- Explore Our Parks
- Park Improvements
- Active Park Projects
- A - F
- Esprit Park Renovation Project
Esprit Park Renovation Project
Esprit Park was built as a private, corporate park in 1982 and transferred to San Francisco’s Recreation and Park Department in 2001. Recent residential and commercial growth in and around the Dogpatch neighborhood has highlighted the importance of Esprit Park to become a resilient park space that serves the diverse needs of the neighborhood. Today many of the park amenities, including the planting and paving need improving.
A generous $5M grant from UCSF plus $2.7M in impact fees from Central Waterfront development projects jump-started the renovation of the park. The community input and project conceptual design process, which began in 2016, is wrapping up. Rec Park thanks all of the community members who participated in our virtual meeting and our online survey.
The goal of the current stage of the Esprit Park Renovation Project is to select and approve a Conceptual Design that will serve as the basis for further detailed development of the park’s design and amenities. Community comments, suggestions and survey responses will inform the further development of the plan during Design Development.
Six variations of the concept design were shared with community members in December of 2020, followed by a survey in which community members and park users were asked to weigh in on the alternative plans. Based on the 433 responses to that survey, and based on previous years of community outreach and professional evaluation, one of the plans has been selected for submission to the Recreation & Park Commission for approval. See below for tabs that lead to more detailed information about the proposed Concept Design, the survey results, and background information and the other options considered.
The Rec Park Commission will review the project, and will vote on whether to approve it and to accept the grants from UCSF and the Dogpatch & NW Potrero Hill Green Benefit District that will, along with funding from Central Waterfront developments and other sources, fund the design, engineering and construction of the renovation.
Capital Committee: Wednesday, February 3, 2021, 2 p.m.
Full Commission: Thursday, February 18, 2021, 10 a.m.
There are two ways to participate at the Commission hearings:
- Email your feedback to recpark.commission@sfgov.org.
- Call into Commission to speak and give public comment. The phone number and meeting agenda will be posted on our Commission page and calendar closer to the meeting date.
Your support at the Commission can help insure that the renovation project moves forward and we get closer to enjoying a revitalized Esprit Park.
Project Goals
- Refresh the park after almost 40 years of use
- Make the park more durable and resilient to withstand increased use
- Retain the park’s natural design and feel
- Make the park more usable for a wider variety of activities
- Meet current codes and regulations
The final meadow designs under consideration are meadow options “W” and “V”, both feature a double meadow with an off-leash dog play area in the north and a dog-free/family meadow in the south. In option W, the off-leash dog play area is all natural grass. In option V, the off-leash dog play area is half natural grass and half synthetic turf.
As presented in the survey, the natural turf dog play area will likely require closures during the winter season and partial closures in the spring and fall. A synthetic turf area would be open year-round (including during inclement weather).
Staff originally recommended to move forward with W because in the community survey this option had the greatest percentage of supporters (combining “Supports”, “Supports Well” and “Supports Very Well” ratings). It also had the lowest percentage of “Do not support” ratings. Finally, the selection of natural grass is consistent with much of the feedback that we received prior to this survey and reflects a preference to keep the park as natural as possible. The Recreation and Park Capital Committee asked that staff return to the full Commission with both options V and W. Commissioners cited the ability to keep the synthetic turf area open year round and the success of synthetic turf in other Recreation and Park Department facilities.
Please see the link below for the concept design package that will be presented by staff to the Recreation and Park Department for approval. Staff will be presenting both Options V and W for consideration and approval. If you have questions or concerns please e-mail Project Manager, Alexis Ward, alexis.ward@sfgov.org.
All plans have:
- Picnic areas – 68% more tables and seating and more types of tables
- Benches and seat walls – 55% - 72% more seating, more views, sun exposure, adjacencies
- Expanded and improved exercise stations – 5 updated, attractive fitness areas
- Children’s nature exploration areas – added fun for kids
- Expanded and protected planted areas – more habitat, better conditions for plants
- Water fountains - with bottle fillers and dog basins
- Improved lighting – makes the park safer and more attractive at night
(U) Dog-free/On-leash Plan
Dog-free Meadow, Dogs on-leash in other areas
- Figure 8 Path
- Meadow uses separated
- Dog-free Meadow (adjacent to group picnic area)
- Dogs on-leash in other areas
(V) Hybrid Material Plan
Dog-free Meadow, Off-leash Dog Play Area with synthetic turf all-weather area
- Figure 8 Path
- Meadow uses separated
- Off-leash Dog Play Area, natural turf + synthetic turf
- Dog-free Meadow (adjacent to group picnic area)
- Dogs on-leash in other areas
(W) Dog-free/Off-leash Plan
Dog-free Meadow, Off-leash Grass Dog Play Area
- Figure 8 Path
- Meadow uses separated
- Off-leash Dog Play Area, all grass
- Dog-free Meadow (adjacent to group picnic area)
- Dogs on-leash in other areas
(X) On-leash/Off-leash Plan
Off-leash Grass Dog Play Area, dogs on-leash in other areas
- Figure 8 Path
- Meadow uses separated
- Off-leash Dog Play Area, all grass
- Dogs on-leash in other areas (on-leash meadow adjacent to group picnic area)
(Y) Single Meadow
Off-leash Grass Dog Play Area north, dogs on-leash in other areas
- O Path
- Single, continuous meadow
- Off-leash Dog Play Area to the north, all grass
- Dogs on-leash in other areas (on-leash meadow adjacent to group picnic area)
(Z) Single Meadow Plan Flipped
Off-leash Grass Dog Play Area south, dogs on-leash in other areas
- O Path
- Single, continuous meadow
- Off-leash Dog Play Area to the south, all grass (adjacent to group picnic area)
- Dogs on-leash in other areas
Plan Comparison
How are the plans alike?
All the plans have the following goals and amenities in common:
1. Enjoying nature
- Keeps the park’s natural feel
- Increases habitat planting
- Nurtures and replaces ailing trees
2. Sitting & Picnicking
- Increases picnic table and seating by 68%
- Increases bench and seat wall seating capacity by 55% to 72%
- Includes more options for seating location and adjacencies, sun or shade, and views
3. Strolling, walking & running
- Paths meander through bordering trees and plantings
- Better accommodations strolling, walking and running
- Renovated paths will meet ADA requirements, look natural and require less maintenance
4. Exercising & playing
- Exercise stations will be increased from 4 locations to 5
- New stations offer the same workout opportunities but are more in keeping with the park’s natural feel
- Stations will be meet current codes and will be usable by a broader range of age groups
- Four “nature exploration areas” made of natural materials will be placed around the park for children to discover and explore
How are the plans different?
There are three main differences between the plans: the configuration of the meadows and surrounding paths; how the meadows will be used; and lawn material options.
1. Two meadows or one?
- Two of the plans retain the single open meadow from the park’s original design; any separation of uses between the meadows would be encouraged by signage
- Four of the plans use planted berms and seat walls to gently create a double meadow to accommodate a wider variety of uses (the berms and seat walls would keep a low profile to preserve the views across the meadows)
- In the double meadow plans, the figure 8 path creates a varied circuit for walking or running in the park (four laps equal one mile)
2. How should the meadows be used?
A. Dog-free Meadow
- Many neighbors asked that a section of the park be free of dogs
- In 3 of the 6 plans, one of the meadows is set aside as a dog-free meadow; dogs remain welcome in the opposite meadow, and in other areas of the park
- All meadows, regardless of proposed use, have picnic tables nearby, and in the 3 plans with a dog-free meadow it is located immediately adjacent to the large group picnic area in the SW corner of the park
B. Accommodating dogs
- Many park users asked that off-leash dog play be officially accommodated in the new designs
- There is an off-leash dog play area in 5 of the 6 plans
- Dogs are allowed on-leash in other areas such as the paths and picnic areas
3. Lawn materials
- All plans include natural grass meadows
- One plan offers a hybrid off-leash dog play area that includes both a natural grass area and a synthetic turf area, the other 5 plans show natural grass only
- Off-leash dog use creates extra wear and tear – urine burns, digging, run patterns, etc. – that can worsen in wet weather
- RPD best practices call for smaller off-leash dog play areas to include a resilient material, such as the newer type of synthetic turf (no crumb rubber) to ensure that the area can be open year-round and withstand a high intensity of use, by providing a 365-day a year dog play area, it discourages off-leash dog use in non-designated areas
- The use of any synthetic turf has been opposed by many neighbors for health, aesthetic and ecology reasons
- A natural grass off-leash dog play area will require extra maintenance and portions of the area will likely be fenced off and closed in a rotating pattern during the spring and fall with a full closure in winter
-
-
Esprit park Project Update 1/22!
Hi folks- We have exciting news! We will be presenting a concept plan for approval at the Rec Park Commission in February! . . . Read on... -
Esprit Park Renovation Update Dec '20
Thank you to those who attended our virtual community meeting! We are currently conducting an online survey for the project Read on... -
Esprit park Project Update 10/29!
Hi everyone - We are getting organized for a virtual community workshop . . . Read on... -
Esprit park Project Update 9/18!
Hi all- We are planning for additional community outreach this Fall. . . Read on... -
Esprit Park Project Update 8/21!
Hi all - We are working on details for additional community outreach in the next few weeks. . . Read on... -
Esprit Park Project Update 7/24!
We had a meeting of the Esprit Park Advisory Group and associated meeting materials are available on our website. Read on... -
Esprit Community Advisory Group Meeting 7/23/2020!
Please join us for the meeting if you can. Read on... -
Esprit Park Project Update June 2020
The project team is scheduling the next ECAG meeting and broad community outreach will follow. Read on... -
Esprit Park Project Update 5/22
Hi all- The project team is completing the design updates and we are looking forward to sharing them with the community this summer. Read on... -
-
Esprit Park Project Update
The project team has been updating the project design based on feedback from the community workshop. Read on... -
POP-IN WORKSHOP SUMMARY FEB 2020
Thank you so much to those who attended this month’s Pop-In Workshop! We got some great feedback Read on... -
ESPRIT PARK WORKSHOP- CONCEPT PLAN
We are excited to announce an upcoming workshop to help finalize the concept plan for the renovation of Esprit Park Read on... -
ESPRIT PARK COMMUNITY OUTREACH UPDATE
Hi everyone! We had a great time at the Pop-Up Playdate in November! We are looking forward to continuing outreach efforts Read on... -
POP-UP PLAYDATE AT ESPRIT PARK!
Hi everyone! Join us for a fun day of play for kids of all ages at Esprit Park Read on... -
ESPRIT PARK RENOVATION
Hi everyone- The contract with the project landscape architect is getting wrapped up and we are looking forward to Read on...
Community Meeting December 2020
ECAG Meeting - July 23, 2020
Pop-In Workshop
Meeting Materials
ECAG Meeting - May 22, 2019
ECAG Meeting - April 11, 2019
ECAG Meeting - March 14, 2019
ECAG Meeting - January 10, 2019
- 01-10-2019 Budget (PDF)
- 01-10-2019 Agenda (PDF)
- 01-10-2019 Notes (PDF)
- DPA Performance Standards and Precedent Images Surfacing (PDF)
- DPA Performance Standards and Precedent Images Physical Enclosure (PDF)
- 01-10-2019 Flip Chart Notes Amenities Continued (JPG)
- 01-10-2019 Flip Chart Notes Maintenance (JPG)
- 01-10-2019 Flip Chart Notes DPA 2 (JPG)
- 01-10-2019 Flip Chart Notes Amenities (JPG)
- 01-10-2019 Flip Chart Notes DPA 1 (JPG)
- Esprit Audio Meeting Recordings (MP3)
-
Alexis Ward
Project ManagerPhone: 1-628-652-6641