Salesforce Park: A Rooftop Forest In A Concrete Jungle

You’re going to San Francisco. Again! And this time you’re going to visit a walking space, but this one is neither in the Golden Gate Park nor in the Presidio area. It’s a little jungle in the middle of that concrete jungle (more of a steel-and-glass one) we love, in Northern California! What makes it a place to visit is the fact that it lies 70 feet above the ground. It’s a rooftop garden. What’s more — it’s spread over a four-block area. We’re talking about Salesforce Park in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood.

If I just showed you the paved trail that snakes through the sides of the park and showed you the trees and plants that fence it, you wouldn’t even know it wasn’t on ground level. Look out over its eastern edge and you’ll be able to see the street level and the vehicles on it.

Pine trees, palms, redwood trees, cactuses, ferns and even a bamboo grove; this urban park’s got all this and more. It’s wonderful how you can look up and see some green foliage, and behind it, the tall skyscrapers of San Francisco. Who said cities cannot be beautiful?!

Salesforce Park has a half-mile trail that’s open to all. Stroll this living rooftop and you will get to see samples of 13 different ecosystems with over 500 trees, over 1500 plants, lawns and all.

A California garden, an Australian garden, a South African garden, a Chilean garden, a Mediterranean basin, a desert garden, a palm garden, a wetland garden, and a Redwood Forest are some of the smaller gardens (ecosystems) showcased here on this 5.4-acre park.

There’s a kiosk selling refreshments, some play structures for kids to play on, an area for performances/shows, and even an amphitheater on the western end of Salesforce Park.

Ready to go take a look at this rooftop park? While you’re there, look out for the Bus Fountain, an interesting installation art created by an environmental artist. Ned Kahn’s Bus Fountain is a line of water jets that are activated when there’s vehicular movement in the bus deck below the park.

Things to know before you go to Salesforce Park:

• Salesforce Park is a public park and is open to visitors from 6 am to 8/9 pm (depending on the season
• Dogs are not allowed on this living roof unless it’s a service dog.
• The trail is stroller and wheelchair friendly
• The walking path is around a rectangular one, .5 miles in length 
• You’ll find restrooms and refreshments on this rooftop park
• Before you visit, look for a parking space close to the building. (We parked two streets away and took the elevator that dropped us off in front of the amphitheater.)

Some trees from the rooftop garden:

More:
Things to see and do in San Francisco

Linking to —
My Corner of the World
&
Thursday Tree Love