From the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department:

Stern Grove Playground Transformed into Tree House Village

Beloved Sunset District play space reopens as whimsical, nature-inspired retreat.

Children and families in San Francisco’s Sunset District now have a new reason to explore the outdoors with the reopening of the Sigmund Stern Grove Playground following a major renovation, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced Sept. 10.

Nestled among the majestic trees of Stern Grove just off Sloat Boulevard, the reimagined playground transports visitors into a woodland-inspired play village, complete with structures modeled after primitive treehouses. The new design, crafted with input from the community, invites kids to climb, explore, and engage in imaginative play surrounded by the park’s natural beauty.

The renovation includes brand-new play equipment, such as tree-like towers, climbing nets, timber log features, and swings. The project also brings upgraded surfacing, improved pathways and lawn areas, and refreshed landscaping. Just north of the main playground, a new nature exploration zone promotes unstructured, outdoor discovery and a deeper connection to nature.

“The reimagined Stern Grove Playground is a great addition to an iconic San Francisco park. Now transformed into a treehouse village, it gives San Francisco’s kids the chance to climb, explore, and imagine,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “Reopenings like this show our city at its best—when every neighborhood has parks and spaces where kids can thrive and play.”

“I know how much safe, engaging play spaces mean for our families in the Sunset and across San Francisco. As Supervisor of the Sunset District, I have always supported improving and expanding spaces that bring families and communities together while connecting them to nature. The reimagined Stern Grove Playground does exactly that—it’s a place where children can explore and grow, and where parents can gather, relax, and build lasting memories.” said District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio.

“This isn’t just a playground—it’s an adventure tucked inside one of our city’s most iconic green spaces,” said Phil Ginsburg, General Manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. “Thanks to the voices of neighbors and the vision of our partners, Stern Grove Playground is now a destination where children can immerse themselves in nature-based play that sparks curiosity, creativity, and joy.”

San Francisco Public Works played a key role in the project, overseeing construction management and ensuring the vision for this space was realized.

“This incredible new play space creates an environment for fun-filled wonderment and discovery, adding to the rich offerings of our beloved park system,” said Public Works Director Carla Short. “Our team is excited and proud to have delivered this project on behalf of Rec and Park and the people of San Francisco, especially the children who bring a budding spirit of adventure.”

The project is part of Let’sPlaySF!, a public-private partnership that pairs public funds with private support to renovate 13 playgrounds chosen by a citizen task force. With the completion of Stern Grove Playground, 12 of the 13 sites have now been fully renovated by Rec and Park—bringing the City one step closer to its goal of ensuring every child, in every neighborhood, has access to safe, inclusive, and inspiring play spaces.

The $4.1 million revitalization of Stern Grove Playground, which began construction in August 2024, was made possible in large part thanks to generous contributions to Let’sPlaySF! from the Hellman Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, the Koret Foundation, San Franciscans for Sports and Recreation, the Lisa and John Pritzker Family Fund, Jackie and Joby Pritzker, and many others.