SF’s UN Plaza Reopens w/ Brand New Skate Park (Nov. 8)
San Francisco is getting a brand-new skate park.
Thanks to The San Francisco Standard for sharing the news that San Francisco’s United Nations Plaza, located in the Civic Center area adjacent to Market Street, will be home to the newest street-style skate plaza in San Francisco.
In honor of UN Plaza’s grand reopening, San Francisco will host a celebration on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 from 10 am to 4 pm for the newly transformed United Nations Plaza. The daylong celebration will unveil the new recreational activities now available at the plaza, including the nation’s first-of-its-kind street skating plaza, ping pong, teqball, chess, a fitness court studio, and more. In addition, the celebration will also include activities like a climbing wall; nature play and STEM activities for kids; teqball lessons; chess lessons; giveaways; fitness classes; and more.
The newly transformed 150,000-square-foot area include offer skaters ramps, platforms and ledges. A $2 million renovation by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department in 2023 was part of a larger effort by city, state and federal partners, the Civic Center Benefit District, nonprofit organizations, law enforcement, and neighboring cultural institutions to transform the Civic Center area into a clean, safe, and vibrant public space for everyone. Its revitalization as a destination for city residents aligns with goals of the Mayor’s Roadmap to San Francisco’s Future.
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Activations in Paris, Barcelona, Copenhagen and Philadelphia lent inspiration to design of the project. A 13,000-square-foot skating plaza, designed by local professional skateboarders and skate park advocates, is filled with elements from iconic skate spots around the City, most of which no longer exist. Its centerpiece, a skateable pyramid, is nod to Place de la République in Paris, a large multi-use pedestrian plaza that incorporates street skating. While several cities in Europe have designed public spaces for pedestrians and skateboarders, San Francisco is now the only U.S. city to adopt a design at this scale that thoughtfully integrates both groups.
In addition to the skating area and tables for ping pong, teqball, chess, foosball and cornhole, UN Plaza now includes an outdoor fitness studio with strength-building stations and an outdoor class space for tai chi, yoga, HIIT, Zumba and other group exercise for all fitness levels. Additional elements such as new plants, trees, café seating and Tivoli lights have also been added for visitor enjoyment morning, noon and night.
Read more at SF Recreation & Park Department.
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