Big bucks and big shovels were in play yesterday in San Francisco as Mayor London N. Breed and a parade of city officials and local residents gathered to kick off the construction of the new Gene Friend Recreation Center in the bustling SoMa neighborhood. In a statement nabbed by sf.gov, Mayor Breed effused pride over delivering a space poised to be "bigger, brighter, and more beautiful" for community gatherings and recreation.
The $59 million project, planting its roots at 270 6th Street, promises to outshine the old facility with 50% more square footage. Designed as a beacon of wellness and activity, the center smacks of features like two full-size basketball courts dappled with sunlight through expansive windows and a fresh entrance leading an enthusiastic step on Harriet Street. All set to bloom open by mid-2026, the center's upgrade has been a hankering in the neighborhood for years.
Playing to the rhythm of community needs, District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey voiced in a sf.gov statement, "This groundbreaking isn’t just a construction project — it’s a promise to create a functional, inclusive space that will serve our neighborhood and its communities for generations." A promise that's more than skin-deep, nestled within these new walls will be a versatile exercise area, a kitchenette, office space, and multi-purpose rooms that form the core of the new rec center.
This grand spruce-up was fueled by more than community willpower, with $30 million worth of ammunition provided by the Health and Recovery Bond, as lauded by Mayor Breed and carried triumphantly by voters with over 70% approval. Tipping in its generous contribution, the Trust for Public Land chipped in with a $520,500 in-kind grant, tendered through the Friend Family Foundation's generosity and with some hefty developer impact fees. A gesture to the legacy of Eugene L. Friend, the man whom the center honors as a stalwart of San Francisco's recreational lifeblood and ardent champion of its parks and commission.
Echoing through the district, Phil Ginsburg, San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager enthused that the center will turn to serve residents "bigger, stronger, and better" than ever. Originally built in 1990 and renamed for Eugene L. Friend in 2002, the rec center has long been a magnet for community life, buzzing with youth programs and the bounce of basketballs – both on foot and wheels.
Design whizzes at Mark Cavagnero Associates, joining forces with Kuth Ranieri Architects, are determined to stitch the new building into the neighborhood's cultural tapestry. Cavagnero's founding principal exclaims the vision of a landmark that will spearhead greater public access and carve out a playground amidst SoMa's urban sprawl. As reported on sf.gov, construction is set to forge ahead in the next few weeks, aiming to open its welcoming arms in 2026.
