Revitalizing an Urban Forest
In the 1980s the Esprit Corporation purchased a warehouse in the industrial Dogpatch neighborhood, next door to their factory. They worked with Landscape Architect Drew Detsch to create a beautiful urban oasis which is now known as Esprit Park. The park is a two acre secluded open space that serves as the neighborhood’s “community center” for gathering, recreation, and relaxation. The surrounding areas are becoming predominantly residential. The main design principle is to retain and reinforce the existing urban forest, and to provide a sinuous perimeter circulation system that stitches its varying spaces together. Many existing programs are maintained and enhanced.
More information available in Central Waterfront - Dogpatch Public Realm
Esprit Park, San Francisco
Neighborhood: Dogpatch
Date: Completed 2025
Size: 2.4 acres
Client: San Francisco Planning Department, The Green Benefit District
Role: Landscape Architecture
Collaborators: BKF Engineers, Russel D Mitchell and Associates, Vektor Engineering
Design Features: Exercise Nodes, Wood Platform, Off-leash dog play area, Activity meadow, Picnic Plaza
PROPOSED SITE PLAN
Existing CONDITION
COMMUNITY
The transformation of Esprit Park is driven by the dedication of a passionate and growing community, with support from UCSF, the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department (SFRPD), and the Green Benefit District (GBD).
Facilitated by Fletcher Studio, a series of community meetings shaped a collective vision for the park—one that responds to the evolving needs of a diverse local population, reinforces the beloved urban forest, and introduces a sinuous perimeter path that weaves together the park’s varied experiences. The new master plan honors the spirit of the original design while reinvesting in facilities and amenities to enhance resilience and support a growing user base. The central meadow has been expanded to create more usable and adaptable open space. New amenities address key community priorities, including opportunities for nature observation, universal and off-leash dog play, expanded picnic and seating areas, improved lighting, and clear wayfinding. Sustainability is also a key focus: resilient materials, native plants, and habitat-supporting trees are incorporated to ensure long-term ecological performance and maintenance efficiency—establishing Esprit Park as a contemporary nature-forward urban retreat.
NATURE + ACTIVITIES
As you enter the park, you are welcomed by a plaza activated by timber picnic tables, where groups gather for birthdays, lunch breaks, or casual meetups. A meandering concrete path, formed in a modular width band, guides you through the plaza. To one side lies a lively off-leash dog meadow, animated by dogs chasing balls and playfully romping through the gentle terrain. Across the way, a dog-free meadow offers space for sunbathing, small group gatherings, or quiet reflection.
TREE PROTECTION PLATFORM
At the heart of the park is a flexible, organically shaped wooden platform that wraps gently around a grove of existing redwoods. This design brings people close to these iconic trees while protecting tree roots. One edge of the platform is seat-height, facing the dog play area, while the center features an ADA-accessible sloped walkway. A railing-height barrier divides the walkway from the dog play area seating, creating a popular spot for visitors to lean and watch the dogs play. Opposite this, another seat-height platform embraces a turf area punctuated by wooden stumps salvaged from the site. This space has become a favorite for children to explore and play, while parents relax on the platform, chatting and watching their kids.
To the south, a second wood platform responds to its context in an opposite way. Instead of wrapping around trees, it encloses trees within its structure, integrating metal tree grates flush with the decking. Composed of two tiers of wood planks placed at varying angles, this platform offers flexible seating and gathering options for diverse user groups.
EXERCISING + PLAY
Five renovated exercise stations, constructed with warm robinia timber, are dispersed along the circulation route. These stations double as sculptural elements, seamlessly blending into the material language of the park, and provide space for stretching, play, and informal workouts.
SALVAGE & REUSE
Throughout the meadows and paths, low stacked stone walls and timber logs—crafted from reclaimed granite curbstones and salvaged redwood—retain soil and provide informal seating. These elements support the park’s sustainability goals while adding visual richness and texture to the landscape.
COLOR + GLOW
Colorful light posts are scattered along the western forest edge, and catenary lighting weaves through the tree canopy. Motion-sensor lights softly illuminate the pathways at night, casting a warm, welcoming glow and enhancing safety without overwhelming the park's natural ambiance.
BLOOMING + WILDLIFE
Bay Area native plants fill the gardens with color and texture year-round. From spring to fall, seasonal blooms act as living jewels, attracting butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Custom-designed birdhouses—known as Sage Blue bird housing—offer multi-family nesting opportunities for native birds and serve as whimsical design features throughout the site.
