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Potrero Hill Recreation Center
Category: Active Life Parks Parks [Edit]
801 Arkansas Street(between 22nd St & 23rd St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
(415) 695-5009
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
19 reviews for Potrero Hill Recreation Center
19 reviews in English
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Review from Gretchen T.
San Francisco, CA
2/16/2012
We love the newly-redone playground. Excellent design for kid and dog-owners alike--the kids have one contained area and the dogs have another adjacent to it (versus McKinley where the dogs run free and the kids are fenced in). It's sunny/warm on the hill, safe, has clean bathrooms in the rec center, and has pink and blue sky views of the Bay. It's also a small playground and doesn't have a sand area, but I'm happy not to have to dump our shoes out after every park we go to. Apparently our 2-year old also feels on top of the world there--he has been fixated by The Jungle Book lately and recently pointed down to the buildings on the Bay below and said, "Oh look, Momma, it's the man village!" Friends have tried and liked the tot classess they offer in the rec center--a nice local option for rainy days.
On the way out we always watch the big, tough guys play basketball inside for a while. So far they haven't been too offended by my son yelling, "Almost! Good try!" when they miss.Listed in: Oh Baby!
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Review from Andrew B.
7/14/2011
It was a joy to play tennis at the park. Well, except for the fact that the goddamn breezy conditions kept blowing the crappy shots that my opponent was hitting back inbounds but that's neither here nor there. The courts are well-kept and the park itself has a beautiful view of the city and part of the coast. It gets the right amount of sun and has plenty of trees for nice shady areas.
The play areas are very child friendly and I saw a lot of kids running around the playground. It also has a nice path to walk dogs.
The only thing that keeps me from rating this five stars is that the basketball courts aren't really anything the write home about. In fact, the backboards are pretty crappy. However, I still loved the environment of the park and I will definitely try to play there again. -
Review from Ramon L.
This is a great little park. I take my dogs here and play tennis here (2 courts). You got nice views of the SF skyline and across the bay while you're playing as well. They also have a newly renovated, rubber cushioned park for the shorties and it always seems to be in good use. There is one BBQ grill which I see used every now and then.
There is a sketchy factor sometimes because the park itself is in a good neighborhood but the projects are just down the hill. Never had problems but you see some weird folks walking around. -
Review from tim l.
San Francisco, CA
12/6/2011
Free basketball at lunch on Tuesdays!!! How could you not love this place. I've been missing my full court indooors since I quit bakar, and this place fits the bill. Freindly people and nice competition. Thanks
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Review from Toro E.
San Francisco, CA
8/16/2006 3 photos
Top of a hill is usually not an ideal place for tennis court, but the trees around the two courts blocked some of the wind. I loved these scenic courts. There is a basketball court, which also has a concrete wall for loner tennis. I thought twice about reviewing this place, because I want it to stay vacant when I want to play.
One day, I looked everywhere to find a switch to tennis court lights, but no success. Drug dealers EEEhhhh, guys roaming around the dark, told me that lights do not work and has not worked for a couple years. I trusted that their information was accurate. 5 Stars if lights worked. -
Review from Ryan G.
Wichita, KS
3/24/2008
Not a bad place to play tennis, but there are a ton of leaves and twigs on the ground. Aside from that the courts are in okay shape, the lights don't work (and have not for over 2 years), and there are some sketchy characters walking around.
Why 4 stars Ryan? There is always an available court, its very family friendly till around 5:00pm, and the occasional druggie that wanders past usually stops and applauds the game.
What can I say...I have druggie fans. -
Review from Mark Y.
Daly City, CA
7/18/2008
I absolutely adore this place! Growing up, this place was my second home. Now that I am older and I live quite a ways from the rec center, I am still somehow drawn to this place. The basketball gym is always kept in pristine condition and since the city has redone the lower playground, I bring my daughter there ALL OF THE TIME!
For those who have missed the OJ mural...it is actually painted onto the front recreation center. Apparently he grew up on Potrero Hill and frequented the rec center as a kid. I guess even acquitted double-murderers need a place to call home. If you can get over the creepiness of the mural, this place is an absolute gift :) -
Review from Jay W.
San Francisco, CA
4/13/2006
OK,
If it weren't for my dog I wouldn't head up there. I don't like getting that close to the projects...plus it's a BITCH of a hill.
But the dog park is awesome. It's not *technically* a permissible off-leash area, but it certainly is de facto. There's a great group of dog park regulars, and there's a happy hour on the bleachers every friday. A coulpe of trays of hors d'oevres, some wine, beer, generally a bottle of vodka or two.
Now the downside of this crowd is that there are no straight, single women...for that matter I'm probably the token straight, single guy, but my pup still loves it there...and the gay couples seem to tolerate me.
So enough about the illegal use, how about the legal stuff? There's a softtball diamond which they take decent care of (booo...when there's a game on we have to go to the tiny little side park with the dogs).
Also the facility has an indoor basketball court that always seems to be busy, and Al the recreation director has all kinds of actuvities for the kids from the project, including homework assistance. The guy is a saint.
The dog park regulars routinely donate stuff for Halloween and Christmas parties and such. I donated 5 cases of Capri-Sun for the after school program a whole bunch of candy for Halloween and have been meaning to pick up an Office Depot gift card to get homework supplies.
Bottom line: if you live on the hill with a dog and you don't hang there you should be ashamed.Listed in: The Essential Potrero Hill
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Review from Andrew C.
6/22/2008
I brought my doggie here for 2 years whilst living on Potrero Hill and apparently I missed the OJ mural?!? Where the h*ll is that?
The rec center has a couple of levels with tennis and outdoor basket courts down the hill a bit with a brand new kids playground and picnic area (really well done, I have to say). The upper level has the rec center building with a nice indoor court and a sports field with 2 (OK only 1 really is usable) baseball/softball fields.
The "dog park" here is technically the strip of grass on the opposite side of the rec center from the ball fields, but when there's no game on expect a bunch of off-leash frolicking on the "No dogs allowed" field. Shhh . . . don't tell anyone!!!
The regulars are friendly, as long as your dog is (though sometimes they ignore their own dog's less than welcoming behaviors). A drinking fountain with a couple of owner supplied dog bowls is the extent of amenities . . . unless you count the Friday Dog Owner Happy Hours that have been mentioned.
I know there were some meetings/plans for a revamp/expansion of the "dog park" area. Since I've moved earlier this year, I haven't kept up with what is happening. I hope it makes it an even nicer place for all the Hill doggies.Listed in: Doggie destinations
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Review from Allyson S.
San Francisco, CA
10/23/2008
I used to come here as a kid to play baseball with my family. We'd just walk right up the hill on the weekend, throw the ball around, you know... good "american" fun.
And then I got a little older, and would hang out here with friends down in the lower park, brown paper bags in hand, just shooting the shit.
And then I would come here while I was house sitting down the street, and just read in the sun while letting the dog run free.
It's a pretty diverse park as in what it offers, they have a great basketball gym that I used to play indoor soccer in, and (hopefully it's still there) a great little playground behind the gym that has a dome like structure you can climb on and some other unique playground things. And then the giant baseball field were dogs normally run free (although I guess it's not technically allowed). And then the lower playground, which has just been redone is quite nice and child friendly. -
Review from S R.
San Francisco, CA
7/10/2011
2 well kept tennis courts and 1 basketball court. often a little too windy for tennis, but great views of the city.
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Review from Josh S.
San Francisco, CA
10/30/2009
I'm only reviewing this for the south / south-east views from the baseball field. There is a gate on the south fence, and if you go out it and follow the trail to the left you're treated with a spectacular view of the city and the bay!!
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Review from Nick R.
San Francisco, CA
2/16/2010
What Rucker Park is for New York City's basketball scene, Potrero Hill Rec Center is for San Francisco's. This gym has seen some of the best talent to ever step on the hardwood. The run at PH Rec Center is legendary. Jon Greenberg has been the director there for like 45 years and is one of the most respected guys you'll find in the Bay ARea basketball scene. If you're ever in there, walk around the gym and check out the photos on the wall of all the leagues and players who've taken part in playing there the past 40 years. Pretty cool stuff
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Review from Sam N.
San Francisco, CA
5/19/2008
Breast taking views of the city from this park. Yes, breast taking. Easily lives up to "best" micro climate in San Francisco, sunny, and windless. Only major gripe is the naked lights. Just poles, not even teaser bulbs or anything. Just poles.
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Review from Danny P.
11/17/2008
I use to come here to shoot around on the outdoor basketball court during my lunch hour. The view from the court is amazing and will take your breath away. The rim and backboard needs an upgrade, but what can you expect when your right next to the projects. The court is nicely paved and clean.
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Review from Yan M.
San Francisco, CA
1/28/2007
Surprisingly great indoor basketball court when we peered inside and a great cricket/baseball field. The park around the recreation center is a nice walk but dirty and filled with litter and it's very close to the projects but again, surprisingly great sporting facility.
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Review from Josh L.
San Francisco, CA
1/26/2007
A couple baseball diamonds with large outfields, tennis courts with a killer view of the bay, and outdoor basketball court, and one of the nicest indoor basketball courts in the city. You can find pick-up hoops games here some times/days. The staff that runs the facility is great! They do a lot of good things for the community. This place has quite a history to it...
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Review from david b.
San Francisco, CA
6/3/2006
yeah, that OJ mural is a trip. A great place to bring the dogs as it is a remarkable experiment in blurring of cultures - the center and the grounds are there to serve the housing projects to the south and east, with plenty of afternoon and evening sports programs, whilst from the north and west, the gentrified world of audi, bmw and jetta owners populate the park for the chance to exercise their prized, and presumably well-fed and groomed dogs...
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Review from Mike L.
San Francisco, CA
4/26/2006
This is the home of one of America's surviving O.J. Simpson murals, plus a gymnasium, basketball and tennis courts, a baseball diamond and a playground.
