SAN FRANCISCO, CA —Today, the Recreation and Park Department announced Phil Ginsburg’s selection as the next President of the Resources Legacy Fund. Ginsburg will leave the City at the end of the year, concluding a long career in public service that saw him transform San Francisco’s parks and open spaces during 16 years at the helm of the department.
“I'm grateful to Phil Ginsburg for his 25 years of service to our city and 16 years of leadership at the Recreation and Park Department,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “Phil has worked tirelessly to improve our city’s public spaces, and I want to thank him for his unending commitment to San Francisco.”
Ginsburg was appointed in July of 2009 by then-Mayor Gavin Newsom and went on to serve under six mayors. As General Manager, he reshaped San Francisco parks into one of the nation’s most admired urban park systems. Under Ginsburg’s leadership San Francisco became the first city in the country where every resident lives within a 10-minute walk of a park or open space.
Ginsburg also established a first-in-the-state apprenticeship program for gardeners, spearheaded the transformation of India Basin waterfront and its Equitable Development Plan, built a new generation of playgrounds, expanded youth sports opportunities and access, grew the Department’s park ranger division, converted UN Plaza into a safe space for skating, brought exciting special events to parks, secured over $300 million in philanthropic support for park renovations, transitioned Golden Gate Park to recycled water and transformed JFK and Sunset Dunes into thriving public spaces.
“Phil’s impact is felt in every corner of our great City,” said State Senator Scott Wiener. “From new playgrounds to spectacular trails, great concerts to public art installations; Phil’s work has improved and enlivened San Francisco.”
Ginsburg also serves as the Chair of the State’s Recreation and Parks Commission, the vice chair of the Children and Nature Network and on the board of the National Recreation and Parks Association and San Francisco Children and Nature.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of San Francisco as their parks director,” Ginsburg said. “I am proud of the safe, clean, joyous, and equitable park system we have built over the last 16 years. It’s hard to say goodbye to something you love, but I am confident that San Francisco’s parks will continue to bring joy and respite to our beautiful city — now get out and play!”
###