China Basin Park was the setting for this year’s Party for the Parks, an event that combines San Francisco’s love for green spaces with its love for — well, a good party.

The festivities on Saturday delivered the kind of scenic backdrop that will no doubt make it a go-to spot for future picnics. China Basin Park is a small space, but it packs a punch when it comes to views. Unfortunately, we had to enjoy a lot of it indoors; a brisk wind cut short party plans to catch a waterfront sunset.

The vibe? Think upscale date night meets cocktail hour, with people dressed in sunset hues — pinks, yellows, magentas. And while it wasn’t billed as a political event, Party for the Parks tends to feel like one. Several supervisor hopefuls made an appearance alongside mayoral candidate Mark Farrell. We also remember spotting DA Brooke Jenkins, Senator Scott Wiener, and Assemblymember Phil Ting last year.

Many of the young people at the event Saturday were there because their careers were enabled by the city’s parks — everything from event planners who run San Francisco-defining events like Bay to Breakers and the SF Marathon, to large donors eager to see more parks open across the city. The gala’s reach clearly goes beyond the greenery — it’s a platform for the future of public events and spaces in San Francisco.

We spent the chilly evening on Saturday inside a warehouse parking lot space, with string lights casting a soft glow over the tables and attendees enjoying bites from Marin French Cheese Company and the Caviar Co., among others. It was a warehouse but didn’t feel like one, with an open, industrial, and airy feeling. We couldn’t see any parking lot lines, and there was no fluorescent lighting to sterilize the space.

The dance floor opened up after the auction, though it seemed most guests were content with mingling while DJ Cams provided tunes.

Party for the Parks raises money every year for the city’s parks, open spaces, and recreational programs, and it’s put on by the SF Parks Alliance. This year it raised $630,000 from its 300 attendees, and we saw speeches from SF Parks Alliance Board chair Louise Mozingo and the group’s CEO Drew Becher.

While some fundraisers lean heavily into the performative, this one had a more laid-back vibe. Attendees were just as content to enjoy the Bay views as they were to outbid each other at the auction — it was all refreshingly human, and why not? San Francisco parks deserve our sincere appreciation.

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