Anne L. Francis

Friendly Community Playground

However, take a longer, closer look and you'll discover just what makes Laurel Hill a great place to bring your kids. First, the visitors: it's frequented by a friendly and considerate bunch of parents and caregivers. Toys, snacks and parenting chit-chat are shared as easily as casual hellos and goodbyes.

Second, the location: the playground is surrounded by a recreation center, small baseball diamond, and fenced area housing the tennis and basketball courts. You and your kids have access to all of it. There are often toys available in all three spaces all day long, including ride-ons and balls on the courts. You can also borrow tennis balls and racquets from the recreation center.

Third, the staff: in the mornings, City College of San Francisco hosts an observation class here. For playground kids, this means toys galore in the recreation center playroom, and on the playground and courts. Some optional, guided activities are also provided by a friendly and welcoming teacher. In the afternoons, the SF Parks and Recreation staff provides toys, too. Afternoon staffer Ron Hill in particular has been praised by regulars for generously offering free tennis lessons, coffee for adults, and ice cream cones for kids.

Sure, Laurel Hill playground might be old, in need of a fresh coat of paint, and cleaner bathrooms. The extra toys, too, could be cleaner (and some replaced). But you just can't beat the friendly vibe at this playground. That alone makes it worth a visit.

Laurel Hill Playground
Collins at Euclid
San Francisco, CA, 94118
415-666-7007

Stars: 3.5 out of 5