Leftover Spaces Become Public Places in SF

Will Reisman describes how designers of San Francisco's new Transbay Transit Center plan to keep the underpasses of newly constructed ramps from becoming "havens for homeless encampments, shady drug deals and other types of seedy behavior."

"A vertical climbing wall, basketball courts, a dog park, public art and a biking path are all set to comprise Oscar Park, a public open space situated mostly beneath the various ramps that are part of the $1.5 billion bus and train terminal," reports Reisman.

"In the few areas where a freeway overpass doesn't loom overhead, there will be grassy open spaces, said Courtney Pash, of the Successor to the Redevelopment Agency, The City department overseeing the project."

"We wanted to make sure that the sites below the ramps did not become places for negative activity," said Pash. "We knew that there would be opportunities to turn these places into open spaces with really positive outlets."