Adult Outdoor Fitness
1. What is the difference between small and large group fitness?
- Small Group Fitness: three or fewer participants and an instructor
- Large Group Fitness: four or more participants (max 25) plus instructor
2. Can I apply for both the small group license and a large group permit?
- Yes there is a separate application for each
- Small Group Application – Rolling application. No deadline.
- Large Group Application – See deadlines below.
3. What is the fee for a small group license?
- The fee is $250 per year.
- Operators can pick up to 4 parks to use with one license
- Small parks may be limited in terms of number of license offered
4. What certifications are required for a small group license?
- Any one of the following
- Proof of professional insurance as it requires certifications
- Over 2 years of experience
- Training Certification in an accredited program
5. What equipment can I bring to the workout and setup
- Equipment set up depends on the surface that you are using
- Lawns – limited to mats and bands. Must be low impact
- Hardscape – more flexible to allow weights and other equipment
6. What is the fee for a large group permit?
- The cost is $25 per hour.
7. When are the application deadlines for a large group permit?
- Please note applications should be submitted by the deadline for the season so that we can review all requests together and best allocate areas. All requests submitted by the application deadline are reviewed together and then areas are either allocated or denied by the response deadline. It is highly recommended that you submit your requests in accordance with our deadlines whenever possible. Any “late” requests submitted after the seasonal deadline will be processed on a first come first serve basis and will be subject to availability.
Season
Dates
Deadline for First Consideration
Response to Applications
Fall
September 1 through November 30
July 10
August 1
Winter
December 1 through February 28
October 10
November 1
Spring
March 1 through May 31
January 10
February 1
Summer
June 1 through August 31
April 10
May 1
8. What locations are reservable under a large group permit?
- The list includes:
- Basketball courts/blacktops – Limited due to the need to balance availability with other users.
- Plazas – Limited due to need to balance other users.
- Grass lawns – Limited due to low impact activities (yoga) and number of days/times per week to avoid excessive wear.
- Note athletic fields are not available as they are being used by athletic leagues.
- Note tennis courts are not available -they are one of the few recreational activities available for adults due to COVID-19 restrictions and they are heavily used.
- No use of children's play areas for any outdoor fitness permit.
- See Exhibit A for a list of likely locations
9. What is a slot?
- A slot consists of a recurring class at a specific location, day of the week, and time.
- Each slot will be for 1 hour.
- An example of a slot would be Panhandle Basketball Court, Mon from 8 am to 9 am.
10. Are these classes still only for adults or can we now do youth outdoor classes through this new system?
- Adults 18+ only.
11. Can 6 a.m. be an option as a starting time?
- For neighbors, 6 a.m. can often be a problem unless it is a really quiet group like yoga or in a very isolated location. We will also have prohibitions on amplified sound similar to existing permits. If you want a 6 a.m. start time, you can put a note in your online application and we will review.
12. Can I play music to motivate my students and make it fun?
- Parks are surrounded by neighbors and used by others who enjoy quiet. We will allow small speakers as long as no complaints are received but if we receive complaints, you will no longer be able to use it.
Exhibit A – List of Sites for Permits and Licenses (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Park Name | Large Group | Small Group License |
Alamo Square | No Area | yes |
Alice Chalmers Playground | Basketball Court -Limited | no |
Alice Marble Courts | Basketball Court - Limited | yes |
Alta Plaza | Half Court- Limited | yes |
Aptos Playground | No Area | yes |
Argonne Playground | Basketball Court - Limited | yes |
Balboa Park | Basketball Court - Limited | yes |
Bernal Heights Rec Center | Basketball Court - Limited | yes |
Buchanan Street Mall | Basketball Court - Limited | yes |
Buena Vista Park | No Area | yes |
Cabrillo Playground | Basketball Court - Limited | yes |
Cayuga Playground | Basketball Court - Limited | yes |
Civic Center Plaza | DG Area- Limited | yes |
Collis P. Huntington Park | No Area | yes |
Corona Heights | No Area | yes |
Crocker Amazon Playground | Basketball Court - Limited | yes |
Dolores Park | Basketball Court - Limited | no |
Dolores Park | Multiuse Court - Limited | no |
Douglass Playground | Basketball Court - Limited | yes |
Duboce Park | No Area | yes |
Embarcadero Plaza | Hardscape | yes |
Excelsior Playground | Basketball Court- Limited | yes |
Franklin Square | No Area | no |
Fulton Playground | Basketball Court | no |
Garfield Square | Lawn | yes |
George Christopher Playground | No Area | yes |
GGP | All Areas (see below for Large Group areas) | yes |
GGP | 10th Ave Bridge | n/a |
GGP | 9th Ave Bridge | n/a |
GGP | Big Rec Grass Area | n/a |
GGP | Kezar Triangle | n/a |
GGP | Robin Williams Area | n/a |
GGP | Robin Williams Meadow | n/a |
Beach Chalet | No Area | no |
GGP | Stanyan Eastern Edge | n/a |
GGP - Panhandle Fitness Court | Black Top Area @ Clayton St | yes |
GGP - Panhandle East Hardscape | East Hardscape @ Ashbury St | yes |
Gilman Playground | Basketball Court | yes |
Glen Park | No Area | yes |
Grattan Playground | Basketball Court | no |
Hamilton Rec Center | Lawn only | yes |
Hayes Valley Playground | Basketball Court Before 8 am only | no |
Helen Wills Playground | Basketball Court weekdays before 9 am and after 5 pm | yes |
Hilltop Park | No Area | yes |
Holly Park | Basketball Court - Limited | yes |
In Chan Kaajal Park | Performance Area before 10a | yes |
India Basin Shoreline Park | Basketball Court | yes |
J. P. Murphy Playground | Basketball Court | no |
Jackson Playground | Basketball Court - Limited | yes |
James Rolph Jr. Playground | Basketball Court | yes |
Jefferson Square | No Area | yes |
Joe DiMaggio North Beach Playground | Blacktop | yes |
John McLaren Park | Basketball Court | yes |
Jose Coronado Playground | Basketball Court/Blacktop | yes |
Junipero Serra Playground | Basketball Court | yes |
Kezar Stadium | Upper Track | yes |
Kezar Stadium | Area on West Side | no |
Lafayette Park | Gathering Meadow East Side of Park | yes |
Lake Merced Park | Parking Lot | yes |
Larsen Park | Basketball Court - Limited | yes |
Larsen Park | Grass Area | yes |
Laurel Hill Playground | Basketball Court | yes |
Little Hollywood Park | Basketball Court | yes |
Louis Sutter Playground | Basketball Court | yes |
Marina Green | Marina Triangle Area 1 | yes |
Marina Green | Marina Triangle Area 2 | yes |
Marina Green | Little Marina | yes |
McCoppin Square | Lawn | yes |
McKinley Square | Lawn | yes |
Michelangelo Playground | Basketball Court | yes |
Midtown Terrace Playground | Basketball Court | yes |
Minnie & Lovie Ward Rec Center | Basketball Court | yes |
Miraloma Playground | Basketball Court | yes |
Mission Playground | Basketball Court - Limited | yes |
Mission Playground | Pitch after renovation before 10 weekdays | yes |
Moscone Rec Center | Basketball Court before 10 weekdays | yes |
Mountain Lake Park | Basketball Court/Lawn | yes |
Noe Valley Courts | Basketball Court - Limited | yes |
Noe Valley Town Square | Plaza Area - Limited | no |
Parkside Square | Basketball Court | yes |
Patricia's Green in Hayes Valley | No Area | yes |
Peixotto Playground | No Area | yes |
Pine Lake Park | Lawn | yes |
Portsmouth Square | Plaza Area | yes |
Potrero del Sol Park | Stage Area Mon- Fri | yes |
Potrero Hill Rec Center | Basketball Court | yes |
Precita Park | Lawn only | yes |
Presidio Wall Playground | Basketball Court | yes |
Presidio Wall Playground | Grass Area | yes |
Raymond Kimbell Playground | No Area | yes |
Richmond Playground | Basketball Court | yes |
Rochambeau Playground | Basketball Court | yes |
Rolph Nicol Playground | Lawn | yes |
Rossi Playground | Grass Area | yes |
Rossi Playground | Basketball Court | yes |
Stern Grove | East Meadow | yes |
South Park | No Area | yes |
South Sunset Playground | Basketball Court | yes |
St. Mary's Square | Plaza Area - Limited | yes |
States Street Playground | Basketball Court | yes |
Sue Bierman Park | Lawn only | yes |
Sunnyside Playground | Basketball Court | yes |
Sunset Playground | Basketball Court before 9 am and after 5 pm | yes |
Twin Peaks | trails and roadway | yes |
Upper Noe Rec Center | Basketball Court before 9 am and after 5 pm | yes |
Victoria Manalo Draves Park | Basketball Court before 9 am and after 5 pm | yes |
Visitacion Valley Greenway | No Area | yes |
Visitacion Valley Playground | No Area | yes |
Walter Haas Playground | Basketball Court | yes |
Washington Square | Lawn only | no |
West Portal Playground | No Area | yes |
West Sunset Playground | Basketball Court/Plaza area | yes |
Youngblood Coleman Playground | Basketball Court | yes |