Marina Green Park – Sweeping Views of SF Bay & Golden Gate Bridge
Noted for delivering outstanding, sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island, Marina Green Park is a well-visited waterfront stop for many locals and tourists who come to take in natural scenery, historic sights, and the pulse of the Marina District. Providing what seems like a never-ending stretch of grass, Marina Green is comprised of 74 acres of land between Fort Mason and the Presidio. A popular site for a variety of marine-related activities and events, Marina Green Park also attracts fitness enthusiasts and those who enjoy hosting active pursuits in the great outdoors.
MARINA GREEN PARK ATTRACTIONS & FEATURES
With glorious sunsets and an inspiring environment that encourages invigorating activity, Marina Green Park attracts those looking to embrace surroundings that incorporate green spaces, water, city views, and outdoor pursuits. Marina Green East (Big Marina) is the largest section of the park, which offers a long, flat strip of possibilities along the San Francisco Bay. Overall, the atmosphere is relaxing, breezy and inviting – primarily comprised of the following attractions and features:
Marina Green Triangle: Adjacent to Fort Mason and located on the eastern side of the park, Marina Green Triangle is found on 200 Marina Blvd. This triangular patch of grass is most noted for playing host to a range of fitness pursuits that range from organized Bollywood workouts to running club activities to volleyball games.
Fitness Green Court: Marina Green Park is equipped with paracourse workout equipment that is free for the public to use. The Fitness Court is located on Webster at Marina Boulevard (on the Marina Green Triangle), and is known as one of the best places in San Francisco to work out that doesn’t involve a gym membership. There are no weights or difficult equipment to decipher – just a seven-station bodyweight fitness circuit that concentrates on squatting, pushing, lunging, pulling, agility, bending, and your core. The court easily accommodates people of all ages and fitness levels. It’s the only outdoor workout court of its kind in San Francisco.
The paracourse workout court at Marina Green Park is made from #ecofriendly materials: 70% recycled…
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San Francisco Marina Small Craft Harbor: Thousands of boaters from all across the globe make their way to the harbor, which is known as the oldest recreational marina operating in San Francisco. The entire facility now has 727 berths, including 15 end ties for guest berthing vessels up to 50 feet LOA. A commercial fuel dock and free pump out stations are also features of the marina.
Little Marina Green Picnic Area: Located on 3950 Scott Street, there is a reservable picnic table area that can accommodate large gatherings and special events (permit required). You can even have alcoholic beverages served during your event, like beer and wine (with the exception of liquor and glass containers).
Dynamo Donut & Coffee Kiosk: Little Marina Green is home to an award-winning donut shop and café currently open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Serving up creative, hand-made sweets made with organic, sustainable, local ingredients, the kiosk offers daily selections that include seasonal favorites and other unique flavors such as Peanut Butter Banana, Caramel de Sel, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip, and Maple Glazed Bacon Apple.
Wave Organ: A bit of land that extends from the Golden Gate Yacht Club and overlooks the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz is home to a unique park feature. Both kids and adults enjoy listening to the gurgling wave sounds and water echoes produced by the pipes.
SF’s Marina Green is so popular – ESPN chose it as its production headquarters for Super Bowl 50.
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THINGS to DO at MARINA GREEN PARK
Often seen as a ‘playground for adults,’ Marina Green Park is a place where recreational fun is constantly unfolding, whether it’s a game of kickball, Frisbee, soccer, or touch football. The weekends see the park grow full with runners, joggers, cyclists, cross-training groups, sightseers, nature enthusiasts, trainers, and of course, tourists. You never know what you’ll find happening at Marina Green – from Crazy Bubble Soccer to free yoga. Other activities to participate in while at the park include:
Get in a Good Workout: Whether you’re trotting along the San Francisco Park Trail or stopping by the stations situated along the tracks, the park encourages you to embrace various resistance training exercises and aerobic activity – all while providing breathtaking views. You can even host a group workout session at the Fitness Green Court, which you can arrange by calling the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department’s Permits & Reservations line at (415) 831-5500.
Take Postcard-Worthy Photos: There are plenty of fascinating sights that a visitor to Marina Green Park may want to capture with their camera, such as Angel Island, Golden Gate Bridge, and depending where you are in the park, sections of Marin County.
Enjoy the Best Views: The location of Marina Green Park provides an ideal vantage point during popular San Francisco Bay events such as Fourth of July fireworks, the Blue Angels taking to the air during Fleet Week, the American Cup yacht races, and the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon.
Sign Up for a Run: Since Marina Green Park is such an inviting and accommodating outdoor space for runners, it is no wonder that various races and running events (such as the Royal Run, DSE Aquatic Park 10K, and the DSE St. Patrick’s Day 5K) have taken place here.
Go Fly a Kite: Calling all kite lovers! Locals know that Marina Green is one of the best places to fly a kite, participate in kite fights, or even kite surf (if you’re that adventurous).
Participate in California Coastal Cleanup Day: In an effort to keep San Francisco parks clean, safe and healthy, you can participate in a cleanup and/or restoration project such as the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day, which often attracts the participation of local groups, students, families, and other volunteers that come to rejuvenate the San Francisco Marina Small Yacht Harbor and Marina Green Park.
MARINA GREEN ANNUAL EVENTS
Because of its location and close proximity to water and other attractions, Marina Green Park sees its fair share of festivals and citywide celebrations. Below are a handful of events that regularly take place at the park that tend to bring in large crowds:
Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon: From the sidelines of Marina Green, spectators take in the sights that include around 2,000 participants completing the swim portion of the Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon. In addition to the 1.5-mile swim from Alcatraz Island to the shore, the event includes an 18-mile bike race and 8-mile run.
Fleet Week at Marina Green Park: Every year, the city of San Francisco hosts Fleet Week, to celebrate the significance of the contributions made by the United States Armed Forces and their military power. The Blue Angels put on a full airshow with a 747, the Coast Guard holds rescue demonstrations, while Navy ship tours allow people to get a close-up view of the vessels. Underneath the Golden Gate Bridge, a parade of ships takes place. The citywide celebration includes live music, food outlets, souvenir stands, and many activities, such as a parade of boats.
Marina Green Park hosts an assortment of events for Fleet Week, where locals come to enjoy family entertainment exhibits, browse the interactive demonstrations at the Humanitarian Assistance Village, and catch great views of the Blue Angels in flight and other festivities.
Marina Green Park is one of the best places to view the @BlueAngels Air Show during #FleetWeek.
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SF Lawn Party: Bring along a blanket or lawn chair to claim your space and enjoy an annual celebration dubbed the “largest one day waterfront event” in San Francisco. Food (such as onsite gourmet food trucks), drinks (including cold beer for the adults), music and games are all part of the agenda. For the kiddies, children head for the Kid’s Zone to enjoy activities, like getting their face painted. You must purchase tickets to this event, which helps raise money for a good cause.
Dare to Bare Charity Fitness Festival: When you participate in the outdoor charity fitness event associated with the Movemeant Foundation, SoulCycle instructors will guide you through an unlimited number of group fitness classes that incorporate dance, surfset, TRX, and various bootcamps.
MARINA GREEN PARK WEDDINGS
With reservable spaces and the backdrop of the San Francisco Bay (amongst other things), planning a wedding at Marina Green Park is just one way to say ‘I do’ in San Francisco. To make arrangements at this location, request a free quote by using the form below:
MARINA GREEN IS LOCATED CLOSE TO…
Since it’s located between Fort Mason and the Presidio, Marina Green Park provides access to a host of neighboring attractions that includes the Palace of Fine Arts, where an eye-catching monumental structure provides a fascinating connection to San Francisco’s past. Renovated in the 1960s, the Palace (located on Lyon St.) stands as the only remnants of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Inside, you will also find the science-related Exploratorium.
For runners and walkers, the San Francisco Bay Trail cuts through the green of the park, providing pedestrians, runners and cyclists an outlet for activity that continues around the shoreline of the Bay. Along the Trail, people enjoy catching sight of wildlife and plants, as well as visiting an assortment of historic, natural and cultural highlights of the city.
If you stop by the Oceanic Society Whale Watching tour agency on 3950 Scott St, you can book a full- or half day boat tour and/or whale watching trip about the Farallon Islands, which takes place nearly every weekend. The ideal time to see whales (blue, humpback and gray), dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, and other aquatic creatures is from May to November.
The 3-acre complex known as Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture is situated at 2 Marina Blvd (Landmark Building A), where renovated military buildings line the waterfront and provide a venue for the arts to take place. More than 1.2 million visitors come to the Fort Mason Center to enjoy theater and dance performances, view art installations, as well as explore cultural classes and other opportunities to learn.
After a day at Marina Green Park, it is not uncommon to see shoppers descend upon Union and Chestnut Streets to browse about the numerous shops – all within walking distance. Plenty of boutiques and clothing stores line the streets. Union Square is largely acknowledged as one of the main shopping districts in San Francisco, with a great deal of high-end merchandise on hand.
Not that far away from Marina Green Park, you may want to further explore the extended area by booking a Segway tour from Electric Company Tour, which offers a Fisherman’s Wharf and Waterfront excursion with awe-inspiring views of Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge. The tour also touches upon the nearby Municipal Pier and Aquatic Park, the fishing harbors of Fisherman’s Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, and the National Maritime Museum.
At the end of Marina Boulevard, you will find the Presidio (a former Army base) for military enthusiasts, where you can explore sights, such as Fort Point. The Presidio also connects the Marina to the west side of the city where Golden Gate Park offers a gorgeous park setting with access to de Young Museum, the California Academy of Sciences, Japanese Tea Garden, Stow Lake, the Conservatory of Flowers, Sharon Arts Building, and many other fascinating gardens and points of interest.
Another nearby park space is Crissy Field, which attracts both tourists and locals that primarily come to take in the surroundings, enjoy scenic views, picnic, get close to various species of birds and fish, and photograph the sand dunes.
Marina Green Park Information
Marina Green Location: Marina Blvd & Marina Green Dr.
GPS Location: Latitude: 37.8065 * Longitude: -122.4424
Marina Green Park Parking: Along Marina Green Drive
Public Transportation for Marina Green: Muni access: 22-Fillmore (Fillmore and Jefferson stop); 28-19th Ave.; 30-Stockton (exit at Jefferson and Divisidero). Bus: 47 or 49 Van Ness buses to Van Ness and Chestnut Sts., then transfer to the 30-Stockton bus.
Marina Green Park Facility Contact: (415) 831-2700
Golden Gate Park