Koshland Park

Koshland Park is a neighborhood green space located at the intersection of Page and Buchanan streets in San Francisco's Hayes Valley area. The park was established in 1973 on nearly an acre of land purchased by the children of Daniel E. Koshland as a tribute to their father on his 80th birthday.

The park's creation came after a tragic arson destroyed a four-story apartment building that previously occupied the site. This unfortunate event allowed the community to reimagine the space as a public park. The design process involved significant community input, with over 200 people attending the first planning meeting and more than 3,500 residents participating in a poll to determine the park's features.

Koshland Park officially opened to the public on June 30, 1977. It was recognized as a national model and received an award of merit from the American Society of Landscape Architects in 1979. However, the park faced challenges in the 1980s and 1990s when increased crime in the neighborhood made it unsafe for residents.

In response to these issues, the community came together again in the 1990s. The Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Group (HVNPG) was formed and worked to revitalize the park. Their efforts led to a $2 million renovation of Koshland Park and two other neighborhood parks.

Today, Koshland Park features a Community Learning Garden, established in 2000 in the lower east portion of the park. This 54-plot garden serves as an environmental education laboratory for students from nearby John Muir Elementary School and local residents. The garden includes a fruit orchard with various trees and an herb garden.

The park also includes the Western Addition Peace Wall along Page and Buchanan streets, another community-driven project. Children particularly enjoy the park's bright play structures and sand pit.