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What began 40 years ago as a private outdoor space for garment workers to eat lunch is now one of the only parks in one of the city’s fastest-growing—and coolest—neighborhoods.
At Minnesota and 20th Streets, neighborhood representatives and city officials met today to launch the Esprit Park renovation. This project will make Esprit Park more resilient, sustainable, and valuable for its many 21st century neighbors including dogs and children.Maryann Jones Thompson/The Standard
“People power gets things done in this community,” said District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton, who addressed the groundbreaking’s crowd of neighbors, dogs and students from Red Bridge school student along with the groundbreaking with SF Recreation and Parks general manager, Phil Ginsburg, and other officials. “It was a long road to get here for sure but we’re excited to break ground on something that this community can enjoy for the century to come.”
Dogpatch wasn’t cool long before the Esprit Park was. It began as an outdoor area for just a handful of workers from the Esprit de Corps headquarters in 1982. The area was inhabited by artists and warehouse workers, but few local residents were there at the time. Read more about Esprit’s influential fashion and founders.
Esprit’s environmentally-minded founders, Susie Tompkins Buell and Doug Tompkins donated the park to the city in 2001. SF Rec & Parks last completed a renovation of the park in 2005.
Dogpatch started as an industrial area on the east bay of the city. The hip spot was named the 36th coolest neighborhood on the planet by London’s Time Out magazine in 2022.
With 2,500 housing units approved by the Board of Supervisors, the area serves as a hub for business and housing development in the city. A representative from UCSF stated that by 2030 the area would be home to 50,000 people, and 100,000 will move in and out during the day.
Given the growing and evolving population near the park, patrons struggled with its “one open meadow” design. Children are sometimes annoyed by rowdy dogs, as well as vice versa, today. The two sides tussled over the project’s design, dragging out the completion of the planned renovation.
The park’s new design bisects the 2-acre meadow into separate areas—one for off-leash canines and one for others—while keeping its simple layout and winning its neighbors’ support.
Redwood forests that have been around for 40 years will be restored and new areas planted. New seating, paths and exercise areas will also be added in the design from Fletcher Studio Landscape Architecture & Urban Design.
It will take 1 year for the $8.5 million renovation to be completed. A total of $5 million was donated by UCSF to improve outdoor access for workers and students at the Mission Bay campus. It is located just a 10 minute walk from downtown. The remainder of the funds will come from the city’s Eastern Neighborhoods Development Impact Fees.
SF Rec & Parks collaborated closely with the community through its Dogpatch and Northwest Potrero Hill Green Benefit District, as well as UCSF, to design a park that will better serve its neighbors of today.
This park is one of many new outdoor recreation spots that were opened in and around Chicago in the last year. Others include Tunnel Tops and Battery Bluff as well as Francisco Park. Also, JFK Drive has been made car-free for the Great Highway.
Get updates on the Esprit Park renovation on the SF Rec & Parks website.
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