Francisco Park — Attraction in San Francisco

From Reservoir to Recreation

Francisco Park is located on the corner of Bay and Hyde Streets in San Francisco. Its interesting history mirrors the city's development and community spirit. Initially, this was the site of the Francisco Reservoir, which was constructed in 1860 and decommissioned in 1940 after the Lombard Street reservoir was established.

The reservoir served as a critical water source for the growing city. However, by 1940, it had become obsolete due to advancements in the city's water infrastructure. Over the following decades, the site remained unused and largely forgotten, becoming an overgrown and fenced-off area entirely contrasting with its vibrant neighborhoods. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, when I worked at the Civic Center, I used to walk home through or along this location and wonder why such a precious piece of real estate was left forgotten and unattended, but that was not the case, of course!

In the early 2000s, residents and civic groups started pushing to turn the forgotten site into a community hangout. After years of planning, fundraising, and battling red tape, Francisco Park opened its doors in 2021. The park's all about lush greenery, walking paths, playgrounds, and killer views of the Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz. It's a testament to the power of people and the city's willingness to save and reuse its historic spaces for everyone to enjoy.

One of Francisco Park's nice features is the dog playground, a dedicated space where dogs can exercise and socialize off-leash. Designed with both pets and their owners in mind, the playground features secure fencing and shaded seating areas. It provides plenty of room for dogs to run freely and play while promoting responsible pet ownership through well-maintained facilities and clear rules. This addition to the park enhances its appeal as a community hub, encouraging interactions among dog owners and contributing to the overall vibrancy and inclusiveness of Francisco Park.

I have taken our little puppy there a few times, and although he is not the young and energetic fuzzy little guy he was a few years ago, he still enjoys interacting with other dogs, big and small. I have also been fortunate to get acquainted with a few neighbors I would not have...

The view was great. However when my son tried to take a picture of the bay area from that location, some guy came out wearing a conical oriental hat and harassed him. The man said that my son was bothering him, but my son was just trying to take a picture from the road and had not said anything to the man. I don't know if the man was of oriental decent or not and we respect all people. In fact, we are part of a different minority group ourselves so we are sensitive to racial tensions and issues. My son did not confront this person and walked away. But the encounter spoiled the overall good feeling we had been enjoying at this location. Maybe someone can talk with people living in this area about the impression they make on park visitors. This should be an area that can be enjoyed by everyone without being harassed. My review of this area would have been much higher if it were not for...

The Russian Hill neighborhood offers incredible panoramic views of the AMAZING city of San Francisco. It is also the area where the THE CROOKEDEST STREET IN THE WORLD is; really just a section of Lombard Street (which I have also reviewed).

If you’re driving, you may have to look carefully for a spot. But you just might be able to hop out of your car just long enough to take some amazing photos. The cable car also runs up Hyde Street to that area (see pictures).

HEADS UP: If you plan on taking a tour bus. Tour buses and vans with more than 8 people are banned from driving near the area. So you will not be able to see it from the bus. However, two companies offer Hop-On/Hop-Off service. My wife and I have done both and feel the Big-B Tour was much better overall (number of buses, sound quality, bus quality, etc.) than the...