Francisco Park is a beautiful 4.5-acre park located in Russian Hill that opened in April 2022. It’s the largest public park to have opened in the city’s urban core since 1983, built on the site of the former Francisco Reservoir that had sat unused and fenced off since 1940. The park sits between Francisco, Larkin, Bay, and Hyde streets, and the views from the terraces are genuinely impressive—you get clear sightlines to the Golden Gate Bridge, Ghirardelli Square, Alcatraz, and the Palace of Fine Arts.

Pepi’s Dog Park is a fenced-in dog run on Bay Street, which is what most people visit for if they’re coming specifically with their dog. The space itself reflects some thoughtful design choices. The park planted native species and trees to support local wildlife and installed a rainwater catchment system that captures nearly 900,000 gallons of water annually, so you’re not just bringing your dog to grass clipped by sprinklers.

As you move uphill, you’ll find a children’s playground and nature exploration area if you’re visiting with a mixed group. There are ADA-accessible pathways throughout, a community garden, public restrooms, and plenty of seating scattered across the terraces. The central lawn is genuinely expansive, and picnic tables have those same views of the bridge and bay.

What makes Francisco Park different from most SF parks is how it got built. The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department partnered closely with The Francisco Park Conservancy, a volunteer-led nonprofit that raised community funds to construct and maintain the space. It’s the kind of detail that matters because it often means the park stays well-cared-for. The location on Russian Hill does mean the park has real topography—it’s not flat, so wear decent shoes if you plan to explore the whole thing.