Aquatic Park Historic Landmark District

Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted first advocated the idea for an aquatic park at Black Point Cove in 1866. In 1905 architect and urban planner, Daniel Burnham suggested that the site serve as a "bay shore park" with a yacht harbor and rowing and swim clubs nearby. Although neither plan was adopted, by 1909 community groups were campaigning to have the area set aside for a public park and in 1917, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors authorized purchase of land around the cove. It soon became evident however, that the cost to construct the park far exceeded available funds, and work came to a halt until 1935, when the Works Progress Administration (WPA) began a four-year project to construct an aquatic park at Black Point Cove.

Initial development by the WPA focused on stabilization of the shoreline and excavations at the foot of Polk Street for construction of the Bathhouse. The WPA went on to build other park structures including convenience stations, speaker towers, circulation systems, promenades, and landscaped terraces. In addition to the construction of Aquatic Park, WPA artisans under the auspices of the Federal Art Project worked on the Bathhouse, crafting tile and wax fresco murals, sculpture, lighting fixtures, and terrazzo floors.

The District includes a bocce ball court, Municipal Pier, an urban beach, and hosts the Powell-Hyde cable car turntable.