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Natural Areas

McLaren Park

  • Location: Mansell Street between Sunnydale and Visitacion Avenues
  • Established: 1927
  • Size: Park: 312.6 acres/Natural Area: 165.3 acres
  • Park Type: Grassland/Creek/Wetland

McLaren Park, the second largest park in San Francisco, was named for John McLaren, the superintendent of Golden Gate Park from 1887 to 1943. It includes a natural area rich in native plants and animals, as well as playgrounds, lawns and planted gardens, a golf course, tennis courts, and an amphitheater.

Natural History

The grasslands and coastal crub of McLaren Park are home to more than 115 native plant species. One of these is a wildflower called footsteps of spring, which appears in early February and March and disappears before summer. A member of the carrot family, footsteps of spring resembles bursting green and yellow stars and lies flat on the ground.

Many aquatic insects can be found in the marshes and ponds of McLaren Park, including the San Francisco forktail damselfly. Damselflies are related to dragonflies but differ in appearance and habit. The San Francisco forktail damselfly is distinguished by its smaller size and the way it folds back its wings at rest. This damselfly's habitat is limited, and it is found in only a few areas around San Francisco Bay. In order to survive it needs shallow ponds and slow-running streams.

Until 1999, McLaren Park was home to a population of our state bird, the California quail. A gregarious bird that travels in a covey, the California quail has a distinctive call that sounds like cu-ca-cow. Both males and females have a teardrop-shaped plume atop their heads, often referred to as a topknot. Predators, poaching, and loss of vegetation cover have contributed to their decline and disappearance. Now there is an effort to restore quail habitat and reintroduce the bird to McLaren Park.

Park Images

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Park Features: