The better-known 16th Avenue Tiled Steps climb the west side of Grandview Park, also called Turtle Hill. On the north edge of the same hill, where 16th Avenue dead-ends at Kirkham Street, a second mosaic stairway climbs toward the top. It is called the Hidden Garden Steps, and it sits on 16th Avenue between Kirkham and Lawton streets.
Same artists, different theme
Artists Aileen Barr and Colette Crutcher designed and made the tiles, according to Crutcher's project page. The money came from a grassroots fundraising effort, and community members joined mosaic workshops. The UCSF student paper Synapse described the design as a “lush floral paradise” of vines, ferns and creatures. Donor names are inscribed on many tiles.
The salamander
The largest element is a salamander that uses the stairway's curve. Crutcher's page says it stretches up 26 steps, and Synapse put it at 28. The two sources also give different step counts: Crutcher lists 148 steps and Synapse 128.
What it cost
Synapse reported that the project cost $300,000. Of that, $215,000 came from donations from neighbors and from donors as far away as France, Germany, Belgium and England, and the minimum gift for a named tile was $150. Partners included the San Francisco Parks Alliance and Public Works' Street Parks program. The overgrown bushes beside the path were replaced with succulents. The steps were completed in December 2013.