Betty Ong Rec Center

Ps: I know it was the 11 but I had a bug and can’t post: (
Today is the 14 anniversary of that fateful day, we lost the bravest, lovely women. Betty I hope God takes care of you in the middle t of all his angel. you are my inspiration and what makes me move forward in my life, even in the worst moments, I think of you, to your courage and I say: Never surrender do it for betty ! I still think its unfair, too many lives lost for completely stupid ideas I ask myself all the time and I still have not found an answer. I have unfortunately not been able to meet you, I was far too small and the distance between our countries, but I saw interview, pictures and the stories told by your family: You were a lovely person, beautiful, selfness who gave love to all the people around you and wanted to say thank you from my heart. Rest in peace angel betty I pray for you every night We miss you Betty

This was always «rec center» or «Chinese rec» to those who grew up in Chinatown in the ’70’s and ’80’s.
This review is a tribute to a man who influenced the childhood of many who grew up in Chinatown, North Beach, and Nob Hill. His name is Percy Chu. He passed on July 4^th with little fanfare or celebration of his infectious personality. The family held private services for him. As a humble yet vocal leader, he was a director of this recreation center for several decades. With many youth growing up with parents working to better their families’ lives, this center played an integral part in the community which serves Nob Hill as well as Chinatown. There were basketball leagues for boys and men besides recreational volleyball schedules. Percy coached many of these teams; this effectively kept many youths out of trouble and give them a place to socialize and learn to play sports. From table tennis to playground apparatus, there were many activities to keep everyone active physically.
When I returned to working in Chinatown, he’d often see me in passing my workplace and leave me humorous or symbolic buttons to brighten my day.
Percy, you are missed and be proud of the many lives that you positively impacted here.

Great local neighborhood community center that has a workout equipment room, indoor basketball courts and zumba classes on the weekdays among other things. There is also a good playground for kids. Wish they had more activities/​classes for adults here (mostly for seniors and kids), but at least it’s a new and clean building and everything is well maintained. I hear there is a pingpong room, too, but I haven’t yet seen it. It is located across the street from the Cable Car Museum on Mason St.

It has been a while since I have updated any of my older reviews. Many of the 3 – 5 star places I have been more than once. But I find this updated review is necessary on the anniversary of September 11^th (⁹⁄₁₁).
The city of San Francisco has renamed the historic recreational facility after Betty Ann Ong. Miss Ong was born and raised in San Francisco’s Chinatown. She was one of the flight attendants on one of the airlines that was hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center. There is no doubt that dark day was indeed one of most tragic day in American History.
In her honor, the city, parks and recreations have done a 2 year major remodel of the recreational facility into one of the most modernized recreational facility in the city. There are two levels of this facility with an outdoor playground for the younger kids. The first level has a fitness center with weights, a treadmill and exercise bike and a renowned indoor basketball court, which is name after Percy Wong who was the director of the facility since 1958. Even though he has retired, he still pops in occasionally. Basketball court:
The second level has two activity rooms for table tennis, dance group and other activities. And that second level leads to the outdoor playground with another outdoor basketball court. The synthetic rubber surface has replaced the dirty and aging sand. I like the bouncy feel of the playground.
President Obama has made one appearance to Betty Ann’s facility for a fund-​raiser. Even he is happy with renovation. Her plaque is located near the entrance. Betty Ann’s plaque:

Jennifer Hom is now the director of this facility and does a fantastic job in keeping this facility well-​maintain.
This is my place to shoot hoops and work out. Joining is free, thanks to the city. I love this new place!

This rec center is very well put together. It puts the North Beach Playground (Joe DiMaggio Playground) to shame. I used to go to this center when I was in high school. Back in the day where the director was Issac and the guy with the bushy mustache. That was then this is now. Everything is brand new. New basketball gym with two mini full courts to play 4 on 4 or a full court.
Open from Tuesday to Saturday. There are always basketball players in the gym. I generally go during the early afternoon, but there is always someone there. Player rating is good to very good. You will get a good game in.
They also have a weight room. Free weights from 5lbs to 50lbs. Two bench presses, a treadmill, a cycle machine, and a weight machine for curls, rowing, and pull downs. It doesn’t get that crowded in the weight room at all. You do need to register and sign a waiver with the director to get a pass.
The best part about this place is that it is FREE!!! Why would you go to another gym and spend hundreds of dollars on a membership. The only thing that I wish this place had were more activities like yoga, Zumba, or something like that.
There is also an outdoor park with all kinds of stuff for kids to climb all over. Also there is an outdoor basketball court outside to enjoy the sun when playing.

Great rec center with indoor and outdoor basketball courts, badminton on select days, table tennis, playground, and other sports and activities. Check the seasonal schedules for activity specifics.
Join SF Parks and Rec to take advantage!

I almost don’t want to review this place because I want to keep it away from being overcrowded.
My inner Chinese was squealing with overwhelming joy the moment I found out they had a FREE public weight room. My boyfriend on the other hand was excited for the free badminton and ping pong time slots. According to the staff, you don’t even need to pay to borrow their equipment (racquets/​birdies), they just ask for your ID as a hold. The weight room isn’t fully stocked (its not the gym), but it serves your basic needs. Keep in mind you do need to register and sign a waiver with them if you choose to use the weight room.
The center is new and clean. Not the mention their playground also serves as a post work out area to cool off and release your inner kid. From rope climbs, slides, see saws, swings, and a spinning cone out of rope you are bound to have fun, no matter what age you are.

awesome gym, nice staff. wish they open 7 days a week and change the hours a bit. it’s free can’t complain, over all the best public gym in SF. lots memory from the past.

i love this place even though it’s a quite a walk up some hills for me to go there. it’s hard to find a rec center in the city that has a) CLEAN restrooms and b) NO HOMELESS people hanging around drinking and fighting. HUZZAH!!! my younger sister used to hang out here some 20+ years ago. it’s a beautiful complex the children’s play area Is padded no sand YAY! everything is NICE. i like it b/​c it’s enclosed so the pervs can’t hang out here like the other parks and I’ve seen ALOT of them YUCK!!! my son LOVES coming here and play

This is the best public community gym I’ve ever seen. Clean, spacious, and newly remodeled.
Plentiful basketball courts that are filled with guys (mostly lower 20’s) playing. If you’re a girl and you walk in, they’ll glance at you like you’re a mystical creature. Awkward…
Pretty good weight room with all basic necessities: a treadmill, cycling bike, dumbbells, barbell, etc.
There’s also a ping pong table room, but it’s usually filled with elderly people.
I’m so envious of the people who live nearby here. No need for a gym membership when you can just come here for free!

The newly remodeled recreation center is wonderful and a great testament to San Francisco’s commitment to youth in our city. Well done San Francisco.
Seems a little unfair to dock a star because parking is so bad, but that’s what I have done. That said the recreation centers is located near many bus lines, the cable car and only a 20 minute walk from the Powell Bart Station.

The problem with this rec center is the basketball hours. It is a gym made for people to play basketball. It is a BASKETBALL gym. Now tell me why the schedule shows mostly other sports playing in there? That is ridiculous. Everyone should petition and someone needs to be fired. A huge amount of money is spent on the building and it seems like there is barely anyone that goes there now.

what a upgrade. very nice.

Pretty nice place compare to what it used to be. The weight room is small and ill-​equipped but it is free! Better than nothing :)

Just re-​opened recently, newer facility, everything is nice and clean. good circulation, but still not the same because the old gym feels more «like home». But the new facility is by far the nicest in the city for a PUBLIC place.

Went in search of this place for a game of Table Tennis. If I’m not mistaken, it is «suppose» to be directly across the street from the Cable Car Museum. I say «suppose» because it’s now an empty lot (literally).
I tried to google for more information regarding this location but the last known information I managed to find was that it was under renovation. As far as I could tell, the entire place was demolished.
If this place is being reconstructed from the ground up, hopefully when the project is completed, someone can chime in.

I’m a fan because Jerry is the man. I get to play basketball in the mornings with these old timers who still have game. Some of them have the most awkward shots but they make ‘em so it’s all good! I wonder what the schedule is like now since I’ve moved out of Nob Hill?!
Basketball, volleyaball, dancing, etc. Cool place to play indoor fosho! And yes, there are bathrooms.

I love the Chinese Rec Center. It used to be the hangout spot back in middle school. My friends & I used to always hang out in the park and inside the gym. It was just the «chill spot «. I miss those days. we had so much fun just eating, playing cards, and chilling in the park or gym. Another reason why I liked coming here was because there was sometimes some cute guys. not so much anymore. There’s a mini gym for working out /​lifting weights. I don’t remember but I think it was free on certain days or something. There’s also a room to play ping pong which is nice. There’s an after school and summer program as well. I remember volunteering here once or twice back in middle school but I forgot what I did haha. Overall, this is a good place to play basketball. There’s an indoor gym (which is always nice for bad weather) and outdoor hoops.

What more can you ask for in a Rec center thats catered to inner city youth in chinatown? Chinese Rec Center does its best, but with their low budget, you can’t expect great facilities or upscale bathrooms.
The gym is good enough that the basketball nets are still there and gym floor is clean. They just remodeled it a few months ago, and its great.
Directors like Jerry and staff like Burma and Issac are awesome. They are always welcoming and friendly, and patient with the kids who come here. It’s like an everyone knows everyone atmosphere.
Lots of people can be playing basketball usually after 3, when school is let out, so it can get crowded. Usually a gym filled with high school asian boys, but nothing to worry or annoyed about. It gets more calm after 7, and the gym usually closes at 10 on weekdays. It’s a good place with good staff.

I played basketball here on a Saturday morning, and walking into the gym brought back memories from my youth rec basketball leagues when I was in 4^th grade, when you had the reversible mesh jersey’s. Anyway, it was free, there were a bunch of basketball’s just lying around, and it was crowded, but not so crowded that me and my group of friends were able to run 5 on 5 on half the court.
Side note– my team won the first game, which meant we beat a team consisting of friends from college and some middle schoolers who hang out there, then we got smoked the second game. Apparently we were playing the team who runs the courts there. Size-​wise I felt like a young Shawn Kemp, ’till my lack of athleticism was apparent and everyone on the other team could run and was quick.
That being said, for an early weekend morning game, this place was key and I’ll definitely be back to avenge my loss, I can not not speak as to what it is like during the week or for any of the facilities.