Events

Come celebrate the latest book from author, historian, and former WNP Board member Richard Brandi: "Garden Neighborhoods of San Francisco, the Development of Residence Parks 1905-1924," by McFarland Publishing. Richard will give an illustrated talk on residence park history. What is a residence park, you ask? You may be living in one and not even know it! Between 1905 and 1924, thirty-six such neighborhoods - called residence parks - were proposed or built in San Francisco, mostly on the west side but also reaching the Marina and Visitacion Valley. They featured picturesque streets, landscaping, detached houses, and setbacks to convey the feeling of living in a park. About half of these projects were built. Some of the better-known ones are St Francis Wood, Forest Hill, and Sea Cliff, but there were many others.

Please register through Eventbrite. This program is $10 for WNP Members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $20 for non-members. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event, for $35 plus tax.

Doors open at 6pm for check-in and the main program will begin at 6:30pm, running for approximately one hour. Both before and after the main program, there will be time to mingle, chat, enjoy light refreshments, and have Richard sign your new book!

This event will be held at The Internet Archive, 300 Funston Avenue.

Join historian and retired park ranger John Martini for a history walk along the edge of the Richmond District. We’ll learn about lake and creek natural history, a Spanish colonialist campground, the Public Health Service hospital and its little-known cemetery, a restored valley, and a former military balloon launch-site.

Our journey begins at 10:00am and takes about 1.5 hours. Grade: easy paved walking route but with one long flight of steps.

Please register through Eventbrite. $10 for members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $20 for non-members. The super secret meeting location will be emailed to you when tickets are purchased. The walk is limited to 30 people.

Join former Western Neighborhoods Project board member and historic preservation consultant Richard Brandi for a history walk through Forest Hill Extension. Part of this area on realtor’s maps contains what was, in 1914, going to be a residence park called El Por-tal Park. Ten years later it was relaunched as Laguna Honda Park but it lost its identity and was lumped with Forest Hill Extension. The adjacent residence parks of Claremont Court, Merritt Terrace, and West Portal Park were subsumed into the Greater West Portal neighborhood. This walking tour is based on Brandi’s book, "Garden Neighborhoods of San Francisco, the Development of Residence Parks 1905-1924," by McFarland Publishing.

Our journey begins at 10:00am and takes about 2 hours. Grade: mostly easy; generally level ground except for Edgehill Way

Please register through Eventbrite. $10 for WNP members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $20 for non-members. The super secret meeting location will be emailed to you when tickets are purchased. The walk is limited to 30 people.