SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A plan to renovate the South Sunset Clubhouse, which serves as an important community hub for neighborhood seniors, is one step closer to becoming a reality after the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission approved a conceptual design, San Francisco Recreation and Park Department officials announced today.
The clubhouse is located in South Sunset Playground, a 4-acre park that also features athletic fields, multiple sports courts, and a playground. Under the plan, the clubhouse will undergo a complete renovation and reconfiguration, including an updated kitchen, new sliding glass doors, upgrades to the two already existing restrooms as well the construction of a new additional restroom, and increased storage space. The plan also calls for landscaping improvements, access improvements, a new roof, renewed brickwork, new signage, and more.
The clubhouse is a 2,060 square-foot single-story facility equipped with a multi-purpose room, restrooms, a kitchen, and an office. It was originally built in 1949 and then renovated in 2001.
The organization Self-Help for the Elderly has operated the clubhouse for more than 30 years, providing some 200 seniors with hot meals daily, and offering dance classes, fitness classes, and more. The renovated space will help the organization better serve program participants, most of whom are monolingual Cantonese speakers, and ensure they remain stimulated through social interaction. The renovation has received overwhelming support from Self-Help for the Elderly, as well as program participants.
The $5.3 million project received $3 million in funding through the City’s 2020 Health and Recovery Bond. State Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) secured an additional $2.3 million in state budget funding.
“It’s exciting to see the renovation plans for the South Sunset Clubhouse take another step forward,” Ting said. “The new design will better accommodate the needs of an aging population that’s expected to increase in number over the next few years. Our seniors deserve safe, nurturing community spaces in their own neighborhoods, where they can be close to their family and friends to enjoy their golden years.”
“Vibrant public spaces are essential to improving our physical health, mental wellbeing and social connection—something every San Francisco senior deserves,” said Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “The South Sunset Clubhouse is a vital resource in the City’s westside. Thank you to Self-Help for the Elderly for providing seniors with opportunities to thrive and thank you to the Rec and Park Commission for helping make this vision a reality.”
With the design approved, construction on the renovations is anticipated to start in late 2024, followed by the clubhouse’s reopening slated for late 2025.
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