Lurie Taps Sarah Madland to Lead SF Rec and Parks, Pledges 'Best Recreation System in the Nation'

Mayor Daniel Lurie introduced a new era for San Francisco's Recreation and Parks Department on Tuesday, appointing Sarah Madland as general manager and framing the city's 220-plus parks as the centerpiece of his family opportunity agenda. Madland took the oath of office in Golden Gate Park after laying out an ambitious vision rooted in a century-old legacy — and a concrete near-term promise to expand after-school programs starting this fall.

• Sarah Madland sworn in as new general manager of San Francisco Recreation and Parks

• Madland pledges to build the nation's best public recreation system, starting with after-school enrollment increases this fall

• Bay Sox girls baseball coach highlights how city recreation programs create a youth leadership pipeline

Why it matters: The Recreation and Parks Department oversees more than 220 parks, dozens of recreation centers, and programming that touches tens of thousands of families. The new general manager's priorities will shape how those resources are allocated — and who benefits — for years to come.