After multiple delays, March 17 marked the beginning of construction for a new park in San Francisco, Mission Park, at Folsom and 17th Streets.

The $5.2 million project is currently mostly surface parking. The park plan—32,000 square feet—boasts a variety of community, teaching, and learning amenities. There’s a large lawn, a water feature, performance and classroom space, and community and demonstration gardens. There are other cool features: a fence with espaliered fruit trees, a children’s playground, and adult fitness equipment. The target opening date is the end of this year or early next year. Eventually, a housing project to the north will fill the other half of the parking lot.

The San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department has been busy with over 100 San Francisco projects in progress. There were updates to the 14-acre Dolores Park in the Mission. The south side of the park reopened this January, following updates to the north side completed last June. The $20.5 million renovations were funded by the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond, bringing the first improvements to the park since it was created a century ago. The updates brought improved paths, tennis court renovations, and expanded trash facilities.

There are more San Francisco parks under development, including a future park site at the Francisco Reservoir in Russian Hill. Here is a list of San Francisco parks open to the public. and another list with more info on future park sites and how the city acquires new land.