Tucked into a residential block at 30 Seward Street, Seward Mini Park has two long, steep concrete slides. San Francisco Recreation and Parks calls them the main attraction at “this hidden gem” and warns that they are “not for tiny tots, nor for the faint of heart.”
Designed by a teenager
Rec and Park says the slide was designed by 14-year-old Kim Clark, who won a competition put on by sculptor Ruth Asawa. The mini-park was built in 1973 on a plot that had been slated for development. It also has a community garden and a collection of native plants.
A neighborhood fight
Atlas Obscura says the lot was slated for development in 1963. Residents fought the loss of open space for a decade, including a sit-in to block bulldozers in 1966. The park opened in 1973, and Atlas Obscura says the fight helped change city rules that now require a minimum amount of open space in new developments.
Before you go
The slides are open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and are locked when closed, according to Rec and Park and Atlas Obscura. Rec and Park says the park closes at sunset and adults must be accompanied by children. It also tells visitors to bring a piece of cardboard and wear sturdy pants.