Ever dream of finding a tranquil spot amid urban bustle? Agua Vista Park is your answer. This small waterfront park offers respite and stunning views. It is located in the heart of Mission Bay.
Agua Vista Park sits on land created from fill. This happened during the 19th and 20th centuries. Industries developed around Potrero Point at that time. One major industry was a steel works at Pier 70. That’s just south of Agua Vista Park. The shipyards there have operated continuously for over 150 years. Today they serve as a ship repair facility.
Union Iron and Brass Works once stood here. Irish immigrant Peter Donahue founded it in 1849. Bethlehem Steel bought the works in 1906. It operated as Union Iron Works until 1917. Bethlehem Steel employed over 10000 workers during its peak. They built ships for the Navy during both World Wars.
Agua Vista Park became open space in 1971. This was to offset the Port of San Francisco’s container shipping facility creation. It was further south at Islais Creek. The Port added concrete tables and security lighting in the early 2000s. A bike rack and pervious walkway were also added. These connected to the sidewalk, fishing pier, and Mission Rock Resort.
The City and County of San Francisco funded a project here. It rebuilt about 1000 feet of bay shore. This extended from Pier 52 Parking Lot to Agua Vista Park. The goal was to allow Mission Bay Bayfront Park to reach the water’s edge. The project included removing unstable shore structures. It repaired the existing seawall. A stable shore slope was built with rip rap for wave protection. Mission Bay has a lot of historical landfill.
Agua Vista Park is next to the San Francisco Bay Trail. It gives you unobstructed shipyard views. The park features green areas and paths. These wind between Terry Francois Boulevard and the Bay Trail. Three picnic tables invite you to relax. A public fishing pier extends over the bay.
Agua Vista Park offers a unique vantage point. You can witness the transformation along the eastern waterfront. Observe the construction in Mission Bay. The park will link parks from Mission Bay to the north and Crane Cove Park to the south. Crane Cove Park comes from the Pier 70 Masterplan.
Open from dawn to dusk, Agua Vista Park is perfect for a waterfront lunch. Enjoy the bay views. See the ship repair operations at Pier 70. Admire the boatyards at Pier 66. Or simply soak in the tranquility of this urban oasis.