Natural Areas Locator

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San Francisco Recreatioin & Park's Description of Capital Plan Format Changes (PDF 84 KB)

Natural Areas

Sharp Park

Location: East of Highway One and South of Sharp Park Road, Pacifica
Established: 1917
Size: Park: 411.0 acres/Natural Area: 237.2 acres
Park Type: Wetland

Sharp Park is in Pacifica but is managed by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. The park's natural area encompasses diverse habitats, including coastal wetlands, coastal scrub, forest, and grasslands. It is situated between two regionally significant open spaces, Milagra and Sweeney Ridges, and supports populations of federally listed species such as the California red-legged frog, San Francisco garter snake and mission blue butterfly.

Sharp Park's other features include an 18-hole golf course and a nationally recognized archery range.

Wetlands

Sharp Park's coastal wetlands, known as Laguna Salada and Horsestable Pond, are home to California red-legged frogs and San Francisco garter snakes. The watershed that feeds the wetland originates in the headwaters of Sanchez Creek in the upper canyon. Although small, the wetlands are essential to the survival of these and many other species.

Appreciation for the benefits provided by wetlands has grown over the last few decades, but they continue to be filled, drained, and dredged. The Central Valley's once-vast wetlands, extending over some 4 million acres, have diminished to a mere 300,000 acres. Only 5 percent of the state's coastal wetlands remain intact.

Much of the planet's life depends on the existence of wetlands. They are vital to the survival of many fish and other aquatic life forms, birds, and plants.

Wetlands provide important habitat for diverse communities of plants and animals, including over 50 percent of the federally listed threatened or endangered species. Wetlands provide the principal habitat for migratory waterfowl, and California wetlands provide critical wintering habitat for millions of waterfowl migrating along the Pacific Flyway, which extends from Canada to Mexico. Wetlands also provide direct spawning and rearing habitats and a food supply for both freshwater and marine fisheries.

In addition, wetlands absorb flood flows, reducing the size and destructiveness of floods, and absorb and filter pollutants that could otherwise degrade groundwater or the water quality of rivers, lakes, and estuaries. Some wetlands recharge aquifers that provide urban and agricultural water supplies.

Cultural History

George Sharp, who came to San Francisco from New York by ship around the Horn in 1849 at the age of 22, was the original owner of Sharp Park. A wealthy lawyer, he lived for much of his life in some of the best hotels in San Francisco, dropping dead in court in 1882. His wife lived until 1905, at which time her handwritten will directed that most of her property be turned over to her attorney, Reuben Lloyd, and to Adolph Spreckels. Both were millionaires and both were San Francisco park commissioners. She stipulated that the property was to be used for park and recreational purposes only. If this agreement is ever breached, Sharp Park will revert to the State of California.