A Community Anchor Takes Shape
The Gene Friend Recreation Center will be open to the general public. General access will be free, with some classes requiring registration and fees. Gyms and the fitness room will be available daily with a complimentary PlayPass, while outdoor areas and the playground will be free to use.
Two full-length basketball courts will support open gym hours, leagues, rentals, and scheduled community use. Programming will include after-school youth programs with United Playaz, sports teams, camps, clinics, youth employment and empowerment initiatives, along with fitness classes, dance programs, and senior activities. Anticipated hours are Tuesday–Friday, 10am–9pm, and Saturday, 9am–5pm, with final hours to be confirmed.
At the heart of this $59 million investment is a complete transformation. The former SoMa Recreation Center, originally built in 1990 and renamed in 2002 in honor of Eugene L. Friend — who served on the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission for 24 years, including 13 as President — will be replaced with a bright, modern facility offering 50% more space.
The new 25,000-square-foot center has been designed to better serve SoMa’s growing population of children, families, and seniors. Expansive windows will bring natural light into a gymnasium housing two full-size basketball courts. A welcoming new entry along Harriet Street improves accessibility and visibility. Inside, the building will include a modern exercise area, a reception area and offices, a kitchenette, and two multi-purpose rooms — one opening directly onto a new exterior playground designed as a safe and protected space for supervised play.
Additional outdoor improvements include a picnic area, sport court, new landscaping, and lighting — good additions in one of the city’s most densely built neighborhoods. The project also improves seismic performance, site access, and overall environmental sustainability compared to the previous facility.
Community input has shaped this vision from the beginning. Rec and Park began outreach in 2014, conducting feasibility studies and public planning sessions. After evaluating renovation options, it became clear that a full replacement would better meet long-term community needs. The Recreation and Park Commission approved the final concept design in September 2019. Construction began in early 2024, and the new center is anticipated to open to the public in mid-2026.
The facility will serve the general public, not just SoMa residents. Daily gym and fitness room access will be available with a free PlayPass. Outdoor areas and the playground remain fully open to all. Multipurpose rooms will primarily host structured classes and pre-registered programs, but they will also be available for reservation by community groups and individuals. There will be no on-site parking, reinforcing its integration into the walkable fabric of the neighborhood.
Programming is designed to reflect the diversity of SoMa itself. Youth will have access to after-school programs led by United Playaz, along with sports teams, camps, clinics, youth employment pathways, and empowerment initiatives. Adults and seniors can expect the same breadth of offerings found across San Francisco Recreation and Park facilities — including yoga, Zumba, dance programs, wellness activities, and open recreation — with additional programming shaped by ongoing community feedback.
Located within the SoMa Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District, Gene Friend Recreation Center has long been a gathering point — from youth basketball games to wheelchair basketball and neighborhood events. Its next chapter builds on that legacy.
In a district defined by evolution, this is lasting infrastructure — not just a new building, but a strengthened foundation for connection, health, and shared experience in SoMa’s future.
