Buena Vista Neighborhood
Adah's Stairway
Just blocks from the 1967 Summer of Love happening in Haight Ashbury, find an oasis of peace—a bird sanctuary filled with coast live oaks, berry-producing shrubs, and flowering perennial plants. Take a bag lunch, meditate amidst the greenery, then climb the steps to nearby Buena Vista Park to see spectacular views of San Francisco.
Curious? Download the iNaturalist app! Help our citizen science efforts by discovering new species and adding your own observations to the Adah’s Stairway project.
Project Details
What is Adah's Stairway?
An outstanding civic space in honor of Adah Bakalinsky, a local walking advocate and author of the Stairway Walks of San Francisco, this sweet spot is a bird habitat sanctuary as well as a haven for walkers and those who want to sit and soak up some peace. With its stacked Napa basalt walls, coast live oak trees, berry-producing shrubs, and flowering perennial plants. It’s a source of nourishment for a multitude of birds that frequent nearby Buena Vista Park. With the recent addition of a dog fountain, your canine friends will enjoy Adah’s Stairway too!
Where is Adah's Stairway?
Between Broderick Street and Buena Vista Avenue East at Waller Street, just northeast of Buena Vista Park.
Why is Adah's Stairway important?
Once an overgrown, rubble-strewn, and hazardous public place, the Stairway is now safe, lush with plants and wildlife, and beautifully designed. Leveraging City agency, community, individual financial, and in-kind support, NTC began the transformation of this derelict space in 2013. Since then, the local community has engaged in habitat restoration workdays and social and educational events to deepen connections with local nature—and each other. The project serves as a model for public/private partnerships and demonstrates just how effective individuals (like you) can be. Just a few blocks from a route on the Green Connections Plan — a 20-year vision to create a safe passageway between parks and open spaces for pedestrians, bicyclists, and wildlife —Adah’s Stairway truly typifies connection.
How can I take part?
Connecting communities to local nature is what makes this project so successful. Do you want to help continue that success? Join our monthly workdays by emailing amelia@natureinthecity.org. Do it one time or become a regular-no pressure! Enjoy meeting other neighbors while weeding, planting, or even monitoring species. A perfect way to soak up glorious Springtime days.
Nature in the City Map Snapshot
Adah's Stairway is near to Buena Vista Park.
Address
101 Buena Vista Ave East
San Francisco, CA 94117