“Toxic Tire Beach?” Can you imagine calling this place that? Now, it is known as Warm Water Cove Park. It is a 1.85-acre public park. It is located in the Central Waterfront. 24th Street meets the water here.
Warm Water Cove Park has picnic tables. It offers a small walking trail. Spectacular views of the bay await. The park has the potential to become a vibrant public space. It is located along the waterfront despite its isolation. Several industries are nearby.
Let’s step back to the 19th century. The area around Warm Water Cove developed. This happened during the industrialization of the waterfront. Claus Spreckels was a prominent industrialist. He had sugar and railroad enterprises. He purchased a site along the south shore of Potrero Point in 1881. Spreckels began construction of the California Sugar Refinery. It was later named the Western Sugar Refinery.
The Western Sugar Refinery was one of the top five employers in the Dogpatch. This lasted until the early 1950s. At its peak, it employed 1,000 workers. The buildings north of the cove are warehouses. These warehouses are from the Spreckels refinery and are still standing today.
To the north of the Spreckels refinery stood the City Gas Company Works. It was a forerunner of PG&E. They constructed a large powerhouse. It supplied gas for lighting to the city. Previously, the site was a gunpowder manufacturer. This took advantage of its remote location. It was far from the populated downtown to the north. This site later became home to the Potrero Power Plant.
The Mirant Corporation operated the Potrero Power Plant until 2011. It was shut down after community pressure. To replace the power, a cable runs under the bay. It carries power from Pittsburg in the East Bay. The transformer station along Illinois St converts that power. It makes it usable in the city.
For many years, Warm Water Cove was known as “Toxic Tire Beach”. It featured an extensive display of graffiti. The city cleaned up the graffiti in 2007. Several local graffiti artists protested the move. The Port, SF Department of Public Works, and volunteers removed old tires. They cleaned the grounds of brush and trash. The paths were repaved.
Today Warm Water Cove Park hosts native plant and wildflower gardens. GreenTrustSF and the Port support these gardens. They organize work parties and clean-up days.
There was once a small pier here too. It was built in 1976. It was 56 feet long with a T-shaped end. The pier attracted homeless people, drug users, and graffiti artists. The park’s tables, benches, and pier suffered numerous fires. The pier was vandalized repeatedly. Eventually, a fire destroyed it.
Fishermen found good fishing here when the pier was in good condition. The water in the cove was warmer. This was due to the adjacent power plant. It attracted fish. The water also contained fish food. Striped bass were common during certain months.
Though the pier is gone, Warm Water Cove Park remains. It is a testament to community efforts. It is a transformation from “Toxic Tire Beach” to a vibrant public space. Remember its past as you enjoy the views. Consider the area’s industrial history. Appreciate the current beauty of Warm Water Cove Park.