Play Fields Program

CONSTRUCTION ADVISORY: Minnie & Lovie Ward Athletic Fields will be under construction from early June 2026 through late October 2026. For more information visit the project page. Construction and related field closures will be performed in two phases to allow play to continue on one half of the field space throughout construction. For up-to-date information on field availability and for reservations, please visit Athletic Field Reservations or email our Permits and Reservations staff at RPDReservations@sfgov.org.

San Francisco Recreation and Park Department offers synthetic and natural grass fields at 63 parks throughout the City that together provide over 200,000 hours of play per year.

Rec Park operates synthetic turf fields in 12 parks, which together have more than 35 individual game fields. Rec Park’s dedicated turf maintenance team, established in 2017, provides regular and routine maintenance of the turf fields to keep them at a high level of play, maintain the turf warranties, and achieve appropriate field resiliency standards. 

Synthetic turf increases play time by approximately 800 hours per field annually, or approximately 50% more than natural grass fields.

• 2004 – An independent study commissioned by the Recreation and Park Department, 2004 Recreation Assessment Report, finds that San Francisco faced a significant play field deficit and would need more than 60 additional athletic fields at that time to meet ever-increasing demand.
• 2008 – The Recreation and Park Commission adopts the 2008 Synthetic Playfields Task Force – Findings and Department Recommendations to inform Rec Park's installation and replacement of synthetic turf fields.
• 2026 – The Recreation and Park Commission adopts the 2026 Synthetic Turf Program – Policy and Protocols. This resolution acknowledges that there are global, national, and locally identified environmental concerns with the use of synthetic turf, including microplastics and PFAS substances, and also unmet demand for recreation spaces given the City’s limited financial and spatial resources.

As the 2026 Commission resolution affirms, San Francisco’s synthetic turf fields are designed and maintained with one goal in mind: to provide safe, durable, and sustainable spaces for year-round recreation.

Synthetic Turf in San Francisco Parks: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), updated April 2026