Kite Flying by the Bay

On October 21, California State Parks, Parks California and the San Francisco Parks Alliance hosted the inaugural Kite the Bay festival at Candlestick Point State Recreation Area (CSPRA). This 252-acre park offers picnicking, trails for running and walking, fishing access and beautiful views of the San Francisco Bay and the old Hunters Point Navy Shipyard. CSPRA is also the first urban park in the California State Park system and the only state park in San Francisco.

Over 750 people came out to this beautiful shoreline park to fly and decorate kites, soak up the sunshine, listen to DJ Beatsme play old skool funk on the turntables, and enjoy delicious local cuisine from Afro Street Sizzle and Sukulenta SF. Local organizations like Literacy for Environmental Justice, Chaulk SF, and Little Ghetto Garden offered tabling opportunities. Young people from Outlandish, a local nonprofit that helps LGBTQIA+ youth spend time in nature, also joined the kite fest after spending a morning on the pier learning how to fish with park staff. Children ran around with string in their hands, pulling their self-decorated kites as they floated through the air. Smiles were beaming and giggles could be heard all over the field.

Since 2021, Parks California has been working along Candlestick Point State Recreation Area to bring local community to the park through various programs and events like the Kite the Bay festival. Art and fishing programs are some of the popular activities held at CSPRA and are offered monthly. These programs are free through our generous donors.