Green DogWalks

Bernal Heights Park, attracts users from the surrounding neighborhood and from the city at large. Primary recreational activities include walking, jogging, cycling, and dog walking. To support these activities, the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department (SFRPD) maintains a network of trails and paved paths, and provides trash service and several benches.

Bernal Hill remains a somewhat wild open space, as opposed to more cultivated parks such as nearby Holly Park or the recreation center at St. Mary’s Park. This development pattern has allowed the persistence of several sensitive plants including Dodecatheon clevelandii (shooting star), Fritillaria liliacea (fragrant fritillary), Muilla maritima (common muilla), Salvia spathacea (hummingbird sage), Zigadenus fremontii (star lily).

The city’s Natural Areas Program (NAP) of SFRPD is responsible for the management of these resources and recreation needs in the park. To address erosion impacts the NAP has built two sets of stairs, lined trail segments, and installed a debris control mat. Erosion control measures enhance accessibility in the park and protect the biotic resources by channeling visitors along appropriate paths.

Because Bernal Heights Park represents a valuable community and natural resource, its use patterns are important to recreationists and the general public. One of the community functions of the park is as a space for offleash dog recreation. This use is recognized by the city in the park’s designation as an official Dog Play Area. Offleash dog recreation has become a fundamental attraction of Bernal Heights Park for private and professional dog walkers. High levels of use indicate a need for a better understanding of the activities and patterns of offleash recreationists at this park.