We all love Golden Gate Park and Dolores Park, but did you know San Francisco has over 220 parks and open spaces? Curbed SF wants to bring fame and glory to some of the smaller, lesser-known parks, and we're doing so with our series Park Life. Each week we'll spotlight a different San Francisco park or open space, and bring you all the details you need to plan a visit.
Located high atop the north side of Telegraph Hill sits a thin strip of land known as Jack Early Park. Designed, built and maintained by Mr. Jack Early himself, a former classmate of Herb Caen and an urban conservationist, the park is located on a very steep slope, once thought unusable by the city. Mr. Early, who planted and maintained trees on nearby Pfeiffer Street, thought otherwise and began planting trees and shrubs on the land, and eventually used railroad ties to create a stairway, which was dedicated in 1987. Where it's located: In Telegraph Hill close to Coit Tower. The entrance to the park sits where Pfeiffer intersects Grant, between Francisco and Chestnut streets.
What it features: The park is mostly a long staircase (about 60 steps) where one side is a handrail and the other a retaining wall that doubles as bench-style seating. Carefully planted vegetation and the sound of a fountain emanating from a nearby home give a zen-garden feel along the way. At the top is a landing area with more benches.
How to get there: The 39 and 8x are your two best hopes via Muni, getting you within a couple of blocks. Half the fun of this park is trying to get there, so plan on walking no matter how you arrive in the area.
Dogs allowed?: Dogs are allowed, but if you are looking for a play area, this is the wrong place. The park is made for sitting and staring, not for typical recreation.
Don't miss: The 180-degree panoramic views. We are talking bridge-to-bridge views, with everything in between: Hyde Street Pier, Alcatraz, Angel Island Yerba Buena and Treasure islands, Fisherman's Wharf, and more. This is the real attraction at this park, and why you won't mind the steep climb to the top.
·OBITUARY -- Jack Early [SFGate]