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ack in 1776 - when the Mission of San Francisco was established, a small stream flowed by the tiny settlement and then gently down to

a marshy shoreline along the bay. This marsh covered a wide area that is now referred to as China Basin.

During the twentieth century - this part of San Francisco was largely industrial. Small manufacturing firms and warehouses lined the broad streets. Three blocks up - the old Southern Pacific Rail Station discharged passengers from the nearby Peninsula - as well as Southern California.

The marsh was filled in long ago, and along Mission Creek - a colorful, ragtag

flotilla of houseboats established their presence - largely unnoticed. But now this small floating community - The Mission Creek Marina - is center stage in the fastest growing planned development in San Francisco history - "Mission Bay."

If you look at the photo at the top of the page, you'll find that as you follow the line of houseboats up and to the right - you'll locate the light towers that surround SBC Park - home of the San Francisco Giants. Mission Creek empties into the bay at a basin now lovingly called "McCovey Cove." Willey McCovey was the first baseman for The Giants in the sixties, seventies, and into the eighties - and this inlet was named in his honor. So our beautiful ballpark marks the outlet of Mission Creek into the Bay.

Between the marina and ballpark are the Lefty O'Doul & 4th Street Bridges. The 4th Street Bridge is being completely rebuilt so as to accommodate the new light rail line that will run from downtown to the south - through the neighborhoods of South Beach, China Basin, Mission Bay, Bayview, Hunter's Point, and Visitation Valley.

Giant cranes dominate the skyline both north and south - as the long planned Mission Bay Project explodes with construction. Just north of Mission Creek are thousands of new apartment and condominium units, a trendy new Safeway, a Borders Books, three banks and dozens of new restaurants and bars. A Starbucks opened a block up from here - so you

just know that any sense of isolation in this charming little community has known - is pretty well going or gone. Yet here this neighborhood sits - a glimpse back into a far simpler time and place. I've always loved the Mission Creek Marina - I walk here often. And wish all of the inhabitants - all of the best - into the high rise future. - Stephen Phillips

Above: "Jen" - crouched down under the hat - tends to the delightful garden which creates a 'green zone' at the entrances into the marina.

Below: Channel Street once led from just south of the 4th Street Bridge - straight into The Mission Creek Marina. Now detoured - with one of the dozens of new highrises going up just beyond.

Below right: "Dumpster Still Life" - an impromptu art arrangement at the garbage bin.

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Left: A hunter's trophies and the fishing vessel "LU LU" rocks gently on the incoming tide.

Below: The crane on the far right sits on the south bank of Mission Creek, where the Fourth Street Bridge is being replaced - Beyond sits The China Basin Building on the north side of the creek - then the Lefty O'Doul Draw Bridge, which carries the traffic of Third Street - And finally the impressive 40,000 seat SBC Park - Home to the San Francisco Giants.

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The Mission Creek Marina

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