Jerry BOWDEN Park

Location: Between High and Alma streets, at North California Avenue

Description: 2.0 acre neighborhood park. Horizontal open grassy area surrounded by deciduous and evergreen trees. Alternating U-shaped areas created from pruned boxwood frame benches.

Amenities:  children’s playground, picnic area, benches, perimeter path, public art (“Cube Construction” and “Rrrun”)

History note:  Established in 1952, the park almost lost its park status in 1960 when California Avenue train commuters wanted to convert the space into a parking lot!  In 1961, the grassy area was redesigned as a "visual" space by San Francisco landscaper Robert Royston and renamed for Jerry Bowden, a two-term plus city councilman who understood the importance of parks. Bowden lived on nearby Nevada Street.