SF to charge for Golden Gate Park parking and court reservations

The Board of Supervisors voted 10–1 to allow the city to implement parking fees in Golden Gate Park and introduce reservation fees for tennis and pickleball courts across the city.

Facts

On July 15, 2025, the Board of Supervisors passed two ordinances:

• Golden Gate Park parking: Authorizes the SFMTA to begin charging for parking in Golden Gate Park. SFMTA still needs to determine the pricing structure, and the policy would not take effect until January 2027.
• Court reservations: Allows Rec & Park to charge fees for reserving tennis and pickleball courts citywide (excluding the Golden Gate Park Tennis Center, which already has a separate fee structure). Fees will be set based on location, demand, and program costs.

These measures are expected to generate new revenue, helping maintain park services at a time when the city faces a projected $800 million budget shortfall over two years.

Both votes passed 10–1, with only Supervisor Jackie Fielder voting no.

Context

San Francisco is home to some of the best parks in the world—popular, well-maintained, and free to use. But with the city facing a massive budget deficit, we need to find new revenue sources to maintain these public spaces and the services they provide. Charging modest fees for limited amenities like parking and court reservations is a practical way to support parks and keep them accessible.

The GrowSF Take

We support these votes. Charging for scarce, high-demand resources is fair and fiscally responsible. It helps preserve services and ensures that users contribute to their upkeep.

Supervisor Fielder’s no votes show a refusal to engage with fiscal reality. You can’t close a budget gap by just saying “no” to everything.