Thursday's John McLaren Park - the City’s Second Largest Park That Few People Know

In size, it is San Francisco's second largest park behind Golden Gate Park, and even has a nine-hole golf course within its boundaries.  And even though the amphitheater is named for Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead (who grew up within sight of it), John McLaren Park is still not a name even many San Franciscans know.

Covering 313 acres on the Daly City border, John McLaren Park also offers no less than six playgrounds, five picnic areas, tennis and basketball courts, an amphitheater, natural areas, a clubhouse, a dog park, and a lake.  I was traipsing around it a few months ago for this story as I had not really explored this notable park.  I had been there a few times over the decades for specific reasons but this time I had the opportunity to explore and discovered numerous little glades, glens, and gardens.

Hard to believe there was a time, only 100 years ago, when politicians had a vision for a grand park on the southern edge of San Francisco.  Despite a defeat at the ballot box to fund this civic dream, they nevertheless embarked on a multi-year campaign to buy back previously sold land parcels adjacent to what was then a large open space, in order see this park come to fruition.

John Hays McLaren was not the first Rec and Park superintendent of San Francisco, but he served longer than most people's lifespans for that era.  He was trained as a horticulturalist, but from 1890 to 1943 (53 years, if you can believe it) he was the city's parks and playgrounds' capo di capo.  With still another 18 years left to serve, he attended the groundbreaking ceremony in 1927 for the park with his namesake.  Unusual for that time, as naming civic institutions usually happened posthumously.  The only other example I can remember is the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge being renamed after former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown, even though he is still alive.

The View from John McLaren Park 

Within San Francisco's 49 square miles rests four golf courses, the Gleneagles at McLaren Park is one of them and offers a nine-hole course with commanding views of the area.   I'm not a golfer myself but am told it is an unusual design.  Amaturegolf.com claims, "Gleneagles is the craziest course in San Francisco. If nothing else, it is an experience. Set in the middle of McLaren Park, Gleneagles only has nine greens, but with two sets of tees on each hole, it can be played as a unique 18."

In 1971, McLaren Park added a 1200 seat amphitheater, with space adjacent to it to spread out picnic blankets.  As I mentioned earlier, Grateful Dead lead singer Jerry Garcia literally grew up blocks from McLaren Park and spent his childhood playing there.   

The Grateful Dead were such a cultural phenomenon, that in 2025 the remaining living members of the band they formed 60 years ago, were bestowed with a Kennedy Center honor for their cultural contribution to the arts.  Jerry Garcia passed away in 1995, so it seemed fitting in 2005 to rename the amphitheater in his honor.