San Francisco’s newest park opened Saturday on Yerba Buena Island, part of the city’s plans to develop the Yerba Buena and Treasure Island into desirable neighborhoods.
Nestled in the middle of the bay, Panorama Park has sweeping views of bridge towers, rocky coasts and the city skyline and features the 69-foot-high Point of Infinity sculpture by artist Hiroshi Sugimoto. It’s part of a planned development of the islands that would ultimately include 8,000 new homes, a school, a library and 300 acres of parks and trails, according to Mayor London Breed’s office.
“Panorama Park, with its spectacular views and world-class art installation, is a clear indication that the transformation of Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island is well underway,” Breed said in a written statement announcing the park’s opening.
Bay Area architect Walter Hood’s Hood Design Studio designed the park, including an elevated walkway that winds through grassy areas that on opening day bloomed with wildflowers. Panorama is one of several recently completed parks on Yerba Buena Island, including a dog park. Two new parks are also under construction on Treasure Island’s western shore.
The pandemic slowed progress on these developments, and as of March fewer than 100 people had moved into the newly built condos on Yerba Buena Island. But more homes are under construction, and those who have moved there say they’re creating a vibrant, tight-knit community.
The plans to further develop the islands come as San Francisco faces a massive affordable housing shortage and sluggish home production. Last year the city saw the smallest number of new housing units completed in a decade. The lackluster numbers come as San Francisco faces intense scrutiny from state regulators who last year faulted the city for having the state’s slowest home approval process and directed local officials to speed it up.
Gov. Gavin Newsom approved a law last year that subjects San Francisco to more frequent scrutiny from state housing.
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