Visiting Lafayette Park
The park is bounded by Washington, Gough, Sacramento, and Laguna Streets.
Transit
MUNI Bus Line 1 stops directly in front of the park entrance. Street parking is available.
Accessibility
A wheelchair-accessible pathway connects all program areas of the park and provides access to all corners of the park.
Picnic areas
Several picnic areas with tables and benches are located on either side of the playground and at the summit, all of which are open for groups and parties on a first come, first served basis unless previously reserved. For reservation of picnic tables, you may obtain a permit from the Parks Department.
Tennis
Per SF Rec & Park rules, if the two tennis courts are in use when you arrive, players on the tennis court may finish their current set or rally for up to 30 minutes total before allowing others waiting to play tennis on that court.
Dogs
The partially enclosed Dog Play Area is lined with modern artificial turf and includes a ground-level water fountain. The entrance remains unfenced to accommodate an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) pathway that connects every area of the park.
Playground
Swings, climbing structures, and more are available in an enclosed children’s play area near water fountains, benches, and restrooms. The new playground was a centerpiece of the park renovation.
Did you know? The park is home to wild parakeets and is an urban birding hotspot! More than 100 species have been observed here!
Photo: Anne Cirillo
An Urban Habitat
Hear loud cackling laughter in the park? Look up! It might be some of our noisiest park residents: native acorn woodpeckers or exotic red-masked parakeets. According to eBird, Lafayette Park is an urban birding hotspot. You can easily spot birds of all sizes, from hawks to hummingbirds.
To see woodpeckers and orioles, visit the park summit. The dense shrubbery around the amphitheater is a great place to spot jays, robins, and shy birds like thrushes, bushtits, kinglets, and gnat-catchers. Follow your ears to spot the parakeets, often seen perching on the palm trees (and nearby apartment balconies) at the southern park entrance. Red-tailed hawks and even owls might be hiding in the eucalyptus trees.
Butterflies and bees are attracted year-round to the nectar-rich plants. Observant plant-lovers can discover some hidden gems: Catalina ironwood, Norfolk Island pine, red-twig dogwood, English elm, and an avocado tree or two. FOLP’s monthly Cleaning & Greening event is a great opportunity to enjoy nature alongside our expert park gardeners!
Species commonly observed on INaturalist
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