Esprit Park Renovation Project

Completed and Opened to the Public on February 5, 2025!

Esprit post construction May 2026 (2)

Scope of Work

The Esprit Park Renovation Project was a full park renovation completed in 2025. After the renovation, the park’s central meadow is now bisected by an east/west path, allowing for more strolling and running in the park. Specific uses are assigned to the two meadows. In the north meadow, a new off-leash dog play area has been created. The south meadow is designated “dog-free” and dogs on-leash or off-leash are not permitted (service and support animals permitted). New plantings as well as exercise equipment, site furnishings, and signage were added.

Project Goals 

  • Refresh the park after almost 40 years of use;
  • Make the park more durable and resilient to withstand increased use;
  • Retain the park’s natural design and feel;
  • Make the park more usable for a wider variety of activities; and
  • Meet current codes and regulations.

Background

Esprit Park was built as a private, corporate park in 1982 and transferred to San Francisco’s Recreation and Park Department in 2001. The park is an urban oasis, connecting the neighborhood to nature within an urban environment. As Dogpatch transitions to a high density residential neighborhood, the park is experiencing an increased level of use by all — adults, children, and dogs.  

Rec and Park partnered with UCSF and the Dogpatch & NW Potrero Hill Green Benefit District (GBD) and, through the GBD, a design team led by Fletcher Studio Landscape Architecture & Urban Design to complete this renovation project.

200723 ESPRIT PARK - ECAG_newsletterFunding

Funding for this project comes from development impact fees and a grant from UCSF. 

The construction contract award for this project was approved by Recreation and Parks Commission on September 7, 2022 (PDF); Recreation and Parks Commission approved a contract amendment on December 21, 2023 (PDF). This construction contract award obtained and complies with all city, state, and federal regulatory approvals, including any that are specific to this project's funding sources.

Estimated Project Schedule

Planning, Fall 2017

Design, Spring 2021

Construction contract awarded, September 7, 2022

Construction begins, January 20, 2023

Open to the Public, February 5, 2025


Get Out and Play!

Thanks for supporting park improvements in your San Francisco parks! To stay informed and involved, we encourage you to subscribe to Rec and Park eNews. If you would like to receive updates about all our active capital improvement projects, please visit the News Flash section of our webpage and subscribe to "Rec Park Improvements | All Project Updates,” or pick-and-choose your subscriptions by project name.

You can also explore Rec and Park volunteer opportunities – We have park needs in every corner of the city and volunteer opportunities that are as diverse as your interests, skills, and abilities. Have fun in your parks, and get out and play!

  1. Documents and Materials

  1. Esprit Park | Project update, May 2026

    You’ll see our team working on a few operations and maintenance items in the park this summer, largely in response to community input that we’ve received since the park reopened. On May 19-22, a small contractor crew will be on site to raise the Read on...

  1. Esprit Park | Tree Replacement now complete

    Work this week to replace 15 young trees at Esprit Park is now complete. These trees were currently under warranty after the recent park renovation. Our crew planted 12 London Plane trees along the Minnesota Street frontage and 3 multi-stemmed Read on...

  1. Esprit Park | Notice of Tree Replacement

    The week of January 5, Rec and Park will be working with our contractor team to replace 15 trees that were installed during the recent park renovation project and are currently under warranty. We expect to complete this work over a Read on...
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  1. Documents and Materials