About — Friends of Esprit Park

A VISION OF THE FUTURE OF WORK

Esprit Park was developed in the 1980s as a private park for the employees of the Esprit de Corps company. It was the first modern office campus as we know it today. It was open to the public and was maintained and landscaped by private gardeners. The original landscape architect for the project was Drew Detsch, a founding member of Friends of Esprit Park and an active consultant on the upcoming renovation of the park. At the time, the company had 300 employees and Dogpatch had about 200 residents.

Now and Then: Esprit's Original Design

Esprit Park was designed as an urban oasis containing mature plantings of trees and shrubs, a running track, benches and picnic tables, parcourse fitness stations, walking paths and over an acre in open rolling lawn.

In their original state, the lush trees shielded the park from the freeway.

Photos from Friends of Esprit Park Archives/Drew Detsch

Before It All Began

Esprit Park used to be a warehouse before it was razed and converted into the green oasis we know today.

Photos from Friends of Esprit Park Archives/Drew Detsch

Original Concept Designs for Esprit

Cherry Blossoms

There used to be multiple Cherry Blossom trees in Esprit Park. Now, we only have the main one pictured here.

Photos from Friends of Esprit Park Archives/Drew Detsch

Esprit Park for the People

Esprit Park has always been open to the public and has served as a multi-purpose community center, hosting families, parties, picnickers, dog owners, exercisers, and neighbors who just want to spend time in nature.

Esprit De Corps

Esprit Park was part of the campus for the Esprit De Corps company (flag shown here). It was the first modern corporate campus.

Go Niners!

2020 AND BEYOND

Since then, Friends of Esprit Park has played an active role in community engagement, ensuring that the voices of the people who love Esprit Park are always heard. The current board of Friends of Esprit Park was active in advocating for and raising $7.4 million to give Esprit Park a much needed makeover.

Join us and help keep this gem in Dogpatch a welcoming, green space for everyone to enjoy.

WHAT WE STAND FOR:

COMMUNITY
NATURE
SHARED SPACE
FUN
SUSTAINABILITY
HEALTH

Screen-shot-2014-01-03-at-3.33.35-PM-620x582.png

PROTECTING AN URBAN OASIS

Friends of Esprit Park was founded in 1996 to advocate for the protection and preservation of Esprit Park as a green oasis in the urban fabric of San Francisco. Esprit de Corps shut down operations in Dogpatch and the park’s future was unknown. The City of San Francisco was reluctant to add another park to maintain, and developers were interested in building on the land. Neighbors banded together to save the park and, with Mayor Brown’s support, the city agreed to keep Esprit.