Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is ParksPortal?
How do I search for events?
Posting Your Event
Do I need to register?
How do I post an event?
What type of events can I post?
Can I import multiple events at the same time?
What do I do if no category matches my event?
I submitted my event, why don't I see it when I search for it?
How do I edit my event?
My event is happening at a location not listed in ParksPortal, what do I do?
How do I create a link to my ParksPortal event listing?
Can I create a ParksPortal search link to place on another website?
Advantages for Organizations
What are the advantages to organizations?
How do I use Sponsor Banners?
What is ParksPress?
How do I create a profile for my organization?
The location for my event has no profile, what can I do?
What is ParksPortal?
ParksPortal is a completely free service from San Francisco Parks Trust that offers anyone and everyone a chance to find out what is happening in San Francisco parks. You can use ParksPortal to search for fun things to do in parks, or post your own events. Community-based organizations can post their events as well, and register to take advantage of some of ParksPortal’s advanced features such as recurring settings, ParksPress, and fundraising benefits.
How do I search for events?
You can use the icons for a quick search, type keywords into the “search” field (like a typical internet search engine), or you can select from the “who” “what” “where” or “when” drop-down menus. You can use one, all, or any combination of keywords and criteria from the drop-down menus for your search. In general, the more search terms you enter and criteria you select from the drop down menus the more targeted your search will become, but the fewer results it will generate.
How do I post an event?
Press the “post your event” button from the search page or the top navigation bar. You will be directed to an event submission page, where you can enter information for your event. Information in green is required, and helps us make sure your event is easy to find when people search ParksPortal. You will not be able to access the recurring event settings unless you register with ParksPortal. If registered, make sure you log in first before posting your event.
After you have filled in the event information, press the next button. On the next screen you will be able to upload a picture to be displayed with your event, or upload a download document that viewers can download from your event's page. The download document can be a Word or PDF document, and be anything from a flyer, to a press release, to a sign up form for your event. Uploading a photo or document is optional. At this point the event is not posted, but a confirmation email will be sent to the “submitter’s email" address, which you need to review and approve. This process works much like Craigslist. After you review the event and hit the confirm button, it will be submitted to our moderators for approval which usually takes 1-3 business days. If you are not registered, you must save the confirmation email if you would like to edit or delete the event in the future.
Can I import multiple events at the same time?
For organizations that would like to post multiple events quickly (usually more than 50), we offer an import feature. You will need to prepare your data in an Excel spreadsheet template we provide for you, and then we can import your events at the touch of a button. Please email parksportal@sfpt.org for more information on importing multiple events.
What type of events can I post?
Anything happening in a San Francisco park, recreation center, open space, or is park or outdoor related! We also have a complete listing of events, classes, and offerings by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department.
I submitted my event, but I don’t see it when I search for it?
If you have entered your event information and hit submit, a confirmation email has been sent to the “submitter’s email”. Your event is not posted until you have confirmed receipt of that email, and our moderators approve the posting. Moderator approval usually takes 1-3 business days. If we can't approve your event or need more information, you will be notified via email.
How do I edit my event?
You may edit your event by using the edit button in the confirmation email you received. If you are registered on ParksPortal, log into your account and you will see an edit link at the bottom of your post. Also, for registered users all the events you have posted appear at the bottom of the screen, giving you the ability to manage all your events at once. All edits to events must still go through the moderator process, and the previous version of your listing is still viewable until your edits are approved and take effect.
Do I need to register?
Anyone may search or post an event without registering. But, it might be a good idea. Certain advanced features of ParksPortal are only available for registered users, and are meant to provide more powerful tools for active community members or organizations. For instance, if you are a community gardening group and organize workdays weekly or monthly, registering allows you to submit recurring events and manage all your events easily. Registered community groups also qualify to include their own profile on their event pages, as well as use sponsor banners, which gives additional exposure to your sponsors and helps you fundraise more effectively.
What are the advantages to organizations?
ParksPortal is specifically designed to provide organizations of all sizes a venue to publicize their events, recruit volunteers, and expand their fundraising and press exposure. Register your organization and have easy control of managing your events. Create a profile for your organization that everyone will see on each of your event listings. Have a sponsor for your organization, or for a specific event? As a registered organization, you can also include logos from sponsors on your listings using our sponsor banner feature. Your event is also automatically enrolled in ParksPress, a service that provides San Francisco press with notifications about park events.
How do I use sponsor banners?
One of ParksPortal's most powerful features for organizations is the ability to highlight sponsors and leverage traffic to your events. For events listed by registered users, ParksPortal can assign a banner, image, or logo of your choice to your organization profile to appear on all your events, and also assign individual banners to a single event. This flexibility gives you the ability to highlight sponsors of particular events or an annual "season" sponsor. Supported by full metrics, ParksPortal tracks how many times your banners are viewed, and how many click-throughs you receive. Please email parksportal@sfpt.org for more information on sponsor banner features.
What is ParksPress?
ParksPress is a free service for registered users. All events from registered users are included in a bi-monthly press digest that we send to local newspapers, radio, and media outlets. We know that organizations of all sizes need help getting the word out about all the great things they do for parks, open space, and recreation in San Francisco. Press exposure helps glean vounteers, advances fundraising goals, and helps all of us advocate better for parks and open space.
How do I create a profile for my organization?
Each time someone views an event hosted by your registered organization, we display a profile about your organization on the page. Once you register, please send 150 words or less about your organization to parksportal@sfpt.org. We can also display a small photo or logo in your profile as well, which must be no larger than 150 pixels by 150 pixels and in jpg/jpeg, gif/gif, or tif/tiff format, in RGB color mode. It will take us 1-3 business days to add you to ParksPortal and for your organization to appear in the drop down menu.
The location for my event has no profile, what can I do?
If your favorite park, community garden, or corner of Golden Gate Park has no profile yet- you can submit one! Just send your descriptive and historical perspective, 150 words or less, to parksportal@sfpt.org. If you would like to include a photo of the park or community space as well, please size it to 150 to 175 pixels wide, and make sure it is a jpg or gif in RGB format.
What do I do if no category matches my event?
If there is no event category or subcategory that matches your event, choose the closest category and submit your event. Then, send a request for a new category, and we will create one for you. We are adding new categories and locations all the time! Email us at parksportal@sfpt.org with your new category request.
My event is happening at a location not listed in ParksPortal, what do I do?
The location of your event is important so people know where to go, and also because it automatically generates a map on the event listing page. ParksPortal already has many of the major park locations and venues for your to select, but if it is not in the drop down menu, simply enter the address or intersection, and the zip code, and ParksPortal will build the map from that information. If your event is being hosted in a section of a large park, such as Golden Gate Park or McLaren Park, select that location and give a specific location in your event description so people know where to go. ParksPortal has included many sub-locations within larger parks already, many use latitude and longitude when street addresses are not applicable.
How do I create a link to my ParksPortal event listing?
When you are viewing your event's detail page (the page with the map on it), simply copy the URL in your browser's navigation bar. That URL contains the unique web address for your event, and it can be used to create a link from any webpage to your event listing on ParksPortal.
Can I create a ParksPortal search link to place on another website?
Yes you can, and it's easy. Simply select the criteria you would like to search on the front search page. For example you can choose a specific category, all events for a certain organization between specific dates, or all events at a location- or any combination of criteria and keywords- and simply load them into the search form, then press find. When you arrive at the page which lists your search results, you will see the URL of that page in your browser navigation bar which contains all of your search criteria. Copy the URL from this results page, and it can be used to create a link from any webpage to your search results on ParksPortal.
If you are placing a link on your website to ParksPortal, please download (right click to save) and use the button below. It helps us spread the word, and the more people that use ParksPortal, the stronger our parks will become! JPG versions have a white background, PNG versions have a transparent background and are better for placing over background images.
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events button medium (jpg)
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