A transformative $42 million park project in San Francisco's East Cut neighborhood is finally approaching reality after nearly two decades of planning and development. The ambitious project will convert a gritty 2.4-acre area beneath and around the elevated Fremont Street freeway off-ramp from Interstate 80 into a comprehensive recreation and community gathering space.
The expansive four-block park will feature a 0.75-acre fenced dog park with separate areas for large and small dogs, multisport courts for basketball, pickleball and soccer, an outdoor fitness area, and a food and beverage concession stand. Additional amenities will include a two-way cycle track, a bocce ball court, an outdoor amphitheater, and a two-story indoor pavilion designed to accommodate children's parties, community meetings, and three retail spaces including casual dining options.
Andrew Robinson, executive director of The East Cut Community Benefit District, described the park as a long-promised active recreation space for the rapidly growing neighborhood. The district, which is a property assessment nonprofit, will operate the new park once construction is complete and currently provides cleaning, safety and park services across 40 blocks along the waterfront and South of Market area.
The complexity of the public-private partnership has contributed to the lengthy development timeline, involving multiple governmental entities and private stakeholders. The site is primarily owned by the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, a multi-governmental agency working to bring Caltrain and high-speed rail service downtown. The authority has also guided extensive office and residential development across roughly 40 acres of redevelopment area that once housed the former Transbay bus terminal and freeway structures removed after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
Caltrans holds partial rights to the land, while the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure, successor to the city's former redevelopment agency, will fund the estimated 33-month construction process managed by San Francisco Public Works. Several private firms have been leading design and engineering efforts since 2011, making this what Thor Kaslovsky, executive director of the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure, calls "an Herculean effort" requiring extensive coordination and community support.
Construction documents are currently 90 percent complete, and Kaslovsky's agency is working toward obtaining building permits from the city's Department of Building Inspection. Construction could potentially begin in the third quarter of next year, though previous estimates of a $50 million price tag have been adjusted to the current $42 million budget, which officials say still requires refinement.
Several significant agreements remain unresolved before construction can commence. A major outstanding issue involves insurance requirements for The East Cut Community Benefit District. Following a fire under Interstate 10 in Los Angeles that closed the freeway for eight days in late 2023, Caltrans raised liability insurance requirements for operations under, over, or adjacent to highway structures from $5 million to $20 million while limiting new under-freeway leases.
Robinson has expressed concerns about the cost of higher insurance premiums but remains optimistic about reaching a mutually acceptable agreement. Another question involves the operating reserve the district must raise to cover initial park operations. The Transbay Joint Powers Authority set a goal of $3 million, of which Robinson's agency has raised approximately $2 million since 2021.
Major donors to the project include Kilroy Realty with $140,000, The Gap with $50,000, Sandi and Christopher Payne with $50,000, Hines with $30,000, and Amazon with $25,000. Since the park's opening was previously scheduled for this year, Robinson suggested there might be less need for a large cash reserve, as his agency plans to seek approval by 2030 from local property owners to fund annual park costs through local assessments.
The district is currently negotiating lease terms with the Transbay Joint Powers Authority. Adam Van de Water, executive director of the authority, emphasized the importance of ensuring adequate financial reserves for the park operator while expressing enthusiasm about beginning construction. "We look forward to the groundbreaking for San Francisco's newest park next year and to fulfilling our promise of delivering permanent sports and dog amenities to this growing neighborhood," Van de Water stated.
Additional support has come from businessman David Stiepleman, chairman of the new San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation, who along with his staff has been consulting with Robinson on funding strategies. Mayor Daniel Lurie recently highlighted the park project as a priority for downtown revitalization, and the new nonprofit has reportedly raised $40 million in pledges for downtown civic improvement efforts.
The urgent need for recreational space reflects the East Cut neighborhood's dramatic population growth. Between the district's creation in 2016 and 2021, the area expanded from 3,600 homes to nearly 9,000 housing units, with a significant portion designated as below-market-rate housing. Robinson emphasized that parks serve as vital community-building tools, stating, "We know that parks actually are a great thing for building neighborhood and community cohesion. Some of our North Star goals are to create a sense of pride, to create a community where people are invested and want to live and stay, have a family."
Local residents have expressed strong support for the project. Joel Giullian, an advertising consultant living in the One Rincon Hill high-rise approximately two blocks from the planned park, attended a recent community presentation and praised the ambitious vision. "We live in a very dense part of the city with all these high-rises," Giullian noted, emphasizing that the project addresses a definite community need rather than settling for typical freeway-adjacent uses like parking lots or equipment storage.
The East Cut Community Benefit District has gained valuable experience operating The Crossing, a temporary park that opened in 2021 at a former bus station site. This popular facility features elements that will eventually transfer to the new permanent park, including pickleball courts, small soccer fields, and a large screen for sports viewing. Once the new park opens, a more permanent facility will be constructed at The Crossing location.
The district also funds approximately 80 percent of regular programming at Salesforce Park atop the nearby Salesforce Transit Center, though that facility lacks sports and dog amenities. Robinson views the new park as integral to broader efforts transforming downtown into a more diverse, vibrant area where people live and recreate in addition to working. The East Cut was originally envisioned as a transit-oriented, walkable live-work neighborhood, and Robinson believes the detailed implementation phase is crucial for success.
"It's now on us to work on the fine-grain detail to make sure that retail gets filled up, that park spaces get built, that communities feel an identity related to their neighborhood," Robinson explained, highlighting the comprehensive approach needed to create a thriving urban community.
