Gene Friend Recreation Center Project

Artist rendering of Gene Friend Rec Center Park Room looking outBackground

Recreation and Park Department and The Trust for Public Land Staff have been working with the community since late 2014 to envision improvements to Gene Friend Recreation Center. A feasibility study modeled various tiers of intervention, from building improvements to the existing recreation center to a completely new and expanded facility. Based on community feedback, the project team also explored building replacement options. The study demonstrated that improvements to the existing building would be costly and would not fully accommodate community desires and the needs of the growing SOMA neighborhood. Construction of a new recreation center and facility will allow RPD to provide more public amenities, improve site access and security, and will provide greater seismic strength and environmental benefits.

The Recreation and Park Commission approved a concept design for a wholescale replacement and expansion of the recreation center in September 2019, after a robust community outreach planning phase. 

Project Schedule 

PhaseTimeline
PlanningFall 2014
DesignSpring 2022
ConstructionFall 2023
Open to the publicFall 2025


Project Updates

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  1. What's New
  2. Documents and Materials
  1. Capital Project Update

    Gene Friend Rec Center | Virtual Community Update: Thursday, June 8, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

    Rec and Parks and the Arts Commission are co-hosting an online meeting to share updates on the latest facility design, project schedule, and draft public art plan Read on...
  2. Capital Project Update

    Gene Friend Recreation Center update | March 2023

    The Gene Friend Recreation Center project represents the wholescale construction of a brand-new facility. Currently, the project team is working on Read on...
  3. Capital Project Update

    Updates Related to the New Gene Friend Recreation Center

    Notice to Proceed for pre-construction services was awarded to Swinerton Builders just prior to Thanksgiving . . . Read on...
  4. Capital Project Update

    Gene Friend Rec Center Project Update 7/20/22

    The design team is up and running and working on completing schematic design by later this Summer. . . Read on...
  5. Capital Project Update

    Gene Friend Rec Center Project Update 3/25

    We're officially under contract with the architecture & engineering team, Mark Cavagnero Associates + Kuth Ranieri Architects Joint Venture. We're looking forward to working with this team to finalize the project design & construction documents. Read on...
  6. Capital Project Update

    Gene Friend Rec Center Project Updates

    Here are some updates on the Gene Friend Recreation Center project: Read on...
  7. Capital Project Update

    Gene Friend Rec Project Architecture and Engineering Services Team Updates

    We are excited to be moving toward onboarding our new design team for the project! . . . Read on...
  8. Capital Project Update

    Updates to RFP for Architectural & Engineering Services and Recruitment Timeline for Gene Friend Rec

    Thank you for helping us to get the word out to folks who may be interested in working on the project. . . . Read on...
  9. Capital Project Update

    The Request for Proposals for Architectural & Engineering Services for the Gene Friend Rec is Live

    Thank you for helping us to get the word out to folks who may be interested in working on the project. . . Read on...
  10. Capital Project Update

    Gene Friend Rec Center Project Update 6/21/21!

    We are pushing to advertise an RFP (request for proposals) for a design team (architecture and engineering) this July, with the goal of selecting a team and having them start work by right after the New Year 2022. . . Read on...
  11. Capital Project Update

    Gene Friend Rec Center Project Update 4/16/21!

    As you have likely heard by now, Prop A passed in November, and the Health and Recovery General Obligation Bond is a go . . . Read on...
  12. Capital Project Update

    Gene Friend Rec Project Update 10/9!

    Gene Friend Recreation Center has been included as a project . . . Read on...
  13. Capital Project Update

    GENE FRIEND REC CENTER PROJECT UPDATE FEB 2020

    Thanks to the large group of representatives from community organizations who came out for the Recreation and Park Commission Capital Committee hearing Read on...
  14. Capital Project Update

    GENE FRIEND REC CENTER CONCEPT DESIGN AT COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 4

    Thanks to all of our community members who have provided valuable input since early 2015 on the feasibility study Read on...
  15. Capital Project Update

    GENE FRIEND REC CENTER PROJECT UPDATES

    We have our final concept design for the new rec center and are just wrapping up environmental review with SF Planning. Read on...
  16. Capital Project Update

    GENE FRIEND REC CENTER DESIGN CLEARS ARTS COMMISSION CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW PHASE 1

    The Gene Friend Rec Center design team presented project design and drawings to the San Francisco Arts Commission’s Civic Design Review Committee Read on...
  1. Melinda Sullivan

    Project Manager