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Francisco Street Reservoir Improvement Project

Completed and Opened to the Public on April 27, 2022!

Background

The Francisco Street Reservoir and adjacent Russian Hill open space provide over 4 acres of open space. SFRPD entered into a 12 year MOU with the SFPUC in August 2014 to transfer the 3.29-acre site that housed the Francisco Street Reservoir. Operation of the Francisco Street Reservoir dates back to the 1860s, originally by the Spring Valley Water Company and later the San Francisco Municipal Water Department. The brick and a concrete-lined reservoir were closed in 1940 when the Lombard Street Reservoir opened.

The Francisco Park Project, a group of neighborhood residents comprised of representatives from four local coalitions: Aquatic Park Neighbors, North Beach Neighbors, Russian Hill Improvement Association and Russian Hill Neighbors, actively worked with Supervisor Mark Farrell’s office, RPD and the PUC to move the acquisition process forward and has committed to raising funds for the development and maintenance of the park. The group held a series of community meetings and developed a financing strategy based on potential cost estimates to develop and maintain a future park.

Scope of Work

The 4.5 acre Francisco Reservoir site, located in the Russian Hill neighborhood added a unique ADA-accessible pathway starting at Bay Street winds its way up the park to a central lawn area, children’s playground, picnic area, restroom, and other amenities. The project also includes a fenced dog play area. The park site provides a number of special attributes, most notably its incredible vistas of:

  • Alcatraz
  • Angel Island
  • Marin County
  • Portions of the Golden Gate Bridge
  • San Francisco Bay

This unique park project is a public-private partnership between the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (RPD) and Francisco Park Conservancy (FPC). In 2014, the Recreation and Park Department acquired an underutilized reservoir site. The Francisco Park project has transform this abandoned reservoir site into a new public park, providing access to some of San Francisco’s most famous views of the bay alongside open spaces lined with native plants and trees.

For more information visit or partner: Francisco Park Conservancy .

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