Chinatown in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Hang Ah Alley
香亞巷
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 12, 2021
1. Hang Ah Alley Marker
The Chinese Playground is one of the few recreational facilities in Chinatown. In order to make use of as much open space as possible, the Committee for Better Parks and Re creation in Chinatown and the San Francisco Department of Parks and Recreation worked for 11 years on new plans for the playground.
The old club house was torn down in June of 1977 and the new structures were installed 3 years later. Mr. Oliver C. Chang was the first director of the Chinese playground as well as the first Chinese American director of the San Francisco Department of Park and Recreation.
(Chinese text not transcribed)
Erected by Hang Ah Alley Improvement Association, Chinatown Neighborhood Improvement Resource Center, Chinatown Better Parks and Recreation Committee.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1977.
Location. 37° 47.63′ N, 122° 24.449′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Chinatown. It is on Hang Ah Alley / Pagoda Place, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Francisco CA 94108, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on California’s Coast Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within
this page online
More about this marker. The marker is mounted to the side of a building on the west side of the alley, roughly even with the middle of the nearby basketball court, a bit closer to the Sacramento Street end than the Clay Street end.
The marker likely pre-dates 2006, as it refers to the playground as "Chinese Playground" - which was renamed Willie "Woo Woo" Wong Playground in 2006. Note also that although it refers to an '80's era renovation of the facility, there have been subsequent renovations, with the latest having been finished in February, 2021.
Regarding Hang Ah Alley. 香 = "aroma" and 巷 = "lane/alley". What gets missed in translation is that the two characters are near homophones of each other, differing only by intonation.
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 12, 2021
2. Hang Ah Alley / 香亞巷 Marker - wide view, looking north along the alley (towards Clay)
Also see . . . Newly Renovated Willie "Woo Woo" Wong Playground and Clubhouse Opens in Time for Lunar New Year. Detailed press release from the SF Mayor's Office concerning the park. (Submitted on June 13, 2021.)
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 12, 2021
3. The playground offers children a number of creatures to play on...
...that were inspired by Chinese mythology.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 2,513 times since then and 120 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 13, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
