San Francisco's Urban Oasis

Whether you are San Franciscan born and raised or a recent transplant to the Bay Area, some how, some way, Golden Gate Park is going to be a part of your existence. This 1017 acre, three mile long, half mile wide oasis is nature's haven in our cosmopolitan city. As stated on Golden Gate Park's website, the park was first surveyed and mapped topographically by William Hammond Hall in the 1870s who was assisted by John McLaren, the well-known horticulturist responsible for planting the many Blue Gum Eucalyptus, Monterey Pine and Monterey Cypress trees still there today. The park also contains some of San Francisco's best known and cherished entities such as the Japanese Tea Garden, The Conservatory of Flowers, Strybing Arboretum, the De Young Museum and the California Academy of Sciences.

The park is bordered by the Richmond District to the north, the Sunset District to the south, Stanyan Street to the east and the Great Highway to the west. Although, nature thrives here now, the land was comprised of sand dunes particularly towards the western border, which necessitated the planting of so many trees to anchor the soil as directed by John McLaren. Milestone events in the park's history include the Midwinter Fair of 1894 (January 27 to July 5, 1894). Mr. McLaren was not enthusiastic about allowing the park to be turned into an attraction because he felt strongly the building of structures would be a detriment to the natural setting he'd work so hard to establish. Still, without the Midwinter Fair, perhaps we wouldn't have the Japanese Tea Garden and De Young Museum today as both of those came into existence as a result of staging the Fair.

As a native San Franciscan, I continue to enjoy strolls through the Arboretum (the Redwood grove is my favorite), the occasional visit to the Conservatory of Flowers and the various exhibits and events that take place at the De Young or the Academy conveniently located across from each other. Still, even in my own life time the park has evolved and transformed again. Both the De Young and the Academy of Sciences were torn down and completely rebuilt. And although I sometimes feel a pang of nostalgia for the old structures, what has taken their place is so vastly different there really can't be any comparison. The modern day park also hosts the Outside Lands and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass music festivals which grow in popularity every year.

The Harford Properties office was previously located in the Richmond District and our broker and agents have years of experience assisting buyers and sellers in all of the neighborhoods surrounding Golden Gate Park. Even if you choose property in a neighborhood not adjacent to the park, it is always easily accessible via public transportation. Please contact us if you need assistance.

Oh, and enjoy your visit to the park! Even if you haven't been there yet, you will. Because Golden Gate Park is like San Francisco fog: inevitable, enduring and timeless.

All photographs by Shivaun O'Neill