Kid-designed and constructed out of repurposed natural materials like logs, stumps, and boulders, our Nature Exploration Area (NEA) is open and ready for play.

The pandemic showed us the importance of nature and outdoor space for our city’s children. I am thrilled that our kids now have a new, safe, and spacious area to cultivate their imaginations, connect with friends, and learn about the natural world.” — Mayor London Breed 

Nature Exploration Area @ Heron’s Head Park

Inspired by the Children & Nature movement to get kids to unplug and reconnect with the outdoors, the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department and the Port of San Francisco in collaboration with SF Children & Nature installed a Nature Exploration Area (NEA) at Heron’s Head Park. We teamed up with play experts at KABOOM! and leaders in nature play design at Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds with generous funding from Kaiser Permanente to create a unique space where kids and families can gather, create, and play.

The Nature Exploration Area expands the role of Heron’s Head Park as an environmental education hub for youth. Steps away from the NEA is the EcoCenter, a space for science and ecology-related workshops and classes. Owned and managed by the Port and Operated by Rec and Park, the EcoCenter is an off-the-grid facility with its own solar energy system, living roof, wastewater treatment and rainwater harvesting and reuse systems.

See photos and learn more about our process:

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Design

Designed by Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds with input from local children who drew their ideal play areas, the new space allows kids to negotiate risk through exploring nature, climbing, and balancing. Locally sourced natural elements including boulders and tree stumps provide the materials for creativity, dramatic play, and imagination. Winding, accessible pathways mix with playful shortcuts, leading to a gathering space or outdoor classroom with seating made from repurposed logs. Surrounded by native vegetation, the exploration area offers high lookout spots for spying birds and other wildlife. 

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About our Partners

Acknowledgements

Design & Construction

Construction In-Kind Materials & Support

Most of the NEA’s logs were sourced from Golden Gate Park by the Rec & Park Green Recycling Operations Crew including the beautiful Monterrey Cypress climber and the wacky posts. 

Jean Claude Rochat from Arborist Now and Arbor Upcycle sourced and donated the eucalyptus climber from a Lake Merced tree removal project and the oak tunnel. 

The stumps and accessible features come were donated by the Presidio Trust. 

The giant boulder was donated by CEMEX from their quarry near Mt. Diablo. Cemex also donated concrete for the footers from their Pier 92 plant and some native plants from Literacy for Environmental Justice who grow hyper-local plants with local teens and the community. 

Hansen Aggregates donated the drainage gravel from Pier 94 and the delivery was donated by Mike and Tricia Gregory of HVYW8 Trucking, a local trucking company dedicated to giving back to the Bayview Neighborhood.

Community and Outreach Partners

Volunteers

Thank you volunteers for supporting our community workdays. On the last 4 days of construction, 150 volunteers planted 240 native plants, installed and compacted 60 cubic yards of engineered wood fiber, placed 90 cubic yards of landscaping mulch, erected a low temporary fence to protect our smaller plants, sanded 2 table stumps, and 12 seating stumps and stained our wacky posts and additional log features. 
None of this could have been achieved without strong partnerships and community support. We are humbled by the many dedicated community volunteers and organizations that came out including: 

Youth

110 young people shared their ideas for what this space would look like at five design jams held here at Heron’s Head Park, Joe Lee Rec Center, Garfield Center, Bayview YMCA and Hunter’s View Y program.

54 project volunteers were young people.

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