by Ann Hinds

Created on: August 15, 2011   Last Updated: August 16, 2011

The Bayview neighborhood in San Francisco, California, zip code 94124, is a diverse locality in one of the more affordable portions of the city. The area has seen a lot of change and it continues to transform. Originally called Hunters Point, it was, most recently, the location of the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. The 638-acre site has been used for shipping and marine operations since 1860 and was one of the bases closed with the realignment. Today is sits vacant. With the loss of jobs with the base closure, the neighborhood has suffered with the recent economic times but things are changing again. The San Francisco 49ers are looking for a new home and redevelopment plans include residential, commercial, and recreational areas. The same kind of redevelopment has transformed the Mission Bay neighborhood, just north of Bayview, into an upscale destination.

The area is bordered on the north by Cesar Chavez Street and Interstate 101 (James Lick Freeway) to the west. San Francisco Bay is the eastern border. Within the neighborhood, children attend local schools. George Washington Carver Elementary School, Martin Luther King Junior Academic Middle School and Thurgood Marshall High School are about a mile away.

Bayview is full of parks. Palou/Phelps mini-park has a small playground and benches to watch the children. Dogs are welcomed. Heron's Head Park is a birder’s paradise with the more than 100 birds that have been spotted there. Hunter’s Point Recreation Center includes an indoor gym and climbing structure in the playground. There are basketball courts and a ball field. Hilltop Park has a skate bowl and picnic areas with grills. Gillman Playground has a large grass area for the kids to run and there is a playground. Bayview Park lives up its names with great views. Mainly for hiking, the terrain is a workout in itself.

Candlestick Point State Recreation Area was used as a shipyard in World War II but was abandoned after the war. In 1973, California bought the land and turned it into the first urban recreational area in the state. The views of the bay are some of the best. The hiking trails are popular and there are two piers for fishing. Picnicker’s can watch the windsurfers. The point is windy enough for great rides.

Candlestick Park at the south end of the point is the home of the San Francisco 49ers. Originally the home of the San Francisco Giants, they moved to the newer AT&T Park above the Mission Bay Neighborhood.

The Bayview neighborhood already has a lot to offer. It is close to all the neighborhoods for additional shopping and dining but there are many restaurants and stores in the area itself. The San Francisco Transit System has routes in this area. Bayview borders Interstate 101, giving residents access to San Francisco and all the surrounding communities.

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