FoundSF

Unfinished History

Northeast corner of Collingwood and 22nd Street, before grading, June 30, 1920.

Photo: SF Department of Public Works, via OpenSFHistory / wnp36.02329

The hilly stretch of 22nd Street between Castro Street and Diamond Street, and touching on Collingwood Street, has been navigated by using staircases since well before the above photo was taken in 1920. In 2012, the staircase named "Jungle Stairs" became a Street Parks initiative to enhance the beauty and safety of the staircases to the west and east of the hill. Between institutional and city funders, artists, muralists, metalworkers, landscapers, and neighbors, the city block has been cultivated, stewarded, and become a place of community building and collaboration.

Shaping San Francisco co-hosted a walking tour with the Noe Valley Library branch in May 2024, taking participants up and over the Jungle Stairs, exiting here at Collingwood Street. Metal sign created by Brennan Cox of Groundworks, Inc.

Photo: LisaRuth Elliott

View from the top of the staircases, looking east toward San Francisco Bay, with Castro Street in the foreground, April 2025.

Photo: LisaRuth Elliott

Information board posted at Jungle Stairs.

Photo: LisaRuth Elliott

In this land stewardship project, native plants to the Franciscan Bioregion have been given primacy.

Photo: LisaRuth Elliott

Yellow Lupine in bloom on Jungle Stairs, May 2024.

Photo: LisaRuth Elliott

Read more about the evolution of the beautiful habitat as it has been created and continues to be tended over time.