Central Waterfront, an area more commonly referred to as 'Dogpatch,' is a neighborhood in San Francisco located right along the bay, south of Mission Bay and the Financial District. Dogpatch has a mixture of residential and commercial areas and it is a popular place for breweries, marketing agencies, and other creative industries. The area was known for being a gritty, industrial place for many years but has recently undergone lots of revitalization that has made it fresh, vibrant, and appealing for younger locals.
The weather in San Francisco is unique with temperatures hardly ever leaving the 50 to 70-degree range. Because of its location on the San Francisco Bay, the city experiences almost constant wind, varying from mild to intense. If you decide to go for a walk with your dog, make sure you take the proper precautions for both of you on particularly cold, windy days.
San Francisco is also known for its hilly landscape where homes and businesses are built alongside streets that stretch across rolling hills and steep inclines. Dogpatch, however, is one of the flattest areas in the city. Though you will see some hills in the neighborhood, especially on its western edge where the roads begin to slant upwards on inclines that continue out of the neighborhood, most of Dogpatch is relatively uncharacteristic of that classic San Francisco attribute.
The neighborhood has a mixture of an urban and suburban atmosphere. It is not located directly in the center of downtown, but it is still close enough to the Financial District to have similar architecture, mass transit, and construction. The traffic can be heavy during rush hour times, but if you and your dog stick to the more residential areas of Dogpatch on your walks, you should be able to avoid most of the congestion.
There are only two parks in the Dogpatch/Central Waterfront area. These are Espirit Park and Warm Water Cove Park. Espirit Park, located in the northwest portion of Dogpatch, is a small, 2-acre park with a large open green area and several park benches. The park is surrounded by a border of redwood trees and there are picnic tables for larger gatherings. Because of its free-form environment and open play area, it is a popular spot for dog walkers.
Warm Water Cove Park is located right next to the San Francisco Bay and it offers a green space that is slightly larger. It was once jokingly called 'Tire Beach' because of the large amount of trash and tires on its shore, but it has been revitalized. There are several small walking paths that go in and around the park and its location on the water makes it an ideal place to take your pup.