In the heart of Bernal Heights, a mysterious swing has become more than just a local legend – it’s now a feature in San Francisco’s latest tourism campaign. Despite repeated attempts by San Francisco Recreation and Parks to remove this unauthorized installation, an anonymous individual continues to reinstall the swing, transforming it into a symbol of the city’s rebellious spirit.

The swing, which has been a fixture on Bernal Hill for nearly a decade, recently gained national attention after appearing in a Bay Area tourism advertisement. The ad, produced by SF Travel, captures the swing’s whimsical essence and unintentionally highlights the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between the mysterious “Swing Guy” and city officials.

The current caretaker of the swing, who has been maintaining it for about a year and a half, estimates he’s invested around $1,500 of his own money into replacing various versions torn down by park authorities. His motivation goes beyond simple defiance; he sees the swing as a way to create joy and community interaction.

“I hope more people build more swings, plant more flowers,” he told local media. “Just do what you can to make your little corner of San Francisco and hopefully eventually the world a little brighter”.

Recreation and Parks spokesperson Tamara Barak Aparton explains the swing’s removal is primarily about safety, noting they cannot guarantee the security of unauthorized installations. Interestingly, the city attorney’s office has no recorded liability claims related to these rogue tree swings.

The swing has become more than just a recreational object – it’s a cultural touchstone that represents San Francisco’s unconventional spirit. With its own real-time website tracking its existence and now featured in a tourism campaign, the Bernal Hill swing has transcended its humble origins to become a quirky piece of city lore.

As the tourism ad continues to play across Bay Area television, one thing remains certain: the spirit of spontaneity and community resilience embodied by this simple swing continues to capture the imagination of locals and visitors alike.