Sue Bierman Park
| Sue Bierman Park | |
|---|---|
| Ferry Park | |
2024 aerial of Sue Bierman Park | |
Interactive map of Sue Bierman Park | |
| Type | Urban park |
| Location | San Francisco, California |
| Coordinates | 37°47′45″N 122°23′48″W / 37.795939°N 122.396592°W |
| Area | 4.5 acres (1.8 ha; 0.0070 mi2; 0.018 km2) |
| Created | 1975 |
| Designer | Lawrence Halprin & Associates (1975), ROMA Design Group (2010 renovation) |
| Owned by | San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department |
| Operated by | San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department |
| Open | All year |
| Parking | Street parking |
| Public transit access | BART and Muni, Embarcadero station |
Sue Bierman Park, previously known as Ferry Park, is a 4.5-acre (1.8 ha) park in San Francisco, California in the Financial District, in the U.S. state of California.[1][2][3] The park is named after Sue Bierman, a San Francisco civic activist and San Francisco Supervisor.[4] It was completed in 1975 and is owned and operated by the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department.[5]
Sue Bierman Park is bordered by Washington Street on the north, The Embarcadero on the east, a combination of Embarcadero Plaza and Clay Street on the south, and Davis Street on the west. Drumm Street cuts through the center of the park.[1]
History
1970s–1989: Construction and early history
Designed alongside Embarcadero Plaza by Lawrence Halprin & Associates, the park was completed in 1975 and covered two blocks. The park was known as Ferry Park until its renaming in 2007.[1]
Upon completion, it was bordered by Washington Street on the north, The Embarcadero on the east, a combination of Embarcadero Plaza and Clay Street on the south, and Davis Street on the west. The Embarcadero Freeway, including its on and off ramps, passed over the park.[6]
The original design included a concrete bridge and stairs connecting the park to Maritime Plaza. As street skateboarding became popular in the late 1980s, this bridge and stairs became known as Hubba Hideout, a well-known skateboarding location.[7][8]
1989–2010: Earthquake and changing use
The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake caused significant damage to the Embarcadero Freeway, leading to the freeway's demolition in 1991, causing the surrounding area to open up. This included the on and off ramps within the park.[9]
2010–present: ROMA redesign and current use
Beginning around 2010, the park was fully redesigned by ROMA Design Group. Renovations included the removal of all Lawrence Halprin-designed features, as well as the bridge connecting the park to Maritime Plaza, removing direct access between the two parks.[10][2]
In 2007, the park was renamed "Sue Bierman Park" after Supervisor Sue Bierman, who died in 2006.[11]
On October 4, 2011, the renovation was completed. Press panned the new park, describing it as "a design that squanders the setting".[12]
In 2013, a playground was constructed at the northeast corner of the park.[13]
In 2025, a report by an independent consultant found that Sue Bierman Park was not individually eligible for listing in the National Register or California Register under any criteria.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Sue Bierman Park HRR (Historic Resources Review). San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department. 2025-04-28.
- ^ a b "SUE BIERMAN PARK". ROMA. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
- ^ "Recreation and Parks Properties". DataSF. San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department. Retrieved Feb 12, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ King, John (October 15, 2011). "S.F.'s redo of Sue Bierman Park wastes opportunity". SFGate. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
- ^ "Sue Bierman Park". San Francisco Recreation and Parks, CA. Archived from the original on 2025-07-08. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
- ^ Fried, Alexander (November 16, 1975). "A new charm for the city". San Francisco Examiner.
- ^ "What's the Hubba Hideout?". doseskateboarding.com. 2023-11-14. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
- ^ "3 Iconic San Francisco Spots That Shaped Skateboarding History - 7x7 Bay Area". www.7x7.com. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
- ^ "Supervisors Delay Construction on Davis Street Site". San Francisco Examiner. March 14, 2001. pp. A4.
- ^ "Hubba Hideout, the iconic street skateboard spot in San Francisco is {being} demolished - Skateboarding Magazine". 2011-01-26. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
- ^ Staff, Examiner (2008-06-05). "Upgrades on table for Bierman Park". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
- ^ "S.F.'s redo of Sue Bierman Park wastes opportunity". SFGate. Archived from the original on 2017-01-01. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
- ^ Gordon, Rachel (Nov 4, 2011). "Battle over kids' playground at Sue Bierman Park". SFGATE. Retrieved Nov 7, 2025.