Where do Americans spend our time? Increasingly, it’s at home, work, or school. Now think of anywhere else you spend time in. That’s a ‘third space’ – a place to meet, linger, and exist as a community. Unfortunately, these spaces are becoming an endangered species.

During the pandemic, it was impossible to visit many of our typical third spaces. Cafes, bars, and restaurants closed, and many didn’t reopen. San Francisco pivoted to focus on fostering outdoor third spaces, like JFK Promenade, the Great Highway, and Slow Streets. Many of these spaces remain today but are increasingly under pressure from vocal naysayers.

The move towards working from home has removed even the opportunity to interact with a third space on a commute, during breaks, and at impromptu post-work happy hours. The rise of online convenience ordering through platforms like Amazon and Doordash have further enabled people to stay at home and avoid interaction with their community.

What do we lose with the increasing scarcity of third spaces? We lose the opportunity to gather, linger, and build community without needing to subscribe to a club or pay for entry. Free public spaces are core to our cultural identity, and we are lucky in San Francisco to have a mild climate and free access to so many green spaces. Third spaces still abound in town squares, playgrounds, coffee shops, beaches, and Privately Owned Public Open Spaces, but we need to utilize and protect them.

Some of our favorite third spaces in SF:

• Patricia’s Green – Hayes Valley’s front yard
• Crane Cove Park – beach and park, with a new playground and dog run coming soon
• UN Plaza – skate, play chess and mahjong, grab a hot dog
• Noe Valley Town Square – check out the farmers market, playground and that famous toilet!
• JFK Promenade – artwork, skating, and the open road
• Lakeside Landing – relax, play, and build community on Ocean Avenue
• Fort Mason – visit the farmer’s market, grab a coffee at Equator, or swing by for one of the center’s many events!
• The Great Highway – stroll or roll, catch a yoga class, or watch the surfers

How to support third spaces like these:

• Get involved! Volunteer with a local group who are stewarding a public space near you.
• Share the love! Take friends and visitors to your favorite third space in the city.
• Give what you can! Donations big and small help support the range of spaces we have at our fingertips.