FoundSF

Unfinished History

Al's Park thrived for several decades in the right of way that was supposed to be 19th Street between Market and Corbett Streets. As of 2020, the remarkably whimsical natural oasis has been greatly diminished by the purchase and development of a large lot along the southern edge along Market Street. The photos below are from a visit in 2009. First, here's a shot of the property long before upper Market Street was built, and the large retaining wall with a rainbow mural became a part of the landscape.

1905 view west toward intersection of Falcon (now Market) and Moss Alley (now 19th). Miller-Joost home at the left, Twin Peaks and Tank Hill in upper background.

Photo: OpenSFHistory.org wnp15.1723

Al’s Park is, or was, a curious ribbon of whimsy and nature rising from the mural on upper Market Street (next to the historic Joost House) and emerging on Corbett. The 1995 Thomas Bros. map has it labeled as 19th Street (multiple ghostly incarnations for 19th!) but Google’s Satellite map doesn’t show there as being any public right of way there. Enter Al’s Park from Corbett and enjoy a strange, almost 19th century-feeling slice of eccentric San Francisco land use.

That's it, between the arrows.

Looking down at the mural more familiarly seen while driving by on upper Market Street.

Photos: Chris Carlsson

Rainbow mural along upper Market just east of the Miller-Joost house.

Photo: Chris Carlsson

Al's Park entryway on Corbett Street.

Al's Park when the entry was at its most lush and hidden, 2009.

Nothing professional about this park!

This quirky, eccentric, remarkable oasis that welcomed all, and was maintained by neighbor Al for decades and into his 90s, has been mostly destroyed. A remnant of the space is still open to the public, but the lush foliage, views, and weird art largely disappeared during the construction of the new luxury home at the foot of the property. Another sad micro-story of the disappearance of the soul of San Francisco.

The mural was punched through while building materials were lifted up to fill in a large part of the lower park area. Today the park is gone.

Photo: Chris Carlsson

The new luxury home built on the bottom of what was Al's Park.

Photo: Chris Carlsson, February 2020