Portsmouth Square Improvement Project

Background

Portsmouth Square is located in the Chinatown neighborhood at 745 Kearny Street, between Clay Street and Washington Street, and is one of San Francisco’s most significant historic, cultural, and civic spaces. Originally a civic plaza for the Yerba Buena settlement, the square was renamed after the USS Portsmouth in 1846. Portsmouth Square has served as a backdrop to some of the most important moments in city and state history:

• Countless festivals, parades, and other affirmations of civic pride
• The rise and fall of the Gold Rush
• The site of the first City Hall and California’s first public school
• A staging ground and place of refuge after the 1906 earthquake

Terraced Site

The terraced site includes:

• Clubhouse
• A New Restroom Building
• Pedestrian Bridge Extending over Kearny Street
• Several Hardscape Plazas
• Two Children’s Play Areas
• Underground Parking Structure
• Various Historical Markers

Project Goals

The guiding principles for Portsmouth Square Improvement Project:

• Create flexible spaces that can accommodate daily recreation activities as well as events
• Create spaces that are comfortable, safe, and welcoming for all age groups and abilities
• The project site shall be viewed in the context of the overall Chinatown Neighborhood: the renovated park and streetscape should seamlessly integrate with the community context and reflect the needs of the Chinatown neighborhood
• Provide an integrated and open park that maximizes usable space, removes barriers, and gracefully connects to the surrounding neighborhood
• Provide a safe pedestrian experience