For the comprehensive renovation of this beloved playground, the design team, led by CMG Landscape Architects, looked to the Chinatown community as the authority on its historical importance and changing purpose. Feedback from multilingual surveys and workshops revealed that open play areas, sheltered outdoor space, a renovated clubhouse, and features that reflect Chinese culture were top priorities. The resulting design merges building and landscape, creating an accessible, multi-level community hub that celebrates Chinatown’s rich history.

Opened in 1927, Willie “Woo Woo” Wong Playground serves as the only space dedicated to active outdoor recreation in San Francisco’s Chinatown. For the remodel of this beloved neighborhood space, the design team looked to the Chinatown community as the undisputed authority on the park’s historical importance and changing purpose. Feedback from multilingual surveys, workshops, and meetings revealed that open play areas, sheltered outdoor space, a renovated clubhouse, and features that reflect Chinese culture were top community priorities. Improving access to the park’s three levels also was critical. Guided by the community’s aspirations, the resulting design both celebrates the park’s cultural significance and rejuvenates the neighborhood with a flexible, multi-use space that is ready for another century of service.

Physically bound by buildings, the park makes the most of its half-acre site, offering spaces for all ages and abilities with three levels — upper courts, middle playground, and lower clubhouse. The upper level is expanded and unified with accessible pathways, stairs, and ramps, that connect the basketball courts and net sports to the lower playground. The opened-up clubhouse — now a flexible indoor plaza — links to the historic street below with a stadium stair and new storefront windows. The interior clubhouse is pared back and painted white, except for a mural by artist, Julie Chang, composed of classic Chinese symbols, “woven” on a grid of concrete blocks. Since reopening in February 2021, this park has already been re-established as an active center of community life — a much-needed place for recreation, wellness, learning, and social connection.