PARKS IN THE NEWS

Flower Piano returns to the San Francisco Botanical Garden from September 16 to 20, turning the garden into the city’s own alfresco concert hall. Participants are invited to explore the Garden’s global living plant collections as they seek out the 12 pianos spread out across the 55-acre living museum.

At each of the pianos, there will be scheduled professional performances, open play time for participants, and community partner performances – reflecting a range of genres, ages, and cultures. The experience brings joy, hope, awe, and a deep sense of community. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here. 

Check out the recent San Francisco Examiner article that profiles San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. It highlights his 13-year tenure, which has been one of the most transformative periods for San Francisco’s parks in history. In addition to his accomplishments in this profile, Ginsburg was also recently reappointed to a second term on the California State Park and Recreation Commission.

The JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park is getting a glow-up to become an even more welcoming space for all visitors—complete with vibrant decorative paint celebrating Golden Gate Park.  Work has begun to transform the road into a promenade by removing old roadway striping to make way for decorative painting.

FREE MUSIC IN THE PARKS

There are great free music shows at the Golden Gate Bandshell this weekend, starting with Brazilian Jazz with Homenagem Brasileira at the Soul/Jazz/R&B Happy Hour on Friday, September 9, 4:30 to 7 p.m. On Saturday, September 10, from noon to 4 p.m. Charity and the JAMBand will play for the Kids Fest #3. W Reggae Sunday on September 11 will feature DJ Irie Dole plus a special guest TBA, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.  For more information, click here.

Check out Due South, a free outdoor concert series at the historic Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park. This year’s series features a diverse lineup of contemporary talent, celebrating the cultures and communities that surround McLaren Park and its neighboring districts. Two concerts are left: September 17 with Thao and Ruby Ibarra; and October 8 with Ozomatrli and La Misa Negra, both 2-6 p.m. Enjoy live music and local eats. More information, click here.

MOVIE NIGHTS IN PARKS

“Sundown Cinema” is a free, outdoor movie series that features film screenings at parks across the city. Upcoming screenings are: “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Art” Alamo Square on Friday September 9 at 5 p.m., “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings at Crane Cove Park on Friday September 30 at 5 p.m., and “Addams Family Values” (with a Halloween costume contest and prizes at Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park on Friday October 21 at 5 p.m. The movies are presented by the San Francisco Parks Alliance. For more information, click here.

If you’d like to see Rec & Parks Events, visit sfrecpark.org.