Salesforce Park in San Francisco

With a prime location in the heart of San Francisco's Financial District, Salesforce Park is one of the city's newest parks, created in 2018 amid numerous towering buildings and, as the name suggests, sponsored by the American software company Salesforce. It is an incredibly innovative urban green space that blends modern architecture with lush landscapes, providing a peaceful retreat amidst the city's hustle and bustle, particularly for those working nearby.

History

Salesforce Park is a relatively recent project that is part of the development of the Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco, atop which this park is situated. The Salesforce Transit Center is a major regional transit station primarily for buses but also for trains and subways in the central area of the city. The idea for the park emerged as part of this expansion of public transportation in San Francisco, with Salesforce Park spanning the entire length of the terminal's roof. This space, inaugurated in August 2018, the same year the station was expanded, following a design by PWP Landscape Architecture, which included an amphitheater, a restaurant, and various decorative water features.

Located on the rooftop of the station, Salesforce Park is literally nestled among the skyscrapers, featuring an incredible area with approximately 600 trees and over 16,000 plants forming 13 different spaces. As the name of the park suggests, the primary sponsor for its construction was the company Salesforce, a globally renowned American software company founded in the California region, with its headquarters situated in a building practically adjacent to the park. This park was designed to provide a green space for the company's employees to relax and have lunch, but, of course, it ended up being open to the general public.

Throughout the park, you can find various gardens, picnic areas, hiking trails, a waterfall, and even spaces for hosting private events like outdoor concerts and yoga classes. It's a testament to San Francisco's commitment to sustainability and an example of how cities can incorporate green spaces into their urban infrastructure to enhance the quality of life for their residents.

Salesforce Tower The Salesforce Tower is a 61-story, 326-meter-tall building located right next to Salesforce Park. It is considered the tallest building in San Francisco and one of the tallest on the West Coast of the United States, surpassed only by the Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles. Designed by architect César Pelli, its construction took five years, from 2014 to 2018, as part of the San Francisco transportation terminal reconstruction plan.

How to climb

There are two ways to get to Salesforce Park, with the easiest and quickest being an elevator, or you can also take a free mini cable car. Both provide access from street level (at Mission District and Fremont Street) to the park located on the station's rooftop. I must confess that for practical reasons (and because we couldn't find the cable car entrance), we ended up using the elevator for both going up and down.

The visit

Salesforce Park was one of the first stops we made in San Francisco after spending more than 11 hours on a plane. I can tell you it was truly refreshing to get some fresh air and stroll amidst nature. It's a serene place where you can take about a 20-minute leisurely walk, passing through different garden areas and enjoying the remarkable buildings that enhance the surrounding landscape. We also took some time to sit on the colorful garden benches that can be found along almost the entire length of the park.

Near by

When visiting Salesforce Park in San Francisco's Financial District, you can easily include a quick stop at two impressive historic buildings: the Hallidie Building and the Hobart Building Office.

Hallidie Building

130 Sutter Street, San Francisco - CA 94104 ESTADOS UNIDOS

It's a seven-story commercial and office building that was opened in 1918 and designed by architect Willis Polk, named in honor of San Francisco cable car pioneer Andrew Smith Hallidie. At the time of its construction, it was considered the first American building to feature an austere and modern glass facade. More recently, in April 2013, the building underwent a structural restoration after its sheet metal friezes, cornices, balconies, and fire escapes were deemed unsafe by the city's Department of Building Inspection.

Hobart Building Office

583 Market Street #500, San Francisco - CA 94104 ESTADOS UNIDOS

Completed in 1914 by the same architect as the previous building, Willis Polk, it is considered one of San Francisco's most well-known historic landmarks due to its distinctive exterior design in the form of a striking asymmetrical polygon. With its exterior crafted in terracotta with elaborate Baroque and handcrafted brass ornamentation and an interior adorned with Italian marble under a neoclassical architectural style, at the time of its construction, it was the city's second tallest building, standing at 21 stories and 87 meters in height. The building was designed for use by the Hobart Estate Company, and the site was chosen by its founder, Walter S. Hobart, in the 1880s, giving the building its name.

The Salesforce Park is a modern urban green space located in the heart of San Francisco's Financial District, featuring various recreational areas where you can escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. It's a truly unique space, and if you visit the city, be sure to include it in your travel itinerary.

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