Ever wondered why a narrow strip of green extends eastward from Golden Gate Park? This is the Panhandle, a public park in San Francisco. It got its name because it forms a panhandle with the larger Golden Gate Park.
The Panhandle is long and narrow. It stretches three-quarters of a mile about eight blocks. The park is only one block wide. Fell and Oak Streets border the Panhandle to the north and south. Baker Street marks its eastern edge. Stanyan Street separates the Panhandle from Golden Gate Park to the west.
Back in 1870, the Panhandle’s area was mostly large sand dunes. There was little vegetation between the dunes and the Pacific Ocean. Creating a park here seemed nearly impossible. Winds from the Golden Gate made agriculture difficult.
William Hammond Hall developed a plan for a recreational park. The Panhandle became Hall’s test lab. He experimented to find plants that could reclaim the dunes. Hall discovered that planting barley first, followed by sea bent grass mixed with yellow lupin, stabilized the sand. This allowed for manure and topsoil to be added without wind erosion. Monterey Pines, Monterey Cypresses, and Eucalyptus took root. These trees were known for quick growth and shallow roots.
After Hall tamed the dunes, many tree varieties were planted. These trees represented regions from all over the world. Bailey’s Acacia and Japanese Yew were planted. Black Walnut and Blackwood Acacia were also planted. Queensland Kauri and Italian Alder were among the trees. Today, the sandy, unstable ground is no longer apparent. Over 100 years of irrigation and development have transformed the land.
In the 1950s, there was a proposal to build a freeway through the Panhandle. Citizens revolted against this plan. In 1959 and again in 1966, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted against the freeway. Instead, the road through the Panhandle was removed. The streets on either side became wide, one-way streets. Traffic lights were timed to allow cars to move continuously at 20 miles per hour.
Today, the Panhandle features walking paths and bike paths. These paths run the entire length of the park. Basketball courts are available for play. There is a public restroom, a playground, and an outdoor gym. The William McKinley Memorial stands at the eastern end. President Theodore Roosevelt dedicated it in 1904.
The Panhandle forms the southern boundary of the Western Addition neighborhood. It marks the northern boundary of the Haight-Ashbury district. The Panhandle adds much to the Haight area. It provides a great spot for walking, biking, and picnics. It is also a bike commuter thoroughfare for people biking to work downtown.
The Panhandle is one of the oldest parks in San Francisco. It was originally designed as a test lab for trees for the larger Golden Gate Park. Every tree was planted to see how it survived. This makes the trees in the Panhandle some of the oldest in the area.
The Panhandle has seen improvements recently. Court improvements were funded. The playground was renovated. The groundskeeping quality has improved. The Panhandle Park Stewards are a community group involved with this space. The Panhandle stands as a testament to citizen activism. It remains an integral part of the region.