San Francisco's waterfront has gained a new outdoor attraction as China Basin Park officially opened its doors. In an event attended by Mayor London Breed and top city officials, the park, which started welcoming visitors about two weeks prior, is now fully open as a reimagined space in the heart of the Mission Rock development project. Set against the scenic backdrop of McCovey Cove and Oracle Park, China Basin Park is a green cornerstone to the mixed-use community once occupied mainly by parking lots.
The park includes five acres of active open space and features such as a waterfront park, a Great Lawn, and enhanced public amenities. According to the SF YIMBY, the design boasts environmentally conscious materials like "lightweight geofoam" and "foam glass aggregate made from recycled bottles," highlighting its sustainable foundation beneath the greenery.
China Basin Park is part of a larger vision for the area and comes together with the leasing announcement of the Studio Gang-designed tower Verde. erde is set to open this June, poised to offer 254 rental apartments and attractive co-working and event spaces.
Alongside the park and residential developments, commercial spaces have already started shaping the neighborhood's profile, with businesses and eateries like Arsicault Bakery and Che Fico preparing to launch their services in the area. According to the city's news release, Mayor Breed celebrated the momentous occasion, acknowledging the profound shift from underused lots to a hub of innovation, housing, and entertainment. "We’re opening hundreds of new homes, new restaurants and small businesses, and new office buildings, including Visa’s new global HQ," Breed stated in an X post, underscoring the transformation of Mission Bay and its significance to San Francisco's urban landscape.
Today we celebrated the opening of China Basin Park – right on beautiful McCovey Cove across the water from the home of our @SFGiants. This park is part of Mission Rock, where we’re opening hundreds of new homes, new restaurants and small businesses, and new office buildings,… pic.twitter.com/InTeyDjFPF
— London Breed (@LondonBreed) April 25, 2024
The Mission Rock project, which broke ground in 2020, not only enhances the city's open spaces but also addresses modern environmental challenges with its climate-adaptive design and attention to sustainable practices. The Port of San Francisco has played an integral role in its execution, with Port Executive Director Elaine Forbes proudly recognizing the combined efforts that brought the park to life. "We are lucky for the hard work of our partners at the Giants, Tishman Speyer, SCAPE, and Webcor," Forbes told the city's news release, emphasizing the value the park adds to San Francisco's collection of public waterfront spaces.
