Once a desolate parking lot, the area has been transformed into San Francisco’s cultural oasis, the Yerba Buena Gardens. Picnicking families sit in the grass, children play by the waterfall and art lovers visit the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) or the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA). Hectic city life seems very far away here.
The green esplanade is situated right at the heart of the Yerba Buena Gardens. The large grassy lawn is surrounded by museums, a shopping centre and an old church. In 1980, a plan was created to transform the empty lot between 3rd and 4th Street in the SoMa (South of Market) district into a park and cultural centre. And with great success; this is now one of the most popular destinations in San Francisco. Year-round the area hosts many events, such as the Farmer’s Markets and the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.