“Ten degrees warmer than anywhere else in the city.” Can you believe that’s how the Parkside was marketed back in 1906? Today, we are standing at the edge of this unique San Francisco neighborhood. Parkside is a place with a fascinating history and a strong community spirit.
Parkside began in 1905. A syndicate led by William Crocker quietly bought land. They planned a million-dollar development. The “park” in Parkside wasn’t Golden Gate Park. It was the trees around Laguna Puerca. We know it today as Pine Lake. Some old-timers still call it “Mud Lake” or “Crawdad Lake”.
The Parkside’s boundaries are Quintara Street to the north. Sloat Boulevard is to the south. 36th Avenue and Sunset Boulevard mark the west. A diagonal line forms the eastern edge. It runs from 12th Avenue to 19th Avenue and Sloat. Later, the Outer Parkside developed. It stretched west to the ocean, east to Quintara, and south to the San Francisco Zoo.
Notice the homes around us. Many are the “cookie-cutter” stucco houses. These were built in the 1920s and 1930s. Assembly-line techniques were used in their construction. Each house has unique decorative elements.
Taraval Street is Parkside’s commercial hub. You will find many locally owned restaurants here. They offer cuisines from around the globe. Many businesses have been here for decades. There are also some chain retailers.
Parkside offers plenty of outdoor spaces. Pine Lake Park is a tranquil spot. Sigmund Stern Grove hosts free summer concerts. Golden Gate Park and the Presidio are a short bus ride away. McCoppin Square has tennis courts. It also has a baseball diamond and a playground. Ocean Beach is popular for sunny days and surfing. The San Francisco Zoo is on Sloat Boulevard.
Parkside was once very remote. It lacked good transportation and city services. It had a one-room school, a single store, and a volunteer fire department. It felt more like a country village. Institutions were drawn to Parkside’s open spaces. In 1924, the Presbyterian Orphanage moved here. In 1928, the Junior League opened Pinehaven Emergency Lodge.
Parkside is known for its strong community groups. It had neighborhood newspapers and merchant associations. It hosted annual May Day celebrations. Today, the People of the Parkside-Sunset host movie nights. Parkside remains a popular place for families. They are looking for quiet streets and access to amenities.
However, Parkside’s history isn’t without its shadows. For decades, it was overwhelmingly white. There were efforts to keep it that way. But change came. By the mid-1990s, many Chinese-American families moved here. Today, a majority of Parkside residents are of Asian descent.
As we leave the Parkside, remember its evolution. From sand dunes to a thriving residential area, Parkside reflects San Francisco’s dynamic spirit. It is a place where community, history, and diversity intertwine.