Background
Redesigning Chinatown's Historic Public Plaza - Portsmouth Square, located in Chinatown, is one of San Francisco’s most significant historic, cultural, and civic spaces. The park is eligible for listing in the California Register of Historic Resources for its role as an important cultural space for the Chinatown community and for its association with important events and early development of San Francisco. As the city’s earliest public square, the park was the site of the 1848 declaration of California independence, the proclamation of the discovery of gold in 1849, California’s first public school, and the site of a refugee camp after the 1906 earthquake and fire. Portsmouth Square has also served as both a formal and informal public square and gathering space for San Franciscans since the settlement of Yerba Buena was first platted circa 1835. Portsmouth Square has served the Chinatown community for more than a century.
Environmental Review - The San Francisco Planning Department is conducting the environmental review for this project. For more information please visit the Planning Department’s website here.
Scope of Work
The park, located above the Portsmouth Square parking garage, will receive a complete renovation with funding from the 2020 Health and Recovery Bond. The design is the result of a robust community engagement and participatory design process, is reflective of the significance of the neighborhood, and addresses programmatic challenges unique to Chinatown. The renovated park will include the following community-identified priorities:
- A large flexible outdoor event space with an elevated stage
- A new larger community clubhouse with a large assembly area and meeting rooms
- A large shade structure
- A new consolidated playground with adult fitness equipment
- The removal of the existing Kearny Street pedestrian bridge
- Perimeter park fencing to allow for night security
- Enhanced accessibility
- New planting, irrigation, lighting, and furnishings
- Generous seating and gathering areas
- Replacement of the garage roof’s waterproofing and drainage system
- Adjacent streetscape improvements
Funding
The project will be largely funded through developer impact fees and the 2020 Health and Recovery bond. The current identified funding sources include:
- Transit Center Impact Fees: $10,865,000
- Downtown Park Fund: $500,000
- 2020 Health and Recovery Bond: $54,000,000
- Grants: $8,400
Estimated Project Schedule
| Phase | Timeline |
| Planning | 2017 |
| Design | 2020 |
| Construction begins | Mid 2026 |
| Open to the public | Mid 2028 |
Project Updates
If you would like to receive updates about the Portsmouth Square Improvement Project, please visit the News Flash section of our webpage and subscribe to "Rec Park Improvements: Portsmouth Square." To receive updates about all our active projects, subscribe to "Rec Park Improvements | All Project Updates."
