Sarah Madland

A seasoned public servant, Sarah Madland has worked in San Francisco government under six mayors. Prior to her being appointed by Mayor Daniel Lurie as General Manager, Sarah served as the Department's Director of Policy and Public Affairs and its second-in-command for 16 years. 

She spearheaded transformative and innovative park initiatives, including the conversion of JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park into a lively promenade, the creation of the Love Dolores and San Francisco Children and Nature programs, and the exponential growth of volunteers supporting neighborhood parks across the city. She led public investment campaigns that injected over half a billion dollars into revitalizing City parks and helped San Francisco become the first city in the country where every resident lives within a ten-minute walk of a park. 

At heart, Sarah is a creative problem solver who believes in building systems that make parks more beautiful, equitable and lively for all San Franciscans.  A former camp counselor, she is a true believer in the power of recreation programs to transform lives and communities. 

A champion for the power of public space, Sarah is a lover of all forms of recreation and has never met a sport she doesn't love.  A mother of three and a youth soccer coach, she brings a spirit of teamwork, encouragement, and community-building to her work.