San Francisco city officials have opened a search for private partners to redevelop a 9.5-acre lakeside property that was used as a private shooting range for more than 80 years. The move marks the final stage of a major environmental transformation along the western shore of Lake Merced. The property at 520 John Muir Drive was home to the Pacific Rod and Gun Club from 1934 until it permanently closed in 2015. After years of environmental cleanup, the city is now seeking proposals to turn the site into a public park and recreation centre.
Decades of shooting leave toxic legacy
The Pacific Rod and Gun Club opened on the shores of Lake Merced in 1934, with skeet, trap and rifle ranges for local shooters. During more than 80 years of operation, shooting left large amounts of lead pellets and debris from petroleum-based clay targets in the soil and along the lake shore. When the club’s lease ended in 2015, city officials closed the facility and began dealing with the pollution. The property is one of the largest areas of flat waterfront land around Lake Merced outside the nearby Harding Park Golf Course. According to announcements from the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission managed a large, multi-stage environmental cleanup. Workers removed polluted soil and heavy metals, demolished old shooting structures and made the land safe again. The final stage of the cleanup was completed in 2025, allowing the public to safely use the property.
City seeks ideas for a new waterfront
With the cleanup complete, the city has issued a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) for the site, which is known as Lake Merced West. Under city rules, the land will remain publicly owned. Any future development must focus on public access, outdoor recreation and community facilities. In a public announcement released through the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar described the opportunity to create a new destination along the lake. “Lake Merced is one of San Francisco’s most important natural resources, and it is also a beloved place for recreation and discovery. I’m excited to see the creativity and imagination that come forward in response to this RFP,” said District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar. “This is a rare opportunity to reimagine a significant piece of our public waterfront, and I look forward to seeing ideas that expand access, celebrate the lake’s natural setting and create new ways for San Franciscans to enjoy this incredible resource.”
Plans for a new lakeside destination
The city’s planning framework lists several possible uses for the 9.5-acre property. Officials are seeking ideas that could include:
- Water access: A new boathouse, floating dock and soft-launch area for rowers, kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders.
- Community facilities: Outdoor dining areas, cafes, multi-sport courts and a community recreation building.
- Outdoor recreation: Walking trails, areas for birdwatching, adventure rope courses and children’s play spaces.
The Recreation and Park Department said the entire property does not have to be developed by one organisation. The city could divide the site between several non-profit groups or commercial operators, creating a larger mix of recreational facilities. The redevelopment would bring nearly a century of restricted waterfront land back into public use. Once a private shooting range, the former Pacific Rod and Gun Club property is now set to become part of San Francisco’s wider public park and recreation network.
