Alamo Square Park

Hayes & Steiner Streets

San Francisco California

San Francisco is home to more urban parkland than any other city on the entire planet. One could easily spend the entire afternoon visiting parks in San Francisco and still miss over half of them. Of these parks, few have the distinctive San Francisco flavor of Alamo Square Park.

Named for the poplar tree that grew on the hill in the olden days Alamo Square Park was set aside in 1858 by Mayor James Van Ness. It took ten more years for the authorities to drive criminal squatters out of Alamo Square Park, and construction on its curving pathways and masonry began in 1892.  Alamo Square Park is a 12.7 acre square named after the Spanish word for poplar.

Postcard Row San Francisco

Alamo Square Park

If you walk up the hill from the corner of Hayes and Steiner and turn around, you will be struck by one of San Francisco’s most famous views. Over the picnickers and dog walkers dotting the hillside below you, you will see the six lavishly painted Queen Anne style houses known as Postcard Row, made famous by the opening credits of the popular sit-com “Full House.” When the fog burns off at midday, from Alamo Square Park you will have an unobstructed view of San Francisco’s unique skyline, especially the Trans-America Pyramid.

The grove on the top of the hill at Alamo Square Park hides a children’s playground and tennis courts. It’s a festival of free fun just a few blocks from the Haight.

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