The Transbay Joint Powers Authority's rooftop park, perched atop the Salesforce Transit Center in SoMa, will once again offer a slate of free activities for San Franciscans and visitors alike. Think fitness classes, live music, guided garden tours, kids' programming, and community events — all without charging a dime at the door.

Now, let's be honest about the backdrop. The Transit Center came in wildly over budget at $2.2 billion, suffered an embarrassing cracked-beam closure just weeks after its 2018 grand opening, and the promised downtown rail extension that was supposed to justify the whole thing remains a distant fantasy. So when we say "free programs," we should acknowledge that San Franciscans have already paid — handsomely — for the privilege.

That said, if we're stuck with the bill, we might as well get something out of it. And Salesforce Park genuinely delivers. The 5.4-acre elevated green space is one of the most pleasant spots in a neighborhood that desperately needs them. On any given afternoon, you'll find families, remote workers, and tourists milling around the gardens, and the free programming only adds to the draw.

This is what public spaces should look like when they're actually maintained and activated — not left to deteriorate into open-air crisis zones like so many other city-managed properties. The TJPA deserves a nod for keeping the programming robust and accessible.

Our ask? Keep the momentum going, keep the park safe and clean, and maybe — just maybe — finish building the transit infrastructure underneath it that taxpayers were promised a decade ago. Free yoga is great. A functioning regional rail hub would be better.

Check the TJPA website for the full 2026 schedule and get out there while the weather cooperates.