Way back in 1852, English entrepreneur George Gordon constructed South Park in what is now San Francisco’s South Beach neighborhood as the centerpiece to a residential community. This 0.85-acre private park even included a windmill that pumped water for the houses.

Over the years, the neighborhood around the oval park bounded by Second, Third, Bryant, and Brannan streets opened up and it became a welcome meeting place for all residents of the region. It even made an appearance in two recent Hollywood films, Rent and Blue Jasmine. More recently, however, the park fell into disrepair and some even wondered if it should be partially razed to make way for a subway station.

Instead, The Recreation and Park Department shut the park down in June 2016 and went about enacting a $3.8 million renovation funded by park bonds and Eastern Neighborhoods Impact Fees. They enlisted design firm Fletcher Studio to devise a new and improved version that could stand the test of time and become a benefit to the community once more.

On March 7, South Park reopened with new paths, irrigation, drainage, site lighting, site furnishings, and 24 mature trees. Park-goers can stop by and appreciate a brand-new children’s play area, large open meadow, plazas, and a variety of sitting and picnicking areas.

Nowadays, you’ll find families, local residents, and tech workers on their breaks crowding South Park at any given time. It’s back to being the center of the community it was always meant to be.