City begins freshening of Civic Center playground

San Francisco city officials Tuesday broke ground on a $10 million playground reconstruction project at San Francisco’s Civic Center.

The two playgrounds located across from the Main Library and Asian Art Museum will be rebuilt in a partnership with the Trust for Public Land using a $10 million grant from the Helen Diller Family Foundation, at no cost to the city, officials said today.

The playgrounds will be known as the Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds.

The current playgrounds are around 20 years old, and serve the residents of neighborhoods with a limited number of parks and open space, as well as children visiting the Civic Center and attending nearby daycare centers and schools.

The district that Civic Center Plaza is located in has the highest population in the city and is expected to add more than 2,000 households by 2040, officials said.

Supervisor Jane Kim, whose district includes Civic Center Plaza, said Tuesday in a statement:

“This new and improved playground will enhance the community for children and families.”