SAN FRANCISCO –Guy Place Mini Park, a new and peaceful open space amid the skyscrapers of Rincon Hill, opened to the public today, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced.
Located on Guy Place near the approach to the Bay Bridge and steps from the Transbay Transit Center, the 3,500-square-foot mini park features three defined outdoor spaces, or “rooms,” with lush landscapes and living columns of native California grapevines. Eight new river birch and dogwood trees grace the site and a sidewalk bulb-out offers a pet fountain and relief area.
“It’s always important for our neighborhoods to have access to healthy outdoors spaces, but during the COVID-19 pandemic it’s more necessary than ever for kids, families, and other residents to have accessible, safe outdoor spaces,” said Mayor London Breed. “This neighborhood has seen a lot of desperately-needed housing in recent years and I’m glad we’re also able to provide more open spaces for the people who live and work in the area.”
The $4.5 million project puts the green oasis at the heart of San Francisco’s fastest growing neighborhood.
“I am thrilled to see a brand new park for the SOMA community,” said Supervisor Matt Haney. “This is the result of many years of neighborhood advocacy, and residents here were integral to making this space a reality. I’m excited to continue working with Rec and Park to bring more parks to District 6 .”
The acquisition of 4-8 Guy Place was funded by the Rincon Hill Community Improvements Fund in 2007 and followed by a community planning and design process in 2008, and additional community outreach in 2014. The design then received approval from the San Francisco Arts Commission. In Spring 2017, the Department received additional funding to move forward with the construction.
“As neighborhoods grow, so does the need for quality parks,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Guy Place Mini Park is the perfect spot for quiet reflection and calming your mind with a daily dose of nature.”
The new park includes “Geologic Ghost,” a waterjet-cut steel fence designed by artist Adriane Colburn, who was inspired by the geology and history of Rincon Hill, which was partially removed in the late 1800s to accommodate the 2nd Street corridor. Colburn used historic maps to reconstruct the topography of the hill, then created a 3-D model to generate the structure of the fence. Its designs were created with attributes of graywacke, a type of sandstone common to the area.
"The Arts Commission is excited to see local artist Adriane Colburn’s beautiful cut steel gates at the threshold of the Guy Place Mini Park in Rincon Hill. Her vision and scholarly rigor – referencing the physical and historical nature of the neighborhood – enriches the downtown location with meditative patterns inviting and the public to enter and enjoy this urban green space," said Acting Director of Cultural Affairs Rebekah Krell.
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Note: A video celebrating the opening of Guy Place Mini Park can be found here.