The San Francisco Controller's Office, which has been conducting the evaluations since 2007, released the results on Dec. 19 and found that city parks, on average, are maintained well. Evaluators examined a range of features — athletic fields, dog play areas, outdoor courts and more — to assess overall quality.
“Parks are essential to our mental and physical health and the wellbeing of our communities, so we’re happy to receive another great report card,” said Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg in a news release. “The success of our green spaces is due to our dedicated staff as well as city residents who proudly steward their open spaces.”
The parks in and around Ingleside averaged 91% for 2023 and 90% for 2022.
A number of parks are in "equity zones," neighborhoods that have suffered from historical environmental burdens like hazardous pollution in air, water or soil. They averaged 86% for 2022 and 89% for 2023.
Here's how the parks fared according to the 2023 report.
The historic Sunnyside Conservatory got a perfect score on its latest evaluation. | Anne Marie Kristoff/Ingleside Light
The conservatory is one of two parks citywide that achieved a perfect score in 2023. It maintained this score for the second year in a row. It was evaluated on its buildings and general amenities, hardscape, ornamental beds and trees.
Randolph & Bright Mini Park
Corner of Randolph and Bright streets | Visit Website
The Randolph & Bright Mini Park, located in an equity zone, received a score of 89% in 2022. Its score increased to 97% in 2023.
Four of six evaluated features earned 100% ratings, which included buildings and general amenities, hardscape, lawns and ornamental beds. Its children's play area scored 88% while its trees scored 93%.
Merced Heights Playground's annual evaluation has improved. | Anne Marie Kristoff/Ingleside Light
Merced Heights Playground scored 94% in 2022 and increased to 97% in 2023. They also unveiled the completed lower terrace renovations last year that included a newly redone dog play area, mosaic art installation, sitting area and outdoor gym equipment.
Four of the eight features they were evaluated on scored 100% including hardscape, lawns, ornamental beds and trees. The buildings and general amenities and childrens play area features scored 96% while restrooms scored 93% and outdoor courts scored 91%.
The hardscape in Brooks Park appears buckled by tree roots. | Anne Marie Kristoff/Ingleside Light
Brooks Park
Entrances: Ramsell Street and Arch and Vernon streets | Visit Website
Brooks Park, located in the equity zone, received a score of 93% in 2023, up from 85% in 2022.
Three of the eight features accessed earned 100% ratings, including buildings and general amenities, ornamental beds and greenscape. The other highly scored feature was children's play area at 95%. In comparison to the park-citywide difference their trees scored 90% with a -5.1 difference, hardscape scored 89% with a -4.1 difference, their outdoor courts scored 88% with a -2.2 difference and table seating areas scored 80% with a -9.1 difference.
Sunnyside Playground scored 90% in 2022 and increased to 93% in 2023.
Three of their nine evaluated features scored 100% including greenscape, ornamental beds and restrooms. Other highly scored features include table seating areas at 96%, outdoor courts at 94%, hardscape at 93%, buildings and general amenities at 91% and childrens play area at 86%. In comparison to the park-citywide difference their trees scored 95% with a -0.1 difference and lawns scored 77% with a -11.1 difference.
This park is a part of the equity zones sector for SFRPD monitoring and received a score of92% in 2022. It increased to 93% in 2023.
The highest score they received was 97% for their tree and ornamental beds features. Other highly scored features include their hardscapes at 95%, athletic field at 94%, restrooms at 93% and outdoor courts at 90%. In comparison to the park-citywide difference their greenspace scored 89% with a -4.5 difference, buildings and general amenities scored 88% with a -0.2 difference, table seating areas scored 88% with a -1.6 difference and childrens play area scored 81% with a -2.3 difference.
This park is a part of the equity zones sector for SFRPD monitoring and received a score of93% in 2022. It decreased to 92% in 2023.
One of their evaluated features scored 100% which was their restrooms. Other highly scored features included buildings and general amenities at 98%, hardscape at 97%, athletic field at 95% and outdoor courts at 94%. In comparison to the park-citywide difference their trees scored 95% with a -0.1 difference, greenscape scored 92% with a -1.7 difference, lawns scored 88% with a -0.7 difference, table seating areas scored 88% with a -1.6 difference, ornamental beds scored 85% with a -8.8 difference and children play area scored 78% with a -5.1 difference.
This park is a part of the equity zones sector for SFRPD monitoring and received a score of 88% in 2022. It increased to 90% in 2023.
The highest score they received was 93% for their outdoor courts. The other highly scored feature was buildings and general amenities at 89%. In comparison to the park-citywide difference their hardscape scored 91% with a -2.4 difference and their childrens play area scored 82% with a -1.0 difference.
This park scored 94% in 2022 and decreased to 90% in 2023.
Four of their 10 evaluated features scored 100% including lawns, ornamental beds, trees and hardscape. Other highly scored features include athletic field at 95% and childrens play area at 83%. In comparison to the park-citywide difference their buildings and general amenities scored 87% with a -1.4 difference, outdoor courts scored 83% with a -6.2 difference, restrooms scored 81% with a -10.1 difference and table seating areas scored 75% with a -14.1 difference.
Cayuga & Lamartine Mini Park, located in an equity zone, received a score of 88% in 2023, up from to 85% in 2022.
Only one of five features — trees — scored 100%. In comparison to the park-citywide difference their ornamental beds scored 93% with a -0.4 difference, hardscape scored 92% with a -1.4 difference, buildings and general amenities scored 71% with a -16.6 difference and greenscape scored 67% with a -26.7 difference.
Joost and Baden Mini Park scored 87% in 2023, down from 93% in 2022.
Only one of the four features — hardscapes — scored 100%. In comparison to the park-citywide difference their trees scored 87% with a -8.4%, buildings and general amenities scored 82% with a -5.9 difference and ornamental beds scored 80% with a -13.8 difference.
Lessing & Sears Mini Park, located in an equity zone, received a score of 72% in 2022. It increased to 74% in 2023.
Only one of the six features scored highly which was ornamental beds at 95%. In comparison to the park-citywide difference their trees scored 85% with -10.1 difference, hardscape scored 83% with a -9.8 difference, buildings and general amenities scored 65% with a -22.7 difference, lawns scored the lowest city wide with 63% and a -25.7 difference and childrens play area scored 56% with a -27.9 difference.
Anne Marie Kristoff (she/her) is a recent graduate from San Francisco State University's journalism program. She enjoys writing about the arts, entertainment and nature.
