Seward Mini Park 

With signs "No adults unless accompanied by a child" are followed by two slippery slides tucked away in a residential park.

 

Founded by a local youth in the 1960's, this slide is a victory over activism in the neighbourhood. A vacant lot was set for development in 1963, the Corwin Community Garden and the Seward Mini Park. Local residents and growing families from surrounding streets mobilized and protested the disappearance of open space, and resisted construction for a decade, including staging a desperate bulldozer-defying sit-in in 1966.

 

In the end, the local people succeeded and made the lot a park that opened in 1973. Their efforts have also helped reform urban legislation, which now includes a minimum of open space in new construction projects. A small park and the native California plant garden are surrounding the slides.

 

Things you need to know! 

 

• Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm (Closed Mondays). When it's closed, the slides have locks on them.

• 35-Eureka is the nearest road. Go west on 20th St., on 20th to Douglass, go south (left) on Corwin Street, go right (west) to Corwin – Acme Avenue and Seward Mini Park will be on the right.

• You can take Castro Station from the F streetcar or the K / L / M / T metro trains if you do not live on or near a 35-Eureka line. When you take N-Judah, go down to Duboce, Park, and then go back to Divisadero / Castro along Duboce Lane. Take 24-Divisadero and pass to Market and Castro and the 35-Eureka.