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Recreation and Park Commission
The Recreation and Park Department is governed by a seven-member Commission appointed by the Mayor to four-year terms. In accordance with the Charter, the Recreation and Park Commission is primarily a policy-making body, establishing the policies by which the Recreation and Park Department operates. The Commission is responsible for the over 220 parks, playgrounds and open spaces throughout San Francisco and two outside the City limits. These include destinations such as Camp Mather, Golden Gate Park, Harding Golf Course, Coit Tower, Palace of Fine Arts.
Contact Information
Recreation and Park Commissioners can be contacted through the Commission Secretary’s Office.
Mailing Address:
San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission
501 Stanyan Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
Telephone: 415-831-2750
E-mail: recpark.commission@sfgov.org
Meeting Information*
The Recreation and Park Commission operates on a committee structure, and includes the Capital Committee, the Operations Committee and the Joint Zoo Committee. Remote meeting access information is available at the top of each meeting agenda.
Capital Committee: The Capital Committee meets on the first Wednesday of every month, and are currently occurring virtually.
Operations Committee: The Operations Committee meets on the first Thursday of every month, and are currently occurring virtually.
Joint Zoo Committee: The Joint Zoo Committee meets on the third Thursday of every month, and are currently occurring virtually.
Full Commission Meetings: The full Commission meets on the third Thursday of every month at City Hall, Room 416* at 10 a.m.
*Meeting dates/times are on a regular schedule, but may vary. To confirm meeting dates/times/locations, please view the upcoming calendar below. Committee meetings will be remote until further notice.
Public Comment
Speakers should address their comments to the Commission. In order to allow equal time for all, neither the Commission nor staff will respond to any questions during public comment. The Commission may ask questions of staff after public comment is closed.
Virtual Public Comment: Remote comment is available for both Committee and full Commission meetings. Remote meeting instructions will be at the top of each meeting agenda with information about how to listen, view and comment at the meetings. When dialing in for public comment, ensure you are in a quiet location, speak clearly and turn off background sounds. Wait for the item you would like to speak on to be called. When prompted, dial *3 to be added to the queue to speak. The system will notify you when you are in line and waiting.
In-Person Public Comment: In-person public comment is currently only available at full Commission meetings. Speakers are asked to fill out a speaker card and submit it to the Commission Secretary at the beginning of the meeting, if possible. Speakers will be called during the item noted on the card to address the Commission.
2023 Full Commission
2023 Capital Committee
2023 Operations Committee
2023 Joint Zoo Committee
Commission Archives (Agendas, Minutes & Supporting Docs 2013-2021)
Full Commission Documents (2013-2022) Click here
Capital Committee Documents (2013-2022) Click here
Operations Committee Documents (2013-2022) Click here
Joint Zoo Committee Documents (2013-2022) Click here
| Commissioner Mark Buell | President Mark Buell is a native San Franciscan, a graduate of the University of San Francisco and a decorated Vietnam veteran. He has spent 35 years in both public and private real estate development. Mark served as San Francisco’s first Director of Economic Development under Joseph Alioto and later served as the first Director of the Emeryville Redevelopment Agency from 1977 to 1985. He was a founding member and first President of CALED, the California Association for Local Economic Development and has served on the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission under Dianne Feinstein. Buell served on the Boards of various non-profit organizations including the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the San Francisco Conservation Corps, Bolinas Museum and the Chez Panisse Foundation. He is currently the Chair of the Marin Community Foundation and in addition he is a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of San Francisco. Buell is married to the former Susie Russell Tompkins and has two children from a previous marriage: Sabrina and Justin. |
| Commissioner Kat Anderson | Vice President Kat Anderson was born in the San Fernando Valley and raised there and in Little Rock, Arkansas where hanging out in open spaces, the woods, and by the water was a typical way to grow up. In San Francisco, Kat is happiest walking a park trail, especially if her kids, Patrick and Deedee, join her. Sometimes she brings along her dog, Willow, or even her husband, Dave. Kat combines her love of the outdoors with her support of many local recreation/conservation projects and advocacy groups, including the Shared Schoolyard Project, SF Parks Alliance, the Marina playground renovation, tree-planting in partnership with Friends of the Urban Forest, and the Sierra Club. She has supported all park bonds that have come before the voters, including Proposition B in the 2016 June Primary. Kat moved to San Francisco in 1988 to attend Hastings College of the Law. She specialized in labor and employment law for many years. She is now Administrative Officer of Pacific Media Workers Guild – the news union. She graduated with distinction from Stanford University obtaining her Bachelors Degree in Political Science with a Minor in Economics. She volunteers on the boards of the Foundation of City College and Bishop’s Ranch in Healdsburg, and is President of the City Democratic Club. |
| Commissioner Laurence Griffin Laurence (Larry) Griffin is a native San Franciscan who grew up in our city’s parks, where some of his fondest childhood memories took place. As middleclass San Franciscans like so many families today, his parents were not able to pack up the car and drive to Lake Tahoe or the Russian River. Their recreation took place in our city’s parks and open spaces. Larry spent many years working in both public service and with labor organizations, and is now retired. He has worked for the Human Rights Commission, Project S.A.F.E. the Family Support Bureau of the District Attorney’s Office, the criminal division of the District Attorney’s Office, and the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE), where he helped to enforce San Francisco labor laws until his retirement in June 2020. Larry also spent years during his professional career following in the footsteps of his father, who was a long-respected labor leader with the Retail Clerks Local 1100. He also served for many years on the San Francisco Social Services Commission under three mayors. Larry worked for SEIU Local 250, Hospital and Healthcare Workers Union, where he began as a business representative and then moved onto becoming its political director. He also spent some time working for IFPTE Local 21. Later, as a rank-and-file member of Local 21, he was elected chapter president of its at-large chapter. He was then elected to the union's executive committee, first as membership vice president and then as Vice President for legislative and Political Action. Larry was later elected by the international union to the IFPTE Executive Council as Western Region Vice President. Larry supports his community through various civic activities, including serving on the board of the Booker T. Washington Community Service Center from 2008 – 2021. He spent six years as president, during which time the center celebrated its 100th anniversary and completed a $35 million rebuild, including housing for TAY transitional-aged-youth and low-income individuals. He also serves as an at-large member of the Jewish Community Relations Council Assembly. Larry previously served on the San Francisco Fire Commission as its vice-president. Larry still resides in the area known as NOPA of the Western Addition with his wife Alison and their beloved 18-year-old cat MAX. | |
| Commissioner Joe Hallisy Joe Hallisy is a native San Franciscan. He grew up in the Ingleside District, where he spent much of his youth in the parks, playgrounds, pools, and gymnasiums of the City. He began coaching youth sports following his graduation from St. Ignatius, serving as Athletic Director at both St. Anne and St. Cecilia schools. He was inducted into the CYO Hall of Fame in 2018. He continues to be an advocate for youth fitness, as he is in his 49th year of teaching PE at St. Thomas Apostle School. Hallisy retired from the San Francisco Fire Department in 2011 after 30 years of service. He ran the SFFD FLAME Program for the last six years of his career, sponsoring athletic leagues, tournaments, and activities for SF youth. From 2005 to 2011, he served as the Chair of the San Francisco Youth Baseball Board, a joint partnership between the SFFD and SFRPD. He holds a BA in Broadcasting from San Francisco State University and has announced the SFSU graduation at Oracle Park since 2018. In addition, he has served as the public address announcer for USF Dons men’s and women’s basketball since 1985. He was honored by USF for his service to the University with the Cable Car Award in 2010 and was named Don of the Year in 2019. He is no stranger to Civic Center, as he has served as M.C. for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade since 2014. He and his wife, Claudine live in the Inner Sunset. They have three children. |
| Commissioner Annie Jupiter-Jones Annie is a proud daughter of San Francisco, born & raised in the Mission District where she proudly still works and lives with her own family. Annie has spent the last 25 years working to empower and uplift our city’s youth and using art as a form of activism to create positive change. Annie holds a BA in Liberal Studies/Spanish and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University. Annie has served as an Elementary and High School teacher in the SFUSD and in leadership roles in community based arts and youth development organizations. Most recently Annie spent 9 years as the Executive Director for Loco Bloco, a youth and family Arts+Activism organization which Annie first joined as a student when she was 16 years old. As the Director of Loco Bloco Annie facilitated a cultural exchange to Salvador, Brazil for 32 youth and artists, produced the creation and tour of "On The Hill" (a musical docu-theater project based on the life and death of Alex Nieto) and successfully negotiated and managed an organizational merger with the Jamestown Community Center. Additionally, under Annie's leadership Loco Bloco was honored with a 1st Place Award from Carnaval San Francisco, a Superbowl 50 Playmaker Award and was named to the 2019 YBCA 100 list. Annie was selected as Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Collective Safety Fellow for their 18-19 cohort and her project City Kids was featured at the 2019 YBCA Public Square. Annie works to increase gender equality in sports through Girls Baseball advocacy and currently serves as the Girls Baseball Commissioner for the San Francisco Youth Baseball League and the manager of the San Francisco Bay Sox Girls Baseball Program. Annie co-leads the recently launched "Hella Wellness Collective", teaches group fitness classes and can most often be found shuttling her three very active daughters around the city to their practices, games and performances. |
| Commissioner Vanita Louie Vanita Louie is proud to call herself a native San Franciscan. Born and educated in San Francisco, she attended St. Mary’s in Chinatown and Cathedral High School. A graduate of San Francisco State University with a BA in Business Administration, she was an entrepreneur and pioneer in the travel industry with a nearly three-decade career. She has helped shape and level the competition in airline travel for many retail travel agencies across the nation as a wholesale airlines consolidator since the 1980s. She was a board member of a variety of tourism boards and assisted with determining popular flight routes and airline destinations before she retired in 2010. Vanita has deep roots in Chinatown as her parents operated a Chinese arts business on Grant Avenue and her grandparents were famous candy makers for over 50 years. Vanita was raised in the community by the community. She utilized many of the playgrounds, parks and recreation programs that the Rec & Park Department has to offer. She is an avid yogi, guitar and pickleball player. As a community advocate and commitment to anything that supports community, she is ready to serve. She was the recipient of the “Community Building Award” from (CEDAW) the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and received the “Community Hero Award” with Gum Moon & the Asian Women’s Resource Center in the same year. Now retired, she lives in the Anza Vista neighborhood with her husband Austin and doggie. They have two grown daughters Lindsey and Julianne. |
| Commissioner Larry Mazzola Larry was born and raised in San Francisco. He went to St. Stephen’s grammar school and graduated from Sacred Heart High School and then attended San Mateo Junior College. Larry then entered the Local Union 38 Plumbers Apprenticeship Program for the next 5 years until he became a journeyman plumber. After working as a journeyman plumber, he then went to work as the Assistant Apprentice Coordinator to the Local 38 Training Program. He went on to other various jobs with the Union such as Organizer, Business Agent, Assistant Business Manager, until he was elected Business Manager & Financial Secretary-Treasurer in July 2013. In 2015, Larry was elected President of the San Francisco Building & Construction Trades Council. He is also a Vice President of the San Francisco Labor Council and Vice President of the California State Federation, AFL-CIO. Larry has always been eager to donate his time to help the community. He started out on the San Francisco Film Commission for 4 years then on to the Treasure Island Development Authority Board for 6 years and now is excited to be appointed to the San Francisco Recreation & Park Commission, where he feels he can serve our community well. |
Article IV: EXECUTIVE BRANCH-BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND DEPARTMENTS
SEC. 4.100. GENERAL.
In addition to the office of the Mayor, the executive branch of the City and County shall be composed of departments, appointive boards, commissions and other units of government. To the extent law permits, each appointive board, commission, or other unit of government of the City and County established by state or federal law shall be subject to the provisions of this Article and this Charter.
SEC. 4.101. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS' COMPOSITION.
Unless otherwise provided in this Charter, the composition of each appointive board, commission or advisory body of any kind established by this Charter or legislative act of the United States of America, the State of California or the Board of Supervisors shall:
1. Be broadly representative of the communities of interest, neighborhoods, and the diversity in ethnicity, race, age, and sexual orientation of the City and County and have representation of both sexes; and
2. Consist of electors of the City and County at all times during the term of their respective offices, unless otherwise specifically provided in this Charter; or in the case of boards, commissions or advisory bodies established by legislative act the position is (a) designated by ordinance for a person under legal voting age, or (b) unless specifically exempt from the provisions, or waived by the appointing officer or entity upon a finding that an elector with specific experience, skills or qualifications willing to serve could not be located within the City and County.
Vacancies on appointive boards, commissions or other units of government shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term in the manner prescribed by this Charter or ordinance for initial appointments.
Terms of office shall continue as they existed on the effective date of this Charter.
SEC. 4.102. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS' POWERS AND DUTIES.
Unless otherwise provided in this Charter, each appointive board, commission or other unit of government of the executive branch of the City and County shall:
1. Formulate, evaluate and approve goals, objectives, plans and programs and set policies consistent with the overall objectives of the City and County, as established by the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors through the adoption of City legislation;
2. Develop and keep current an Annual Statement of Purpose outlining its areas of jurisdiction, authorities, purpose and goals, subject to review and approval by the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors;
3. After public hearing, approve applicable departmental budgets or any budget modifications or fund transfers requiring the approval of the Board of Supervisors, subject to the Mayor's final authority to initiate, prepare and submit the annual proposed budget on behalf of the executive branch and the Board of Supervisors' authority under Section 9.103;
4. Recommend to the Mayor for submission to the Board of Supervisors rates, fees and similar charges with respect to appropriate items coming within their respective jurisdictions;
5. Unless otherwise specifically provided, submit to the Mayor at least three qualified applicants, and if rejected, to make additional nominations in the same manner, for the position of department head, subject to appointment by the Mayor;
6. Remove a department head; the Mayor may recommend removal of a department head to the commission, and it shall be the commission's duty to act on the Mayor's recommendation by removing or retaining the department head within 30 days; failure to act on the Mayor's recommendation shall constitute official misconduct;
7. Conduct investigations into any aspect of governmental operations within its jurisdiction through the power of inquiry, and make recommendations to the Mayor or the Board of Supervisors;
8. Exercise such other powers and duties as shall be prescribed by the Board of Supervisors; and
9. Appoint an executive secretary to manage the affairs and operations of the board or commission.
10. In furtherance of the discharge of its responsibilities, an appointive board, commission or other unit of government may:
11. Hold hearings and take testimony; and
12. Retain temporary counsel for specific purposes, subject to the consent of the Mayor and the City Attorney.
Each board or commission, relative to the affairs of its own department, shall deal with administrative matters solely through the department head or his or her designees, and any dictation, suggestion or interference herein prohibited on the part of any member of a board or commission shall constitute official misconduct; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall restrict the board or commission's powers of hearing and inquiry as provided in this Charter.
SEC. 4.103. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS' ANNUAL REPORT.
As of the operative date of this Charter and until this requirement is changed by the Board of Supervisors, each board and commission of the City and County shall be required by ordinance to prepare an annual report describing its activities, and shall file such report with the Mayor and the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. The Annual Report can be included in the Annual Statement of Purpose as provided for in Section 4.102(2).
SEC. 4.104. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS' RULES AND REGULATIONS.
Unless otherwise provided in this Charter, each appointive board, commission or other unit of government of the executive branch of the City and County shall:
1. Adopt rules and regulations consistent with this Charter and ordinances of the City and County. No rule or regulation shall be adopted, amended or repealed, without a public hearing. At least ten days' public notice shall be given for such public hearing. All such rules and regulations shall be filed with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors.
2. Hold meetings open to the public and encourage the participation of interested persons. Except for the actions taken at closed sessions, any action taken at other than a public meeting shall be void. Closed sessions may be held in accordance with applicable state statutes and ordinances of the Board of Supervisors.
3. Keep a record of the proceedings of each regular or special meeting. Such record shall indicate how each member voted on each question. These records, except as may be limited by state law or ordinance, shall be available for public inspection.
The presence of a majority of the members of an appointive board, commission or other unit of government shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by such body. Unless otherwise required by this Charter, the affirmative vote of a majority of the members shall be required for the approval of any matter, except that the rules and regulations of the body may provide that, with respect to matters of procedure the body may act by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present, so long as the members present constitute a quorum. All appointive boards, commissions or other units of government shall act by a majority, two-thirds, three-fourths or other vote of all members. Each member present at a regular or special meeting shall vote "yes" or "no" when a question is put, unless excused from voting by a motion adopted by a majority of the members present.
SEC. 4.113. RECREATION AND PARK COMMISSION.
The Recreation and Park Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the Mayor, pursuant to Section 3.100, for four-year terms. Members may be removed by the Mayor only pursuant to Section 15.105.
Pursuant to the policies and directives set by the Commission and under the direction and supervision of the General Manager, the Recreation and Park Department shall manage and direct all parks, playgrounds, recreation centers and all other recreation facilities, avenues and grounds under the Commission's control or placed under its jurisdiction thereafter, unless otherwise specifically provided in this Charter.
The Department shall promote and foster a program providing for organized public recreation of the highest standard.
The Department shall issue permits for the use of all property under the Commission's control, pursuant to the policies established by the Commission.
As directed by the Commission, the Department shall administer the Park, Recreation and Open Space Fund pursuant to Section 16.107 of this Charter.
The Department shall have the power to construct new parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, recreation facilities, squares and grounds, and to erect and maintain buildings and structures on parks, playgrounds, square, avenues and grounds, except as follows:
1. No building or structure, except for nurseries, equipment storage facilities and comfort stations, shall be erected, enlarged or expanded in Golden Gate Park or Union Square Park unless such action has been approved by a vote of two-thirds of the Board of Supervisors;
2. No park land may be sold or leased for non-recreational purposes, nor shall any structure on park property be built, maintained or used for non-recreational purposes, unless approved by a vote of the electors. However, with permission of the Commission and approval by the Board of Supervisors, subsurface space under any public park, square or playground may be used for the operation of a public automobile parking station under the authority of the Department of Parking and Traffic, provided that the Commission determines that such a use would not be, in any material respect or degree, detrimental to the original purpose for which a park, square or playground was dedicated or in contravention of the conditions of any grant under which a park, square or playground might have been received. The revenues derived from any such use, less the expenses incurred by the Department of Parking and Traffic in operating these facilities, shall be credited to Recreation and Park Department funds.
The Commission shall have the power to lease or rent any stadium or recreation field under its jurisdiction for athletic contests, exhibitions and other special events and may permit the lessee to charge an admission fee.
(Amended March 2000)
- Apr 5
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Recreation and Park Capital Committee Meeting
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- Apr 6
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Recreation and Park Operations Committee Meeting
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- Apr 20
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Joint Zoo Committee
Section 16.3 of the Management Agreement specifies... -
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Recreation and Park Commission Meeting
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- May 3
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Recreation and Park Capital Committee Meeting
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- May 4
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Recreation and Park Operations Committee Meeting
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- May 18
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Joint Zoo Committee
Section 16.3 of the Management Agreement specifies... -
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Recreation and Park Commission Meeting
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Implicit Bias Training Requirement for City Commissioners and Department Heads
Ordinance 71-19 requires members of City boards and commissions and City Department Heads to complete the Department of Human Resources’ (DHR) online Implicit Bias training by December 31, 2019. In addition, newly appointed members of City boards and commissions must complete this training within 60 days of assuming office. The Ordinance also requires that, beginning January 15, 2020, all Commission websites must include a statement identifying each Commissioner and Department Head that has completed the training, and the date the training was completed. If the training has not been completed by a Commissioner or Department Head, that also must be indicated.
Members of the Recreation and Park Commission each completed the training on the dates shown below:
Name | Position | Completed |
Mark Buell | Commissioner | December 20, 2019 |
Kat Anderson | Commissioner | December 20, 2019 |
| Joe Hallisy | Commissioner | November 9, 2020 |
| Annie Jupiter-Jones | Commissioner | November 9, 2020 |
Larry Mazzola, Jr. | Commissioner | December 18, 2019 |
| Vanita Louie | Commissioner | June 1, 2022 |
| Laurence Griffin | Commissioner | June 13, 2022 |
| Phil Ginsburg | General Manager | November 14, 2019 |