San Francisco Parks Trust is a U.S.

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 non-profit organization

Non-profit organization

Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...

 dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of park

Park

A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...

s in San Francisco, California.

History

Founded in 1971 with a $50,000 grant from developer and philanthropist, Walter Shorenstein, San Francisco Parks Trust, formerly Friends of Recreation & Parks, began as an all-volunteer organization dedicated to supporting San Francisco parks. SFPT's offices are located in historic McLaren Lodge at the eastern end of Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park, located in San Francisco, California, is a large urban park consisting of of public grounds. Configured as a rectangle, it is similar in shape but 20% larger than Central Park in New York, to which it is often compared. It is over three miles long east to west, and about half a...

, overlooking the City Tree of San Francisco, a large Monterey Cypress.

Programs

SFPT partners with the San Francisco Departments of Parks and of Public Works, as well as community organizations, to facilitate the construction and maintenance of parks and community gardens. SFPT also sponsors guides giving tours of Golden Gate Park, as well as partnering with San Francisco Opera

San Francisco Opera

San Francisco Opera is an American opera company, based in San Francisco, California.It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola and is the second largest opera company in North America...

and San Francisco Chronicle Charities to present "Opera in the Park".