Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Francisco Park

    4.4 (37 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Francisco Park Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Francisco Park

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Ramp up to the upper level
    Melinda L.

    A pretty chill park near the Ghiradelli Square area. Worth the walk if you're looking to kind of step away from the tourist attractions. It's more of a strolling park that also happens to be very dog friendly. At the base or entrance of the park, you'll see tons of owners and their dogs on the faux-grassy area, just having a fun morning or afternoon. Nice walkable ramp up to another play area for kids and benches and seating areas on the upper levels. There's like a small garden if you walk further down, then it'll lead you down (or up, depending where you're going) back to the main road. I did encounter a transient, or maybe homeless individual, that came walking down a path close to me, following an older couple that just walked by. Oddly enough, I heard the man yelling some things and decided to walk away from all that. This was around 3pm in the afternoon. Part of the city life I guess, but just keep aware like all places and you'll be fine.

    Afshin A.

    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 met otherwise.

    Jesstine G.

    Francisco Park is a lovely park smack dab in the heart of the City by the Bay. Tip: This park is completely dog friendly Ideal for other pets (not just dogs), it's a really good place to head for if you want to take a walk around with Fido. Additionally, once you climb up the hill a bit, you'll be rewarded with some pretty nice views of the water.

    Playground, Main Lawn, and those views...
    Tracey A.

    While everyone else is swooning over San Francisco's newest park, Tunnel Tops, they seem to have (mostly) overlooked the recent unveiling of another gorgeous new park. The 4.5 acre Francisco Park sits on the City's original reservoir with Russian Hill to the south and Aquatic Park to the north. Dramatically, it stretches down the hillside with cable cars passing by on one side, stunning bay views, and an enormous, immaculate, green dog park hugging Bay Street. Though the park is situated on what's actually a steep hill, thoughtful planning has made navigating the space a breeze. An artful, wide footpath dotted with historical information about San Francisco's water supply (remember: it's a reservoir) takes you from one space to the next easily. Here, above the dog park, you'll find a magical children's playground, a large lawn area to relax on, built in tables to picnic at, a shiny new community garden, and clean restroom facilities that utilize grey-water in a nod to conserving our most precious of resources. On the day I visited, though maybe not when you're there, billy goats flanked the hillside in the highest part of the park, consuming the weeds ecologically. In fact, everything about this new park is ecological; all plants here are native species. Right now, Francisco Park seems a little undiscovered but it's clear that those who have discovered it absolutely love it. Seeing San Francisco get something right sparks joy in me and San Francisco got every single thing right about Francisco Park. Go. Just go.

    Montage of images from Francisco Park
    Ed U.

    I had passed by the previously fenced area over what seemed like an interminable time. In fact, when I walked up the Larkin Street Stairs, I would look back and see evidence of an oval lawn and a community garden and wonder when it was going to open. It felt like months stretched into years, but finally on April 27, it opened after a bit of media fanfare. Sure enough, the day after, I walked up on Francisco and felt an immediate sense of calm over the park that's been developed on one of the steeper slopes of Russian Hill. The key benefit is that the slope faces the most picturesque panorama of the bay with all the usual suspects in view - the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf - with the best view at the top of Bruce's Stairs on Upper Hyde. From there, you also see most of the layout of the park with the main lawn most dominant. Although there are benches under a curving trellis, I hope there's a plan to plant trees around the perimeter as full exposure might be overwhelming on a hot day - although there's always those bay breezes. The elevated, undulating boardwalk path is the park's most impressive feature as it winds down to Bay Street where the dog run is and already actively used when I was there. Back on the top level, there are quite a few features - restrooms, a playground, a small community garden, a series of picnic tables, and a historical area that explains how the long-standing reservoir was used and then ignored for decades until a group of community activists brought this park to life. Considering it was only on its second day, I was genuinely impressed by the result. RELATED - Looking for greenery around the Bay Area? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2P5dHRe

    Park
    Mila E.

    Francisco Park has beautiful views of some of San Francisco's greatest destinations. The park will be completely opening late April 2022 and is sure to become a great place to exercise, catchup with others, or relax solo or with furry friends. The parking options include residential, garages, and meters. What I appreciate most of Francisco park is the inclusivity for the population from the accessible ramps to dog park. Additionally, the location is in close proximity to other city gems. See below for more info: Beautiful Views: I went to the high school two blocks away and am so happy to see that what was once a hilly, dirt lot has become a lovely, urban greenery. The Francisco Park views are beautiful and include some of the most iconic destinations in San Francisco. On Larkin Street, you can see the cable call going up and down the hill. Throughout the park, particularly in the center, you can see Ghirardelli Square and even the Golden Gate Bridge on a clear day. Overall, a wonderful addition to Russian Hill. Opening Soon: As of April 22, 2022, only a small area of Francisco Park open. Hence, I recommend waiting until all of the construction is done to visit and get the truly amazing experience the park has to offer. The park should be open by April 27, 2022, just in time for late spring and summer. :) Parking: There is free, two-hour parking in Russian Hill from Monday to Saturday. There are no time restrictions if you have a residential permit or on Sunday's. Additionally, there are parking meters and garages in Fisherman's Wharf. Park Inclusivity: My favorite aspect of Francisco Park has to be the inclusivity. There are paved paths that will make most of the park accessible for individuals in wheelchairs or with walkers. There is also a dog park and a playground for furry friends and children to release some energy and get exercise.

    Lizzie S.

    This is pretty much the next Dolores Park! Yes, residents paid money to get it built. Yes, it took time to build. Yes, it could be housing (lord knows SF needs more of it, especially in this neighborhood.) But this park is an asset to the city. The views are gorgeous, there's lots of picnicking spaces, it's walking distance to Polk St, Lombard St (the windy part), and Fisherman's Wharf/the piers. It's so pretty to see the cable cars climbing up the hills too. There's also lots of kids and dogs here because there's a playground and a dog park! There's a cute garden area too.

    Wow, you got to walk up here
    Helen L.

    All parks get 5 stars. This one has a history. It was a reservoir and left some remnants of retaining wall, pipes, and history for you to read. Love SF for all the history. The dog park has some very happy dogs. The owners gather to chit chat. You walk your way up these very stilted walk ways to get to this exclusive picnic area and children's playgound. You do your exercise just to get to the heart of the playground. Enjoy the million dollar or will it be billion dollar view (inflation). Lovely fenced garden growing lovely things. I see this beautiful stock of kale. Restroom avail. Volunteers can come monthly to care for the park.

    Mahima D.

    SF's newest park is gorgeous with views of the water, you can see Golden Gate Bridge and the bay bridge on a clear day along with the harbor and Ghirardelli square sign. There's a grassy area for picnics but it's probably better as a childrens park or dog park since it's not a ton of grass. Bit of a hike to the top, but view is worth it. We came on a weekend and ended up parking closer to Lombard street and walking down.

    Scott H.

    Absolutely beautiful public space in San Francisco. This historic, now completely modernized public park is built on top of a reservoir. There are amazing views. There is a community food garden. You'll find a dog park at bay Street. The park has a complex network of paths and staircases and ramps. Look for piles of green stone, metamorphic basalt rock, alongside the ramp leading down to Bay street. My only complaint about this park is the ugly 1970s buildings in its backdrop.

    Ricky K.

    I basically grew up in San Francisco my entire life and it was such a wonderful moment to be able to witness such a beautiful park in this area. It's huge, still growing, and very spacious as well. Surreal if you ask me. Plus, it's on top of a hill so you get to see the ocean of Fisherman's Wharf and it's a gorgeous sight to see. What I love about this park is the work done to create this. People who have partaken in this project have their names engraved on the stairs which I think is so cool and commendable. On the ramp to the top of park, you'll see historical messages all across the park that notes everything to the old San Francisco and how it became the way it is now. When you make it to Bay Street, the first thing you'll see is the dog park where you'll see a bunch of doggos playing and running around with each other. Then you'll see a ramp that leads you to the upper part of the park. There's a playground, a grassy area, as well as a community garden with beautiful flowers being grown in that area. They even grow their own veggies as well. Ever since this place opened up, I've been coming here almost every day just to get a glimpse of how beautiful the park looks especially during sunny days. This is one of my favorite places just to chill out, read a book, study, or just hang out with friends and I absolutely love it!

    SF Heart
    Alex C.

    Beautiful newly renovated park! Lots of people but lots of space. Dog park is also located on the very bottom at street level. Be mindful that it is smaller than normal dog parks and can get quite busy. Great to visit for both locals and tourists!

    Juan V.

    Open public space in San Francisco is rarer and rarer each year. I was surprised to see this space completed with my own eyes. It's a good place to enjoy a public park in the middle of a tourist trap.

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 5
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ally D.
    66
    150
    6

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 19
    Thanks 7
    Love this 13
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Denise C.
    1618
    3292
    9375

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 3
    Love this 12
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 17
    Thanks 1
    Love this 13
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 1
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ian F.
    0
    64
    11

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 2
    Love this 13
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 1
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mary C.
    26
    47
    21

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ali K.
    95
    11
    5

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jess W.
    30
    49
    71

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Doan B.
    2
    53
    44

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Girl O.
    134
    71
    226

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Zan T.
    1
    11
    0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Francisco Park

    Review Highlights - Francisco Park

    Look for piles of green stone, metamorphic basalt rock, alongside the ramp leading down to Bay street.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Dog Parks 2,496 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Mission Bay Dog Park

    Mission Bay Dog Park

    4.2
    (14 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    Small but very busy park in a perfect, safe and clean neighborhood…read more I'm not a big fan of artificial man-made dog parks with fake grass. I mean... why fake grass if you can give your dogs the real experience instead of touching plastic with their paws.... anyways that's another topic. This dog park is small but gets very busy. Most people are residents or live nearby. If you're not sure where to find a lot of dogs for yours to play with, this park might just be it. Watch out. Because it's fake grass, even if the owners pick up the poop it'll leave doodooo residuals EVERYWHERE on the grass.

    We love Mission Bay Dog Park!…read more The dog park itself is a long rectangle situated between apartment buildings in the Mision Bay area. The park is covered primarily in astroturf and includes two fire hydrants, some benches, a three port water fountain, and 3 poop bag dispensers (one on each end and one in the middle). The park itself is pretty much always clean. Many of the dogs are from the neighborhood so there are a lot of regular. Practically all the owners we have met are also pretty nice. If you're driving to the park, there is a ton of parking in the area. Only downside is that meters in Mission Bay go until 10pm, but that's no fault of the park. The park is open from 6am until 10pm and we have found that the best time to go is in the morning before work or in the later evening, post 8pm. The park can be especially busy right after working hours and, for us, we try not to go during this time. We love this park and go to it almost daily!

    Photos
    Mission Bay Dog Park
    Mission Bay Dog Park
    Neighborhood off-leash park for dogs - of all sizes, along Long Bridge St leading up to Mission Creek.

    See all

    Neighborhood off-leash park for dogs - of all sizes, along Long Bridge St leading up to Mission Creek.
    Rincon Hill Dog Park

    Rincon Hill Dog Park

    3.7
    (56 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    Very nice and safe off leash dog park. Its a story of doing a lot with very little... and although…read moreambiance lacks a bit for us humans - our furry four legged friends just love it. This dog park is snuggled right up against the Bay Bridge. It can make for some incredible snapshots for Instagram - but the traffic noise and general overall area leaves a bit to be desired. Maybe you live in One Rincon Hill or nearby - this is the best place to go with your furry friend. I love this park because it makes an effort to correct the problem with living in the general area in the first place. People are great at complaining or maybe even having a fantasy of paradise - but I think what really helps is looking at the man in the mirror and doing something about said problems. I don't know who is in charge of the park - volunteer run?? - I don't know who had the vision for it. Often its necessary to build little parks like this as building requirements - but I think this one is a home run in terms of filling a need... And that is living in tight condo quarters and having no beautiful neighborhood to walk in. I spend a lot of time thinking about how unusual San Francisco is. People don't want to live anywhere near downtown. People usually say its because it 'isn't cute' or 'I have no place to walk my dog' or 'there is nothing to do around there. The result is Nema being one of the best values in the city. I dug back in the history of San Francisco and it always was this way - wealthy business workers 100 years ago spent 9-5 here and left as fast as possible to neighborhoods far far away. And because traffic wasn't as bad back then it was even more of a thing to do. The most important thing here is that your dog will like this place. Plenty of friendly friends to make - and with all the fencing no worries. Interestingly enough there is lots of street parking if your driving from a little bit away - but nobody would do that. This is not a destination type park.

    Nasty dog park. Dog feces everywhere, it's clear that no one bothers to clean up after their dogs…read more Really sad compared to other dog parks in the city. Will not be returning.

    Photos
    Nice view of the bay bridge!
    Nice view of the bay bridge!
    Rincon Hill Dog Park
    Rincon Hill Dog Park
    Rincon Hill Dog Park

    See all

    Guy Place Mini Park

    Guy Place Mini Park

    4.0
    (2 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    Cute small park right before the highway entrance. It is enclosed and I was able to let my dog burn…read moreoff a little steam before getting into traffic. Keep the park clean by packing your trash and other items back out. The trash bin is intentionally set outside the mini park. Parking is tight if you try to park on Guy street.

    A much needed outdoor space and small park in SOMA/Financial District (FiDi)!…read more This park is located off a small side street called Guy Place. I accidentally stumbled upon this gem when I was downtown meeting someone the other day. FiDi is filled with tall skyscrapers and not much nature, so I really appreciate this new space. It's a convenient spot for pet relief, a peaceful place to sit, or a nice place to walk and get some fresh air. This is definitely a unique park. There isn't that much greenery, but it could also be because I was there in January when things are chillier and flowers aren't exactly booming. It feels like a cross section of steel and metal construction (tall beams and benches) and small growths of grass and greenery along the edges of the park and in between each "room" as the article below describes. This parked opened July 20, 2020. https://sf.streetsblog.org/2020/07/20/guy-place-mini-park-opens/. Because FiDi is kinda dead these days due to COVID, I believe that's affected the fact that not many people have discovered this park yet. During non-pandemic times, this place is conveniently located from many big tech offices like Slack, LinkedIn, and Salesforce. If any nearby office is pet friendly, this would be a great place to walk your dog. It's also a good place to sit with a coffee or just take a break from a busy day! I hope this place gets more love when downtown populates with humans again and people start coming into offices again.

    Photos
    Park sign from sidewalk
    Park sign from sidewalk
    Entrance
    Entrance
    Entrance

    See all

    Entrance
    Ina Coolbrith Park

    Ina Coolbrith Park

    4.7
    (96 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Hidden but not hidden. A tiny parked tucked away in the heart of San Francisco with an incredible…read moreview of San Francisco's skyline. If you're not fit, you're not gonna make it here. Just like most places in the city, you'll get here by walking up steep hills and million steps. This park as a few benches facing the city. Best time to visit are sunny days. Grab a coffee, get some food and enjoy the scenic view from this park

    Current frontrunner for favorite small SF park. Tiered, 4 or 5 levels?, and so well designed. Seems…read morelike it stays less busy. Leads with a flat area and benches near the entrance. Winding pathways and a variety of stairs through the middle as well alongside gorgeous, colorful flowers and trees. Great city views up top, including sweeping views of Alcatraz Island and smaller cities/islands. Staircase on either side for easy access. So jealous of the folks living in those picturesque apts! Most importantly, I saw someone post a pic of the resident parrots on Instagram today that apparently live there -- bummed they didn't make an appearance for us but aw.. I'm so happy to know they have such a gorgeous home. I then went down a rabbithole and discovered that a SF resident named Mark Bittner had frequently interacted with them, wrote about them, and made a film about them with a woman who he eventually married. All thanks to birdz. An excerpt from Wiki: "He is the author of The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, the book which accompanies the film The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill... Bittner spent 14 years on the streets of San Francisco after his dream of becoming a professional musician fell apart. After many years of doing odd jobs while maintaining a The Dharma Bums-type lifestyle, he found a flock of naturalized parrots (mostly cherry-headed conures aka red-masked parakeets) in the area of Telegraph Hill. His book, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, and the documentary of the same name, by Judy Irving, describe that encounter and the relationship he formed with the birds. In 2006, Judy married Mark Bittner after the two fell in love during the filming of Parrots." Come here and fall in love. with the parrots, a human, or just the view.

    Photos
    Ina Coolbrith Park
    View of SF downtown
    View of SF downtown
    Ina Coolbrith Park

    See all

    Francisco Park - dog_parks - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...