SF’s Pop-Up “Town Squares”: Parking Lots Become Mini Parks
San Francisco neighborhoods are getting a taste of what a local town square could be with a series of pop-up public spaces designed to bring greenery and community gathering spots to areas that lack parks. These pop-ups are not just temporary decorations, they are part of a bigger experiment to see how public spaces can serve the community and inspire long-term improvements.
This week, Cosmo Court transformed a parking lot on Cosmo Place in Lower Nob Hill into a mini town square for three days from November 5-7, 2025. The popup featured 350 plants, bright chairs and tables, party lights, live music, local food from Penaber Meze House, drinks from Persona, and a DJ spinning vinyl. The quick setup gave neighbors a rare chance to hang out outside in a neighborhood with almost no public parks.
Organized by the Civic Joy Fund in partnership with the Lower Nob Hill Neighborhood Alliance, the Cosmo Place popup was the second in a series of pilot town squares, designed to test how small-scale public spaces can add value to neighborhoods.
The concept of the pop-up town squares continues in Cole Valley, where the third and final iteration will appear at Richard Gamble Memorial Park from November 18-21, 2025 at Carl Street and Cole Street. This space is small, heavily used, and bisected by a train, so the pop-up aims to provide additional breathing room and flexible space for the community. Modernizing the park and adding the town square can help the space meet the needs of the neighborhood and encourage investment in its long-term improvement.
As pilot projects, these pop-ups allow neighbors to experience different designs, see the potential of underused spaces, and provide feedback that shapes future iterations. The idea is to foster community buy-in and local stewardship, helping ensure any permanent space reflects the needs and desires of the residents. If the pop-up resonates with the community, further iterations or even a long-term park redesign could follow, guided by public input and engagement.
Whether you missed Cosmo Court or want to experience the Cole Valley iteration, these pop-up town squares show what is possible when streets are reimagined as places to gather, relax, and enjoy a bit of green while helping shape the future of the neighborhood.
h/t SF Chronicle
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