Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Francisco Reservoir Park topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves transfer of Francisco Reservoir to Recreation and Parks for new neighborhood park
Summary
The Board approved a jurisdictional transfer of the Francisco Reservoir site from the Public Utilities Commission to Recreation and Parks, clearing the way to convert the long‑dormant reservoir into a new neighborhood park funded in part by the city's open‑space acquisition fund and private donations.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on July 22 to approve a jurisdictional transfer that moves the Francisco Reservoir property from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to the Recreation and Parks Department and to authorize payment of the negotiated transfer price.
Supervisor Malia Cohen, joined by several colleagues as co‑sponsors, described a multiyear community effort to convert the old Francisco Reservoir — a concrete former working reservoir that has been out of service for decades and is bounded by Hyde, Bay, Chestnut and Larkin in Russian Hill — into a roughly 4.5‑acre park. Cohen and Supervisor Mark Farrell (lead co‑sponsor) said neighborhood groups and a citywide coalition raised funds and supported plans to build and maintain the park. The site is designated as open space in the city’s general plan and zoned for public use.
Supervisor Farrell told the board the city negotiated a 12‑year repayment term at a low interest rate so the open‑space acquisition fund could support the purchase while preserving funds for other future acquisitions. He said the transfer and financing structure would leave approximately $38 million in the open‑space acquisition fund for future projects and that the partnership with neighborhood groups and nonprofits would fund construction and long‑term maintenance.
Supervisor Jane Kim and others said they supported the project but reiterated concerns about equitable distribution of open‑space acquisition dollars citywide; Kim asked that future open‑space investments focus on underserved districts such as Districts 3 and 6. Several supervisors praised the years of community organizing that led to the proposal and noted programmatic benefits for neighboring Galileo High School and other institutions.
The board’s approval transfers jurisdiction to Recreation and Parks and authorizes the transfer price; it passed the resolution 10–0. The project sponsors said the next steps include finalizing purchase logistics, beginning design and fundraising for construction, and establishing programming partnerships for schools and neighborhood groups.
