San Franciscos Randall Museum Unveils New Nature Exploration Area for Kids

A fresh splash of adventure has landed at San Francisco’s Randall Museum, which today opened a child‑friendly nature exploration zone on its Corona Heights Park campus. Nestled beside the museum’s EcoCenter, the new play space invites kids to climb, balance, dig, and build amid a forest of reclaimed logs, carved stumps, a woven den, and a rope swing that swings gently from a sturdy beam.

The area turns discarded tree‑stumps from city parks into a playground that feels like a miniature wilderness. Children can scramble up the logs, test their balance on the wooden beams, or burrow into the woven den for a secret hide‑away. The design, which repurposes materials already found across San Francisco’s green spaces, encourages active play while sparking curiosity about the outdoors.

The Randall Museum has welcomed visitors free of charge since 1951, drawing more than 100,000 people each year. Operated by the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department and supported by the Randall Friends, the museum has long been a hub for wildlife exhibits, model trains, and interactive science displays. The new nature area is intended to broaden that reach, serving school groups, after‑school programs, and families who come to learn about California’s fauna and natural history.

"When kids have the freedom to climb, explore, and let their imaginations lead the way, they build confidence and develop a lasting appreciation for the world around them," said Sarah Madland, the department’s general manager. Madland, who took the helm in May 2026, oversees the city’s network of 179 playgrounds and other recreational facilities.

Marcus Wojtkowiak, the museum’s director since 2023, added that the new nature exploration area will be heavily used. "This new Nature Exploration Area is a fantastic new addition that will be heavily used," he said. Wojtkowiak has steered the museum’s educational programming and outreach efforts.

District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton highlighted the area’s role in the city’s sustainability education. "With the opening of the Nature Exploration Area next to the existing EcoCenter, Heron's Head has become the city’s center for learning about sustainability and nature," she said. The play space is part of the Heron's Head park complex, a focal point for environmental education in the city.

The design’s use of reclaimed logs and stumps not only offers a tactile connection to the park ecosystem but also underscores a commitment to environmental stewardship. By turning surplus materials into playground equipment, the museum demonstrates how waste can be transformed into learning tools.

According to a LinkedIn post by a project lead, construction could begin in May if the remaining funds are raised by April, and the play area could open by June 2026. The department has not yet confirmed a final opening date, but the project fits into a broader effort to expand free educational and recreational resources across San Francisco.

The new nature exploration area reflects California’s broader dedication to child development, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. It adds to the city’s extensive network of public play spaces and supports the state’s focus on providing accessible, outdoor learning opportunities for all residents.

Today, the Randall Museum’s new nature exploration area is open to the public, offering a free, child‑friendly space for exploration and learning. The museum continues to serve as a key resource for science, nature, and arts education in San Francisco.