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Southwest District

Some of the best outdoor activity spots in San Francisco are in the Southwest District. Lake Merced, along the western border, is San Francisco's largest freshwater lake and is a popular location for joggers, bicyclists, picnickers, boaters, and fishermen. The exclusive San Francisco Golf Club is next to the lake, and two municipal courses and other private courses (including the Lake Course, site of several PGA Tour championships and the U.S. Open) are also in the area. The San Francisco Zoo is part of the Southwest District, as is Fort Funston, a former army outpost that now has hiking trails to the beach and a cliff-top observation deck.

The Southwest District has great neighborhoods for families, singles, and senior citizens, and offers some of the most affordable housing in the city. The neighborhoods in this district include:

• Ingleside
• Lakeshore
• Ocean View

View healthcare facilities in this district

Ingleside
The residents of the Ingleside neighborhood are a diverse economic and ethnic mix. Because this neighborhood is located between the campuses of San Francisco State University and City College of San Francisco, it attracts students and academic faculty, but also is popular with young families and retirees. Bounded by Ocean Avenue to the north, San Jose Avenue to the east, Garfield Street and Grafton Avenue to the south, and Junipero Serra Boulevard to the west, Ingleside offers affordable housing (rents are moderate, relative to other districts), playgrounds, good freeway access, and many neighborhood shops and restaurants.

Most of the housing here is single-family homes built in the first half of the 20th century. Many of them are detached and on cul-de-sacs, which restricts auto traffic enough to allow kids to play safely in the streets. This neighborhood seems to get more sun than many parts of San Francisco, and as a testament to that, Ingleside has a huge neighborhood sundial, measuring 34 feet in diameter and 28 feet in height. Ingleside Terrace, an oval-shaped subsection of the neighborhood, originally was designed as a "residence park," and it continues to have an active homeowners association. Ingleside Heights, another subsection, has Spanish-style homes and caters mainly to upper-middle income families.

Lakeshore
This primarily upper-middle income neighborhood is bordered by Sloat Boulevard to the north, Junipero Serra Boulevard to the east, the San Francisco Golf Club to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Lake Merced, San Francisco's only remaining natural lake, is within the Lakeshore boundaries. Homes along the eastern shore of the lake are quite large and often have two-car garages. (These spectacular homes have a spectacular price tag to match.) Apartment buildings and condominiums line the western shore of the lake, as do tract houses and other modest single-family homes.

The Park Merced complex is adjacent to San Francisco State University and the San Francisco Golf Club. As the largest "planned community" in San Francisco, Park Merced was originally developed for senior citizens. Now, however, occupancy of its high-rise apartments is open to all ages. Also within the Lakeshore boundaries is Stonestown Galleria, the largest shopping mall in San Francisco, featuring restaurants, department stores, large chain stores, banks, and a grocery store.

Residents of Lakeshore can take advantage of a number of recreational activities. The trails in 700-acre Harding Park, which surrounds Lake Merced, are great for hiking, biking, and picnicking. The north end of Lake Merced has a large recreational area where dogs are allowed off-leash.

Ocean View
Originally a village that centered around a train station, Ocean View evolved into a middle-income neighborhood with modest, single-family homes. This ethnically diverse neighborhood is bordered by Garfield Street and Grafton Avenue to the north, San Jose Avenue to the east, Sagamore Street to the south, and Junipero Serra Boulevard to the west. Ocean View is popular with City College students because of its proximity to the college, and with families because of its quiet streets, open areas, and affordable housing.

The Ocean View Recreation Center is located on four square blocks at the east end of the neighborhood. It has a large number of basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts, as well as a children's playground and grassy playing field. The neighborhood offers great views of San Bruno Mountain and Mount Davidson, but there are few business establishments here. Most residents prefer to shop at Stonestown.

Healthcare facilities in the Southwest District::
No major facilities are located within this district, but the following is a short distance away in the West of Twin Peaks District:

• Laguna Honda Hospital