About us

The Palega Recreation Center site is located in the Portola district on 500 Felton Street and it is one of the largest recreation sites in San Francisco. The park takes up approximately one city block, and is surrounded on all sides by family residences. The indoor area boasts approximately 20,000 square feet of space including a gym with bleachers, two large multi-purpose rooms, three offices, a locker/weight room and basement. There is also ample outdoor space for recreation such as baseball, tennis, soccer, and a children’s playground.

Recconnect Initiative: Recconnect has a private partnership between the city of San Francisco’s Recreation and Park Department (RPD), Department of Children Youth and their Families (DCYF), and Community Based Organizations (CBO). Palega Park is one of five rec and park sites including Gilman clubhouse, Garfield clubhouse, Rolph field house, Hamilton recreation center and West Sunset recreation center.

Family Connections is a sizable family resource center. It is located six blocks from Palega Park and it is a private non-profit organization in the Portola neighborhood that supports family and child services. This organization has spearheaded the planning efforts and rehas a long history of youth development and is based in the outer mission district. It is also heavily involved in planning efforts and is leading implementation efforts. Dave Macgillis and Tanya Bluford, from the OMIE beacon, are starting and continuing the support for planning efforts.

Recreation and Park Department (RPD) administers and maintains over 200 parks, playgrounds and open spaces. The staff members have a very long history with the park and have constantly supported Palega for over fifty years. This group of dedicated staff members has a true love for the Park and its users. RPD has a keen insight on all its users concerns.

Department of Children Youth and their Families (DCYF) consists of staff and consultants that have been extremely supportive in the development of this plan creating a strong learning committee. This group includes Connie Dubin, Lorne Needle, Mauricio Vela, Jo Mestelle and Rafael Lopez.

Palega Youth Council consists of high school students who receive stipends for their participation in leadership development trainings. They meet weekly for two hours, planning and organizing community events and festivities for the Portola community.

Mission YMCA has a long history of youth development and is based in the outer mission district. It is also heavily involved in planning efforts and is leading implementation efforts. Dave Macgillis and Tanya Bluford, from the OMIE beacon, are starting and continuing the support for planning efforts.

Community Organizers such as institutions and local school administrators also helped support our planning process. These groups include the Portola Neighborhood Steering Committee, San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP), Portola Branch Library, administrators from E.R. Taylor Elementary and Hillcrest Elementary School. These supporting partners were extremely helpful in identifying needs in the community.