About
San Francisco Recreation and Park Department Aquatic Programs and Classes include recreational swimming, lap swimming, learn-to-swim programs, aquatic classes, aquatic based camps, and other aquatic programs. Participants can also take part in competitive swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, kayak programs, and paddle board programs, along with tennis, pickleball, and handball. A Deep Water Swim Test is required for all aquatic based camps, classes, and aquatic programs for both kids and adults, and it can be taken at any U.S. pool with certified lifeguards or instructors, with the best time to take the test during open recreation swim hours.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Price: $5 reservation fee at select tennis and pickleball locations; players will pay $5 per hour for the convenience of making an online reservation at 28 of the 66 locations overseen by Rec and Park
Drop-in visitors can pay the pool entry fee with exact cash or credit card at the pool entrance, and swim passes can be purchased with a check by walking in to McLaren Lodge Annex Monday through Friday from 9am–4pm. The Deep Water Swim Test can be taken at any U.S. pool with certified lifeguards or instructors. The program is part of a department that supports community-driven park improvement projects through the Community Opportunity Fund, expands kayak and paddle board programs through Dogpatch Paddle at Mission Creek, and has hosted a handball exhibition in Golden Gate Park. In 2017, San Francisco became the first city in the nation where all residents have access to a park within a 10-minute walk, and the historic Monterey cypress outside McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park was lit for the 96th consecutive year. India Basin Waterfront Park, associated with the department, has received a Global Award for Excellence and Innovation from World Urban Parks. Rec & Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg has been named President of the Resources Legacy Fund, and Mayor Daniel Lurie and First Lady Prowda are also associated with the department’s leadership and events.
Last updated March 7, 2026.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Price: $5 reservation fee at select tennis and pickleball locations; players will pay $5 per hour for the convenience of making an online reservation at 28 of the 66 locations overseen by Rec and Park
Drop-in visitors can pay the pool entry fee with exact cash or credit card at the pool entrance, and swim passes can be purchased with a check by walking in to McLaren Lodge Annex Monday through Friday from 9am–4pm. The Deep Water Swim Test can be taken at any U.S. pool with certified lifeguards or instructors. The program is part of a department that supports community-driven park improvement projects through the Community Opportunity Fund, expands kayak and paddle board programs through Dogpatch Paddle at Mission Creek, and has hosted a handball exhibition in Golden Gate Park. In 2017, San Francisco became the first city in the nation where all residents have access to a park within a 10-minute walk, and the historic Monterey cypress outside McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park was lit for the 96th consecutive year. India Basin Waterfront Park, associated with the department, has received a Global Award for Excellence and Innovation from World Urban Parks. Rec & Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg has been named President of the Resources Legacy Fund, and Mayor Daniel Lurie and First Lady Prowda are also associated with the department’s leadership and events.
Last updated March 7, 2026.
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