous trees throughout. On a sunny day, there would be runners (like me), walkers, and people on their bikes. On the grassy areas, frisbee would be played, as well as owners playing catch with their dogs, and even some BBQ and picnic action. Others could be found on the basketball courts or families with the lil' ones in the playground. Amidst the beauty (and even serenity), there are reminders of the hustle and bustle of the city. Sometimes it's hard to escape the oasis that the Panhandle provides with the sound of cars whizzing by (and honking), the homeless on the benches and grassy areas, and the litter and trash that didn't make it to the proper receptacles. Anywho, I've been to the Panhandle many times, and will continue to walk or run by (for as long as I live in the 'hood'). Here are some of my memorable Panhandle moments: 1) Saw a guy run barefoot (talk about a hard core runner!). I had to do a double take, and grossed me out to think about what his feet looked like after the run. 2) Enjoyed a romantical evening stroll with a fella (one of our first dates). We also sat on the bench and star gazed :0 3) Ran Bay to Breakers this past May, and felt a huge sigh of relief when I made it to the Panhandle. At this point, I knew that there would no longer be any hilly streets, and that the course would be flat towards the finish line. 4) A homeless man yelled "OH, Nice Ass" to me as I ran past him. (Oh Mylanta, I was appreciative of the compliment, but thankful that he wasn't running after me)! Cheers! read more

A beautiful oasis, sandwiched between two fairly busy streets. Having lived directly across from the panhandle in my early days spent in San Francisco, when I had ABSOLUTELY nothing to do, but surf craigslist; I came to quickly appreciate and covet this lush green patch. If you're a regular Panhandle attendee you can quickly be sucked into a bizarre enlightening world. . If you know the right folk, or go enough - you learn about the local Haight gossip, which dog likes to hump every other dog, where to get the best coffee in town, how to juggle, who's going to win American Idol, how to drum, who's got an open spot in an apartment, the best jogging trails - you name it. A wealth of information is to be found here. During the day, joggers, stoners, dog owners, new mothers, book worms and everybody in between linger and congretate here - to enjoy gorgeous SF days. One of my best days in the city - was spent listening to Midnite on repeat while reading Still Life with Woodpecker, stategically in the glow of a sunbeam for 4 hours. While deeply engrossed in the magical word of redheads (...yes it is a magical world ) a chihauhua named Billie Holiday, tongue hanging out the corner of her cute mouth, danced in a pink tutu to a fiddle accompanied orginal song about grass. (all true - and at the time it made perfect sense) Sadly and in many ways -thankfully- Billie's darling dance marked the end of my afternoon trysts with the park. I got a job a day after and well....I spent far less time in the park, couldn't remember any of the dog's names, and lost touch with the park gurus with the latest gossip Now, I'm a little less enlightened about my neighborhood and what's going on. I miss out on the drunk rants, the tourist tokes, the barbecues, the first steps, and many more.... ....but on a nice day - I like to take the long route around the park, enduring B-Ball hollers and enjoying a brief moment of silent understanding with the permanent Panhandle fixture: a man that sits on the far bench on Masonic Ave - in a camauflage coat - starting blankly ahead. I always wonder what he's thinking. I like to secretly think that he's taking the wonder of it all in...truly the most enlightened. read more

When I first moved out west from NYC, this was the neighborhood I lived by, and this was the park I first park I rode my bike -affectionately known as my 'bus' for how heavy it was- down into Golden Gate Park. Riding down the panhandle was, for my first year, a ritual, which I cherished. Now that I live in another farther hood in SF, I only get to enjoy time here on occasion. Yet, despite the lapses in time, it always feels like a warm sunlit spot (when it's not foggy) to enjoy with my dog, a pal or two, and a stack of books. Because I never leave home without reading material. read more

Dog friendly. Between Hayes and Haight the Park reaches east, attempting to touch City Hall. It makes it as far as a monument in a meadow opposite the DMV on Baker Street, and then gives up. It's wonderful to walk among the trees, to look at the archaic streetlights and remember Narnia, to watch dogs digging frantically in the grass, when we have nowhere in particular to go. It's a breath of fresh air in the middle of the City, a green carpet to traverse on the way to yoga class or a lunch date. It's a refuge for pheasant, raccoons, robins, and other wildlife. It's the cool green between the Victorians and concrete streets, a bit of outdoor wilderness carefully manicured in the middle of a strictly planned urban setting, just a few blocks from my home. read more

The Panhandle - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

Love the Panhandle for so many reasons. 1. It helped teach me how to park I didn't know how to parallel park before I moved to San Francisco, but I quickly became an expert in a 1992 Buick Regal Custom with the turning radius of a Lionel model train. I'm actually better at parallel parking on the left side of the street, and the Panhandle makes this easy because it's bordered north and south by one-way streets. 2. It's more fun to walk through than parts of my neighborhood I love Victorian houses and corner stores, but I also love walking beneath tall nonnative trees whose bark was literally peeled off by that massive storm we had in January. 3. Beware human death traps ahead OK, that's not what is says, but as usual I'm too lazy to leave my flat to do appropriate Yelp research. There are signs stenciled onto the pavement on the bike path warning bike riders that they will soon be crossing intersections with cars in them. 4. Curvy-wurvy pathy-wathy The paths aren't straight, which almost makes up for the park's super boring layout. 5. Weird statues and half-baked gardens I know the original designers of the park would be disgusted at what the statue on Baker looks like, but I like it. The weird vegetation near the sidewalk is also weird, but again, I like it. read more

Beautiful area to sit and have a picnic cradled between the Haight and the Western Addition. Fun to just sit under the trees and watch dogs play. Then you can walk a few blocks up to the Haight and enjoy cocktails and shopping. Or wander into Golden Gate Park. It's always a nice day in the panhandle! We'll be back! read more

Conveniently located a block from my house, it satisfies my need to sit in a park with a book without having to deal with the crowds at Dolores Park. Also I'm all about all the tree cover here. I'm tan all year regardless of sunblock and hiding from sunlight at all times. All the other things I love about the Panhandle? Easy running paths, quiet, fun Bay to Breakers party stop, relatively well maintained, safe, sometimes excellent people watching, and it's just another underrated little gem in San Francisco. read more

Attaching to Golden Gate park this is the popular place to start your after work jog. Today I saw it in all its glory for Bay to Breakers 2016. Scattered around were port a potties and pedestrian barriers. Ordinarily not too much to see. Not the safest part of town. You will find homeless people and fearless young families co-mingling. Still even though its not that large I still appreciate this mustache of a patch of green in the city... a concrete jungle. read more

Awesome location for an afternoon run,a great place to bring your pup,and the perfect short-cut to Haight Street on your bike. Ok bathrooms,and a really nice kids play area. The grounds are lined with beautiful trees to provide shade on a hot day. Just be careful if has been raining, it gets super muddy! read more

The Panhandle - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

Love to run through the panhandle! Coming from Lower Haight, you've got to get up that pesky ever so slight incline from Divisadero to Baker. But from there, you're golden. Also great to bike over here now that the lane has been added to Fell. But be advised, bicyclists are going up and down the path frequently and speedily. Watch your left and pay attention to bells. read more

We walked the length of this park from Schrader to Baker along Fell St side. The path is shared by pedestrians as well as bicycles but as there is plenty of grass on either side there is room to get out of each other's way. Many homeless people were finding refuge here but there were also family groups having picnics, people just sitting in the sun reading, playing guitar or just sunbathing. The park runs parallel to Haight Street, only a couple of blocks away, and the contrast is remarkable. I am sorry I didn't get a sandwich to go and pop down to this park to enjoy the quiet. The park has many eucalyptus (gum) trees. There are some very nice houses along Fell St too. read more

The Panhandle - Plenty of birds - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great park in the middle of the city that offers a lot. For me, it's nice having an area to bring my dogs and play fetch. There's so many empty areas and you'll see the usual group of dog parents after work bring their dogs to play. What's also nice is that one side of the road is for bicycles and the other is for everyone else. This allows me to run with my dogs without having to be worried about getting in a bicycles way. They have basketball courts, children's playground, bathrooms and is pretty close to the west side of Golden Gate Park. It has something for almost everyone. read more

Right by my house, Easy to run around (1.5 miles), one side no bikes, grassy, walkable, shade, basketball, a park, benches. I mean what is not to love. Easy accessible park with lots of grass to have a picnic. I come here at least twice a week. read more

It's funny, when I first moved to San Francisco, I knew that Golden Gate Park was pretty close to my pad, and with my senses ass backwards from settling down in a neighborhood I knew absolutely nothing about, I was convinced that The Panhandle was Golden Gate Park. I was utterly disappointed. "Really, *this* is the famous park I've heard so much about? Where are the buffaloes?", I'd say to myself. That is, until I walked another 1/2 mile down the path and learned that I'd actually not yet reached the west coast equivalent of Central Park, and that what I was galloping through was essentially its wading pool. The joys of learning your surroundings, I suppose. I can't say I ever take time to hang out in The Panhandle, largely because no matter how nice the day is, the morning dew never seems to lift. If you stroll through the grassy parts, you're almost guaranteed to leave with wet shoes and mud spackle on your backside. However, it is a very nice place to run through (even when being harassed by gutter punks and homeless folks), and of course... it's one of two unofficial urban toilets when Bay to Breakers descends upon San Francisco (the other being Alamo Square). Gross, but sometimes you just need to let it fly. If you're a bike rider, this serves as a real nice route to peddle through if you're trying to get to Haight-Ashbury or Cole Valley, and of course, the JFK entrance to Golden Gate Park and beyond. read more

My high school reunion is coming this Saturday. My inner voice has NOT been nice to me. Inner Voice: "Hey Fat Ass, you gonna lose any weight by next Saturday?" Me: "I've been trying this whole month!" IV: "Doing laps around the living room and refrigerator door arm pulls doesn't count as exercise, Lazy." Me: " Well I've been tired." IV: "You're gonna show up pudgy and soft to your reunion. You know you weren't cool back then...pathetic. You won't have any redemption based on your looks, Lard-o." Me: "Shut up! At least I don't have braces anymore and big ass geek glasses." IV: "Go run around The Panhandle, Chunky. You aren't married with kids so you at least have to look hot." Me: "Fine! Geez! So mean." Can you lose 5lbs in a week? I'll will be trying everyday this week. God I hate running. read more

1. The first thing I ever heard about the Panhandle was that it was full of dog shit. That was told to me by a cole valley nincompoop who didn't realize that dog shit is the salt of the earth. Needless to say, she had missed the point. 2. You like trees? The trees in this grand strip of urban forest are freaking massive. You can smell the eucalyptus as you traverse the soft earth. You can watch the wind make the treetops sway as you fondle your 40 oz. bottle of Old English. You don't like OE? Fine, have a soda. 3. The monument on the Baker St. side means a lot to me for a many reasons. I like to pelt it with tennis balls every once in a while just to see if I still have a good arm. 4. Hipsters traipsing through the Panhandle with amoeba records bags in their tiny little hands sometimes make me horny. Horny for music, that is. 5. The smell of cannabis, in my opinion, is a good thing. 6. Back to the trees. Hear their limbs groan and sometimes crack during a winter storm. Marvel at their sheer magnitude. Bask in the shifting rays of sunlight that filter through the clusters of branches. 7. This park is not a love song. 8. This park is not closed minded. 9. This park will never make you feel alone. 10. Together we are one divine and unconquerable creature, says the panhandle. read more

Nothing restores my faith in humanity, and sometimes even in myself, like a walk through the Panhandle. I was feeling pretty down a couple days ago about some things that I don't have the power to change. So I decided to go for a walk. At 26, I'm finally beginning to know myself well enough to realize what does and does not work for me when I'm in a funk. So I slapped on my Pumas, grabbed my ipod, threw on my "don't mess with me" sunglasses, and made for the Panhandle like a bat out of hell. The Panhandle is not the most aesthetically pleasing park in the city...it's rough around the edges AND on the inside. But the cracked asphalt paths, mud pits, and fallen branches are all part of the package and a small price to pay for what this place means to me. It's a 3/4 mile stretch of people sharing public space--usually in harmony. And really, that's what San Francisco is all about. Or should be, anyway. There's a playground, basketball courts, and plenty of grass for everyone. You can come here to exercise and get those endorphins up, or you can have a picnic with a nice bottle of wine. If you're homeless, you can hang out here and hopefully not get harassed. And if you have a dog, the Panhandle is your oyster. I feel dorky saying this, but my heart goes all atwitter when I see the diverse range of people enjoying the surrounding beauty. I get this "we really ARE all connected" vibe (totally not drug-induced) and life is one big pile of beautiful. And that, my friends, is how I kick the depression and give myself a natural high. ==================== Alright, now that I've gotten all of that peace and love out of my system, I should mention I've also seen some pretty weird stuff going down in the park too. I'm sure anyone who's been through it more than a few times can say the same. The strangest thing I've seen here happened a few months ago when I was walking through the park with my roommate at night. We were walking on the bike path (sorry!) and saw this girl crawling around on the wet grass like a panther in slow motion. A man was standing off to the side, just watching her and smoking. Perhaps this is some heterosexual mating ritual I haven't heard about yet? *sigh* I love this city. read more

The Panhandle, which we live north of, is this stretch of grass/mud that leads up to Golden Gate Park and borders the Haight. Because of its location, you tend to find hipsters and some street urchins hanging out here, but if you haven't seen skinny jean dudes in neon sunglasses playing kickball, have you really lived? There's an easy path to bike/run/walk on, and scenic enough to keep you occupied if you're doing some contemplation during any one of those activities. There's an decent playground in there, next to some basketball courts, and Dash is a frequent scenester on the slides and swings. Plenty of dogs roaming around as well, so it's a generally friendly park. Is it the nicest park in San Francisco. Definitely not. But it is green and fairly lush, and if you live within a few blocks, it's nice to have it as your expanse of backyard. read more

Anything that allows me to avoid on-street biking for 8 blocks is alright in my book, homeless people or no. Kinda makes me think that all parks should just be thin little corridors like this connecting various neighborhoods. Although maybe that would have the undesirable effect of cutting neighborhoods off from each other. Where's Jane Jacobs when you need her? At the very least, we could replace the existing freeways with "parkways" (naturally the city streets would still have to sail over or tunnel under them). Imagine skirting through the quiet trees on the west side of potrero hill and seeing a sign showing miles, not drive times, to the bay bridge... read more

A wise friend of mine once described the Panhandle as the poor man's Golden Gate Park. I agree with this description wholeheartedly. It's the park I go to when I want to drink beer outside on a weekend afternoon, watch some old guys doing Tai Chi, play frisbee in the sun or see my local homeless guy (usually camped out at Oak and Lyon) doing something inappropriate with his pants down. What more could one want out of a park?! And when all the little white flowers poke through the grass and start to bloom in the summer - this is just about my favorite place on earth. read more

You'll notice I'm the unquestioned Duke of the Panhandle, and that's because I live about 75 feet from it. I cross through the Panhandle any time I'm going to Haight Street or Golden Gate Park, which is basically every day. The Panhandle is great for stretching your legs, going for a quick morning run, shooting some hoops, throwing the ball to your dog, or catching some rays. The two complains are: 1) The bums and "fake homeless" kids with pitbulls that hang out, do drugs, and argue with each other. The good news is they tend to keep to themselves. 2) The "nice" bike path on the north end that is shared by bikes, runners, and walkers. Many commuters, myself included, love to whiz through on this thing, and sometimes there are some close calls. read more

When Golden Gate Park feels overwhelmingly expansive, there is a perfect solution RIGHT next door. I adore The Panhandle for it's quirks--a basketball court, a sweet little park for tots, and lots of pups can be found in this block-wide slice of evergreen. It draws essentially no tourists due to the proximity to GGP, which is awesome when you're looking for a less chaotic vibe in the area. As someone who loves to run, the loop is absolutely ideal for morning jogs, perfectly shaded by the branches of big, old trees. My friends and I spent the 4th of July picnicking here and had a total blast. It's close to Haight Street Market and Whole Foods if you need a snack and a deli sandwich, and there is always room for a blanket and a smashball session. This dense pocket of greenery is one of the more underrated parks in SF--I'm so grateful I live in the neighborhood so I can take advantage of all that is has to offer. :) read more

While I love Golden Gate Park to death, this little slice of grass is one I avoid at all costs. Between the haphazard piles of dogshit and mud puddles all over the place it's easy to come out of the panhandle looking like you live there. Not cool. read more

Love. It. There's a lane for bicycles and a lane without bicycles. Joggers, walkers, people picnicking, playing basketball, lounging, doggies playing, and all sorts of stuff. Minus one star for the occasional squirrel and freaky gophers. read more

I have included a handy infographic in the pictures. Everything you need to know about the Panhandle! read more

The Panhandle - For your viewing pleasure, a handy Panhandle infographic - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

The 'CHEERS' of parks. If you're a neighborhoodie, just try to walk/run/bike through and not see someone you know. I love that. Although I mostly use it as my warm up to a G.G. Park run, I enjoy it for what it is... a long skinny silly strip of humongous trees, homeless on benches, basketball courts, tai-chi-ers, a playground, sprinklers in every direction but towards the grass, and always the person you look at like what the F? Sometimes I wonder if the irregular shape of the park itself attracts irregulars. I think the answer is yes... and I'm happy SF is full of so many irregularities such as the Panhandle. read more

When I was taking Tommy Neutzbaum's Upper Haight Ghost Tour last year, we passd through the Panhandle to talk about Buck Naked's demise at the hands of a crazed pigeon lover. But what he told us about the Panhandle's history was much more fascinating. A map of 1853 shows nothing but sand dunes stretching west toward what the locals called at that time, 'The Outside Lands' It wasn't until 1870 that a man named William Hammond Hall decided to try planting barely, sea bent grass and lupin in an attempt to find a suitable foundation for rooting. Success was his and he added tons of topsoil, deciding on Monterey Cypress and Pines and Eucalyptus for their quick growth and shallow root system. Later he planted Acacias, Japanese Yew, Kauri and Italian Alder. To this day, the Panhandle boasts the oldest trees in the City. The small stand of Live Oak on Fulton/6th actually pre-date his first plantings in 1870. Thus was the Panhandle a 'test lab' in a ways, for Mcclaren and Golden Gate Park. I have always wondered why there's so many Cypresses and Eucalyptus trees in these areas. It's strange to walk in the grassy, shaded park, imagining this all was a vast sand dune at one time. read more

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Wonderful spaces for kids & outdoor activities. Should be 5 stars, but its also unfortunately a super comfy place for the Haight street homeless population. Little kids plus drunk hobos don't seem like a good combo, plus toilets are gross & need renovating. Markings for bike path need to be repainted to they are more visible. read more

Yeah, I had to write a song about this place.... The Panhandle (To the tune of 'Cats in the Cradle' by Harry Chapin) There's a thin little park in the city by the bay Looks like a strip of green, in the usual way But there are crazy things happenin' here every day A lot of them I guess I really shouldn't say And as I take a little stroll, walking right on through, I'd say "I'm gonna have a good time here, boy I think I'll have a good time here." And the pan's on the handle between Fell and Oak Groups of grungy kids all enjoying a toke Crazy homeless man yelling words at you There's dog poo on my shoe, boy, There's dog poo on my shoooooe.... There's Stanyan to the West, and Baker to the East Come here on the weekend for a picnic feast Readers, bikers, frisbees, and dogs Step outta the way as the jogger jogs And when I see the cute girls in their summer gear I'd say "I'm gonna have a good time here, boy I think I'll have a good time here." And the pan's on the handle between Fell and Oak Groups of grungy kids all enjoying a toke Crazy homeless man yelling words at you There's dog poo on my shoe, boy, There's dog poo on my shoooooe.... --Eat yer heart out Yankovic read more

I am writing this review based on driving along the panhandle. For some reason, people that drive in this area are the WORST drivers in the city. Either that or I'm the worst driver. I can't drive on Oak on any given day and not almost rear end someone because they stop at the last minute or not signal for a parking space along the park or see someone get OWNED by a cop that could see the car run the red light from a mile away. Turning onto Masonic is also a nightmare because no one goes to the correct lanes. Fell isn't any better. For some reason, there aren't cops on this side of the panhandle and no one even slows down for red lights and just keeps going at night. One more thing, people need to learn how to park closer than two feet away from the curb. Other than that, the panhandle looks pretty nice to walk around and maybe play some basketball. read more

My only wish for the panhandle is a closed-off dog play area. The cars on Oak and Fell go way too quickly for me to let my little guy off leash here. He's well trained, but it's terrifying! read more

I enjoy this break from riding down the street and battling cars. I will trade fighting auto-traffic for fighting pedestrians anytime. And you cant beat the adorable car-shaped signs on the bike path that say "evil monsters ahead" as you get to the street. I wish the pedaphile pedestrians would stay on the pedestrian side but what do you expect from people who don't ride a bike.... Although I haven't used it as a park, instead of a bike path, since they tore down the Band Shell. And on that note you will find the missing star. WHY DID YOU TAKE DOWN THE BANDSHELL!!!??? Impromptu jazz sessions and blue-grass jugg bands on a lazy afternoon...it was everything I liked about SF. and now it's gone. Gone to an Island where noone lives (treasure island) and will be used about 1/10th the time. Stoopid fart faces. read more

I didn't love the panhandle until I got my bike. Now, to reiterate what people have said in earlier reviews, I love it - the bike path is pretty well paved (although sometimes soaking wet/muddy from the sprinklers) and it allows me to be more than a few inches away from cars zooming past me. It could most definitely use a little more attention though. The lighting could be much better after it gets dark. The dim, almost ominous lighting makes it way too sketchy for me to ride there at night, especially alone. I think if it was better lit, there would be more traffic at night - a good thing! The grass is also a bit patchy and lumpy and poop filled, but bring a blanket and try to avoid the poop. You will most likely find me simply enjoying the panhandle on a walk or bike ride, as I prefer GG park for lounging, but the panhandle is a nice oasis. read more

Outside from the occasional cracked out homeless person or the unwary pedestrian in the bike paths, the panhandle is the closest thing to a freeway for cyclists here in San Francisco. When on a bicycle, you can get from NOPA to Golden Gate Park in less than 5 minutes if you hit all green lights. **Look out for uneven pavement, especially at night!** read more