Our History

In the early 1950’s, when Elmer Robinson was the Mayor of San Francisco, Portsmouth Square was still a remnant and reminder of the wild “Barbary Coast” atmosphere of the City’s history.  Fronting the Hall of Justice, Portsmouth Square was just below Chinatown, and the Square was surrounded by bail bondsmen and bars and unsavory characters just let out of the criminal justice system.  Many of the City leaders were bickering about this skid row area of the City that needed cleaning up.  Many said that there was no future here because it would take a massive clean-up and redevelopment effort to change its character.  The City was short on money.  Some things never change…….

To shed some light on the background of the Garage, there has not been any extensive renovation since it was built in 1962. The Garage contemplated a major renovation as early as 2002, when an engineering study was commissioned to determine the condition and structural integrity of the facility. The findings in the report indicated that after close to fifty years of continuous 24/7 operation, many of the building elements were in need of replacement, along with necessary construction, electrical, lighting and mechanical improvements to maximize energy efficiency, to meet safety standards and disability-accessible requirements, and to reduce operating costs……

Recommendations were prepared in the late 1970s ("Chinatown Plan") and early 1980s ("Chinatown Public Improvements Plan"), proposing revisions to Portsmouth Square.

In 1987, the park underwent its second major renovation, taking place over three separate phases. The first phase involved installing new elevators and bathrooms on the top of the park. The second phase began in 1994, included installation of child play structures, Chinese chess tables, benches, and landscaping. Phase three included the construction of a new community room and play areas. This $3.9 million renovation was completed in 2001.

Portsmouth Square is known as the "Heart" or "Living Room" of Chinatown. Residents of the neighborhood play games, practice tai chi, and socialize in the park.

The San Francisco Planning Department has initiated the Portsmouth Square Area Project to enhance the space and surrounding streets. A report evaluating the existing conditions and feasibility of updates was completed in December 2014. On October 13, 2020, the Recreation and Park Department announced the schematic design was complete.