POPULAR PARK AMONG LOCALS NESTLED IN THE BURBS What sets this park apart is the wooden aboriginal art along the paths. AND how cool is it to be able to watch the BART train go by as you play? This park has everything you need. There is one large green area perfect for playing pick up baseball or kick ball. A community room that is reservable. Plenty of picnic tables. A basketball and tennis court. Men and women's separate restrooms with multiple stalls and sinks. The playground is suited for toddlers and older kids. The older kids love the tree jungle. WATCH YOUR KIDS THOUGH Every once in a while, I see a mentally unstable homeless person walk around shouting expletives. read more

Cayuga Playground - Loved this flower at Cayuga park. - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I love this park! It is such a joy to wander around looking at all the statues carved out of fallen trees. The art is quirky and shows a clear voice on the part of the gardener, Demetrio Bracero, carved over many years and now preserved and restored by their fans. If you like to eat outside, there are several tables with rudimentary seating and a nearby restroom available during daylight hours. A great place to relax, enjoy a playground, or shoot some hoops. read more

Who knew there are totems at the back?! This is a smaller space with very few parking spaces and not much transit. I occasionally am here...the facilities are newer and generally clean. It is certainly a good resource for those nearby who can walk here, but I would not go out of my way to see it. I am not sure that there is any mention of the Cayuga creek that used to traverse what is now Cayuga street or if there is mention that the Cayuga were Native Americans...maybe so but I have not seen it. read more

Cayuga Playground - Had never strolled back here before! - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

It's still uhh-maze-zing that I'm still discovering old episodes of "California's Gold" that I've never seen before. There was an entire show taped back in 2006 that was devoted to this hidden playground and park in the Outer Mission where the late Huell Howser browsed the rustic wooden sculptures that peppered the grounds. The man responsible for the statuary and landscaping was a longtime Parks & Recreation gardener named Demie Braceros who was featured on the show. Braceros took it upon himself to create what turned into an open-air museum uniquely reflecting his inspirations and thoughts. He used tree stumps, castaway branches, and scraps as his primary materials and let his creativity flow for a quarter-century until he retired in 2014. To get there, you can easily take BART to Balboa Park and walk about ten minutes down Alemany. Located under the elevated BART tracks between Balboa Park and Daly City, It's uhh-maze-zing, as Huell would say. RELATED - Exploring the Outer Mission? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/37B1acE read more

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Love this playground! It's nestled deep into a neighborhood, it's got a pretty gate, there's a large field with a nice paved path (uphill) leading up to it, and a great playground. My kids also liked watching people play tennis or basketball on the nearby court. I appreciated that there were clean and accessible bathrooms super close to the playground. The playground itself had a nice mix of structures for the younger toddler set AND for the older kids (the GIANT rope gym). My kids also LOVED the fact that BART would whoosh by above every few minutes, so maybe don't come here if you want some quiet...but if you want quiet, what are you doing at a playground?! There's also a lot of quirky wooden carved totems, statues, and figures scattered around the landscaping and the path to the field, and my kids liked running around and looking for their favorites. Saw lots of families and kids hanging out, on a Saturday right before lunch. Great family ambiance. read more

Cayuga Playground - Bart train passing overhead the playground - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This is a review only for their basketball hoops. The ball gets stuck in both of the hoop nets because it's so tight. Fix this issue ASAP. read more

Cayuga Playground - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

Labor of Love! I grew up near this park on Alemany on the border of San Francisco and Daly City in the mid 80's. It was a different time back then, and this park was a place to avoid with all the stupid gangs and drug dealers that mostly occupied this park. Then along came a man named Demetrio Braceros, who came from a family of farmers in the Philippines. He single-handedly transformed this park from a trash-littered environment full of gang activities to a place full of lush vegetation, walking trails, landscaped gardens and wooden sculptures that has been the trademark of this playground. Some of his wooden sculptures are homage to local and famous celebrities. Some have biblical meanings while others are folk arts with inspiration from the Philippines and world events. A devout Catholic, and yet inclusive of all cultures and different religions as everyone is welcome in this park...unless if you're up to no good. And most of his sculptures are designed like Totem Poles proudly erected as wonderful pieces of art to be enjoyed by many. Mr. Braceros' contribution as a gardener for the city has paid dividends in more ways that one could ever imagine. He was destined to be assigned to this playground as he was the chosen one; the one and only person that could have made a huge impact on the rebirth of a playground that made the community come together. He came to work with a passion and had the vision to realize this park's full potential as a heaven and escape for the neighborhood kids and families as it was meant to be. By pouring his heart and love to his work, the community came together to protect this park and take it back from the people bent on destroying rather than creating. He was the bridge that finally brought life to this park, along with kids' laughter as they can freely and safely play without worry of criminal activities. To say that he transformed this park is truly an understatement. It was more than a transformation and close to a revolution on a civic scale. After working for more than 24 years, Mr. Braceros retired and was rightfully honored with the grand re-opening of the park at a cost of 9.4 million in renovation. Demetrio Braceros (or Demi) is now synonymous with Cayuga Playground as his photo and story is now a permanent fixture in its showcase. On that note, it's now up to the next generation to take care of this park and don't let history repeat itself. Some of his sculptures needs a lot of TLC as the paint has faded, wood has decayed and some appear to have been vandalized. There's cobwebs that needs to be removed and weeds growing that needs to be pulled. San Francisco Recreation and Park Department could learn a lesson from Mr. Bracero and pour a little bit of love in maintaining this place. A little goes a long way. read more

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I'm nearing two dozen reviews on playgrounds in the Bay Area. Scouting them out for when Covid ends, I know where to bring my own kids and this one makes the list. I'm also in search of the best parks to fly FPV sub 250g tinywhoop quadcopters while Covid is in place and a vast majority of playgrounds are closed to visitors which makes them suitable for flying through (see attached video). This park is great for both. Hidden gem! I've driven by this place a zillion times and didn't even know it. Some parks I would call "convenience parks" where visitors go there out of convenience more than a real intention. Those tend to be less safe and less enjoyable. This is not one of those. This is by contrast, definitely a "destination" playground. No one stumbles upon this place or ends up here b/c it's "on the way." There are no "anchor" shops that promote traffic to this place which is again, a good thing. Everyone here planned to come here and it shows. Safe playgrounds need dedicated entrances which this has. The entrance to both the park and the playground are very inviting. I was so intrigued by the artistic entrance gate that even though I accessed the park from the hill, I walked down to check it out. Looks like a themed park where you'd expect them to charge a nominal fee for entrance. I didn't use the restrooms, but from afar, they looked like they were in good shape. Also not stuck in the corner where it would feel unsafe. Entrances to both men/women are in front of the building where they should be as opposed to the sides. I see that flawed design all too often at other facilities. Proximity off the street is good, meaning access is close enough but not so close that you have people lurking who shouldn't be. Getting to and from the park isn't difficult, but takes some effort. That's a good thing for parents. If you're looking for a safe place to bring your kids, this would be one of the few in the City. Seating is plentiful as the concrete border surrounding one edge of the play structures acts as a bench. Vantage points are good you. Close enough in proximity to the structures but far enough where you get a good view of the entire place. Few blind spots. Seating with tables are available and situated in a good place. The only thing that may interrupt the vibes is the passing BART overhead, but you'll get used to it in no time and besides, kids love trains! read more

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Cayuga is a beautiful, hidden playground! Tucked away amongst tall trees at the end of a dead-end street, you feel like you've stumbled upon a clearing in the forest. There's a large field (great for dogs), a basketball & tennis court, and a fairly large playground. The kids love watching the Bart come by overhead, and you don't even notice the highway maybe 50ft away. It's so much higher than the park that you don't hear the noise. The playground itself has: - A rolling slide! One of the few in the city - A crazy large rope/climbing structure. I think the largest I've ever seen. A little advanced for my 2.5-year-old, but I think it'd be perfect for her in a couple years. - A pretty long play structure, with a small climbing wall. There is a restroom, but I haven't used it. There's no dedicated lot, only street parking. Can be a bit crowded as these are small residential streets. read more

My little daughter loves playgrounds so much that she would consider going. My family and I have decided to take her to Cayuga Playground. There are two entrances. Since we're at Alemany Blvd, the Trail of Hope is where we go to, pass Demetrio's wooden sculptures, into the large grassy area, and towards the right side is where the playground is. That large grassy area would be perfect for me to fly a kite like others did when its windy. While at the playground, my little daughter loves to run around and around. Although she has tried most of the obstacles including the steel roller slide, it'll take long for her to discover how she will overcome both the vertical chute and the rope climb. Cayuga is still the best playground along with the basketball and tennis courts. Though the large grassy area has less grass, the overall of Cayuga is so much fun under the roaring of the passing BART train. read more

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This gem of a park is great for babies. Its clean, has foam mat, swings , tennis and basketball court, slides, jungle gym and bathrooms. Further past the park, theres also an area to walk accompanied by creative statues w intricate detail carvings. Its not too busy and the pathway is pleasantly clean However, there is a downside which includes the loud etching sounds of the whimsical train and the lack of parking which is difficult to find in an ever so populated neighborhood. Theres only street parking read more

This is a small city park tucked at the end of a residential street, under the BART line. Playground fir the kiddies and a small circular paved path fir some walkers to get their laps in. The hand carved totem art that surrounds the park add interest as you walk around. But a quick round and you are done here. A couple homeless and some teens smoking pot were hanging around. Nothing scary, but there none the less. read more

Cool little park in the outer mission. I came here with my friend and her 2-year-old who loved the good sized play structure with swings, slides, and a sandbox. The playground has that soft foam ground so it's perfect for little kids running around. What I loved the most was the interesting sculptures scattered around the park. It was quite inspirational that the gardener transformed old fallen cypress trees to different carved painted figurines giving the park some uniqueness and flair. Check out the tree chairs. read more

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My grandpa used to take me to this park when I was little, about 25 years ago. There was nothing really there, at least of what I can remember but my mom even confirmed that it was a pretty bare bones type of park. Well today, we were visiting my family in SF, searched parks nearby and lo and behold found Cayuga Park. My mom had come recently and knew how to get in. We parked on Alemany and walked down the path that leads into the park. It is absolutely wonderful what they did with the space. It's wheelchair accessible for the path into the park. Lots of plants, flowers, and wooden art statues accentuate the park. There's an open field, 1 tennis court, basket basketball court, and playground. I love the playground because it's the right size for my 2 year old. She can climb up the ladders, run along the ramps, and go on the slides with no problem. With some play structures, I feel like you really have to hand hold your toddler. There's also a sand pit so bring your pails and shovels and let them go. read more

I love this playground!!! My dog loves it even more!!!!! omg the park is lovely!!!! Super clean, great art to view!!! It's just a great neighborhood playground. Lots of dog owners come and let their doggies have fun. It's so nice and chill here. read more

Cayuga Playground - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Finally here.. Yelp map got me lost..3 times... it jus so so hard to find parking..great thingy today both bathrooms are open.. read more

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This is one of the playgrounds I take my little one to. I like how there's parking since we usually come here weekdays. It's not much stuff but good enough for my son to run around. BART passing by is entertaining for him too. Field needs to be maintained so people can use it more. read more

I love going here!! This playground has a bunch of fun and interesting things that keep my baby from being bored. Swings, slides,musical notes, a small rock wall, etc. My baby loves the rock wall! There's a basketball court, a tennis court, open space to play fetch or to chill on the grass, a mini running track, and a bunch of sitting areas (on the logs, by the totems, etc). There's also free Zumba classes!! I usually go to the Tuesday 630 -730 pm class. The instructor is upbeat and friendly with a great taste in music. Routines are fun and will definitely make you sweat. With so much to do here, this is definitely the perfect place to go for the whole family! read more

Gorgeous playground and park! They did a great job with the renovations and it's definitely a park that Cayuga Terrance can be proud of. What I like most about the park is the wooden sculptures carved by retired gardener Demetrios Bracero. Every few steps, you would see a sculpture planted right by the path or hidden behind some tree. It's definitely worth visiting. read more

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Great place to have kids birthday party. It clean and spacious for $80 hour. Reserve thru Sf recreation and park. They have listing of price and available recreation center for rent. Doors lead to playground. Kitchen and bathroom within recreation room. Control panel for shades and light. They provided 6 tables plus 20-30 chairs. Street parking is limit on front entrance but you can park on alemany street and walk thru back entrance to rec room. read more

My childhood playground!! I've had soo many lovely memories of this place. I remember my best friend and I riding our bikes out to the park to play basketball and tennis. We would compete to see who could swing the highest and jump off the farthest. After many years, I finally had the chance to visit again and this time with my niece and nephew! The city has done an amazing job with the place - the children's play structure is beautiful, there is an awesome rope climbing structure, and the courts and baseball field have been re-done and look stunning. My favorite part is the garden that is filled with the sculptures by artist Demetrio Braceros. He has been a gardener at Cayuga Playground for over 20 years and has transformed fallen trees and stumps into a unique garden for all to enjoy. read more

Beautiful renovated location. SF parks and recs offer free Zumba classes taught by certified instructors. Tuesday 6:30PM (taught by an amazing person) Thursday 7PM Easy street parking, clean facility and playground. The neighborhood is very active and welcoming. One of my favorite parks in the city. It definitely is a small gem. For more information on the city's free Zumba classes: http://sfrecpark.org/recprogram/zumba-in-the-parks/ read more

Nice park...on the smaller side. Theres a rope jungle gym that's pretty impressive and wooden sculptures scattered throughout like little treasures....great for engaging your kids inner explorer! read more

Cayuga Playground - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

A bit of wonderland in S.F., the Outer Mission's Cayuga Playground is known for its unique sculpture gardens, carved by former city gardener Demetrio Braceros. The park also has a playground, web ring, basketball court, tennis court and ball diamond. Clean bathrooms. The sculptures are really cool. Nice place to play, picnic, take photos or just relax and sunbathe. Listen to some music to eliminate the BART noise. Cayuga Park is located at Cayuga St and Lamartine St partially under the BART. read more

Cayuga Playground - Some of the cool sculptures at Cayuga Park - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

We checked this park since it was near where we stayed at in SF. It's a very interesting neighborhood park. Pretty cool learning about the history of this park--it was a Filipino gardener who built this place. Carved wooden sculptures and other plants stood out the most when we came here, but of course, there's playground and huge space for courts for tennis and basketball. There are also trails along the park. Great playground for kids and family! read more

This is a really nice park for younger kids. There are no big slides so it's perfect for kids 5 and under (which works for me). The restrooms are close to the playground and are really neat. There is a lot of seating available around the play area which is nice because you can sit and watch your kids. There are tennis courts and a basketball court right next to the playground. The only con is that the park is a little dirty. Not necessarily the playground but the park area around it. A lot of trash along the walking paths. read more

My grandma has lived near this park all my life. I would come to the old park all the time with the huge long swings trying to see who can jump off the swing the farthest. This park always makes me smile. I remember all the good times I have had. Now that they have remodeled the park it looks amazing I always bring the kids I watch to this park. It's so safe and child proof lol. The best part is that they kept all the wood carving and made it to a little museum. It's so beautiful. I also like how they kept the theme of the roller slide the only down side to that is I remember getting my fingers stuck in between the tubes. I have to remind the kids to keep their hands up when going down that slide. Either than that beautiful park love it. I really hope everyone enjoys it. read more

This park has been on my list to come since it's in my neighborhood, and glad I did on this sunny warm day! There are 2 entrances, Cayuga or through the fence gate on alamany. I prefer the Alamany for many reasons. Cayuga is a very small narrow street in the residental area, not to mention, a "not a through" street! So if there isn't any parking, you have to make a u-turn out the same way. Alamany is a somewhat busy street, but you'll find alot of street parking where the fence entrance is. Once through, you will notice alot of wood-work and through a jungle of trees and bushes. This is great as most parks do not have shaded areas! The park itself is huge, there are 2 infant swings next to the 2 older kid swings. I disliked this since it can get dangerous for the younger kiddies to walk pass the big-kids swing as they are gong like 40mph. There is a big, long play structure inter-connected with 3 slides, twirley pole (to swing) and other fun stuff on the sides of the walls (more for infants, like bells and wheels). Sandbox is to the side, and the other end is a very tall rope climb structure. This thing is huge!! I find somewhat dangerous if kids did go up to the top. No kiddies were playing there when I was there, but most were just jumping/swinging at the lower ends of the ropes. There is also a few bench seated area, big grass lawn on the other side of the park (short walking distance), and courts for basketball/tennis. And for the nature-enthused, a lot of woodwork carvings decorate the area, including a seated bench. This place is kept quite clean and importantly is quite a diverse crowd so you do not need to fear of your child being in the same area as 'bums smoking up'. Definitely worth another trip here! read more

Okay this used to be a very nice clean park! Not sure what's going on but this is my second time complaining about seeing dog poop all in the sand area this time it was in the tennis court area, well make sure your little ones aren't scooping it up with their sand toys, so sad to see this park go downhill! People just aren't being responsible! read more

I like this playground because it has a lot of cool things, there's a bridge connecting playground to a giant web thing, and a lot of Spinney things. read more

The park is very nice and I would love to rent the rec center for my son bday but the only problem is the parking.

Nice updated playground with a basketball court and tennis courts. Bathrooms are clean. There is also an open field of grass with a trail around it to walk or run around opposite to the playground. You can rent out the facilities for events. When I called them last year I believe to rent out the building for 3 hours was around $250. Includes tables, chairs, and projector. Parking could be difficult and the Bart is quite loud when it passes. read more

Such a cute place. We just walked through this little playground field area that I have always seen from the bart train a million times but have never actualy went. There is an awesome playground, if you have kids, and the field area would be great to have a summer picnic and its pretty seccluded. I loved all the crazy and beautiful carvings and little walkways in the gardens. Cute little place!! read more

Street parking and BART noise, but super cool city kids park t ok explore

My son loves trains, sandboxes, and structures. This park has everything. BART trains go by overhead on a regular basis, each time inspiring an " Ooooooo, BART train!" The sandbox is narrow, but well laid out. Perfect for little ones to play and not get too far away from their caretakers. The structure is a long, rising ramp with lots and lots of activities to do on the way to the end, which is a giant climbing rope web. My little guy is too young to go to the top, but it was fun for him to play around on the lower ropes. The wooden sculptures that surround and inhabit this park are fantastic for making up stories or even just playing "find the funny face in the trees" games. For adults the playground is surrounded by basketball courts, tennis courts, and a large grassy area for softball or baseball or frisbee. Unfortunately, he wanted to be able to ride his bike but bikes are not allowed in Cayouga park. This was our only negative, but not one that should affect your desire to go to this wonderful place. read more

Cayuga has changed so much since I've gone before to play basketball. They changed all the structures and the look of the whole playground, it's gotten so much better. Before there were no dogs and now this place has gotten packed great changes ahead. read more

Hidden gem. Recently redone playground with tennis and basketball courts. Amazing statues all over done by a former gardener. There is a Park behind the playground for walking and running. Also bart trains pass by on the regular so it's a great place for little kids that like trains read more

Love the new makeover . Hopefully it can stay this nice for many years to come. The new clubhouse is also very nice.

They offer free Zumba classes here. Go to Jackie's class at 6:30PM on Tuesday nights.

This is a great playground! Well kept, nice bathrooms, fun equipment for my son. Also there is a large grassy area for riding bikes or playing baseball, and it's away from the street. read more