Blog / Neighborhood
How a Concrete Dead End Became Hilldale Pocket Park in San Anselmo
Hilldale Pocket Park began as a dead-end strip of concrete beside the home of San Anselmo contractor Jordan Weill. During COVID he turned it into a simple wood-chip picnic-table park for neighborhood kids. The Town of San Anselmo took over the project in 2022, and its second phase, built by park specialists, added a wooden log climbing structure and new park surfacing, celebrated with a ribbon cutting in September 2026.
Where is Hilldale Pocket Park?
The park sits in San Anselmo's Hilldale neighborhood, behind United Market on Jordan Avenue, between Hilldale Drive and Forbes Avenue. That is how the Town described the site when it asked residents for input on a pocket park in 2022, as reported by Patch.
Map not loading? Open Hilldale Pocket Park in Google Maps. It is behind United Market, off Jordan Avenue in San Anselmo, California.
What was here before the park?
According to Jordan Weill, who lives next door, the space was a dead-end stretch of concrete, an eyesore with no purpose. When COVID kept kids close to home, the neighborhood children had nowhere nearby to play. Weill says they were doing bicycle donuts in the United Market parking lot.
How did it become a park?
Weill turned the dead end into a simple wood-chip park with a picnic table, a place for kids to play close to home.
The Town of San Anselmo took over the project in 2022. In June of that year it asked residents to weigh in on a pocket park with features such as picnic tables, a tanbark surface and a fence, according to Patch. The second phase of construction, installed by a different contractor made up of park specialists, added a wooden log climbing structure and new park surfacing. The Town celebrated with a ribbon cutting in September 2026.
Weill was not involved in the installation of the second phase, but he is pleased to have such a beautiful neighborhood park right next door.
What is at Hilldale Pocket Park today?
After the Town's second phase, the park has a wooden log climbing structure, new park surfacing and a few benches. The Town of San Anselmo's Hilldale Pocket Park page has current details and before-and-after photos.
Why do small neighborhood parks matter?
A pocket park is a small public space tucked into a neighborhood, close enough for kids to walk or bike to. In Hilldale, one neighbor's simple fix for a concrete dead end grew into a park that the Town has since invested in.
Congratulations and thank you to the Town of San Anselmo and everyone who helped bring the park to life.
Common questions about Hilldale Pocket Park
Where is Hilldale Pocket Park in San Anselmo?
Hilldale Pocket Park is in San Anselmo's Hilldale neighborhood, behind United Market on Jordan Avenue, between Hilldale Drive and Forbes Avenue, as described in the Town's 2022 public survey notice.
Who started Hilldale Pocket Park?
Jordan Weill, who lives next door, turned the dead-end concrete space into a wood-chip picnic-table park during COVID. The Town of San Anselmo took over the project in 2022.
Who built the second phase of Hilldale Pocket Park?
A different contractor made up of park specialists installed the wooden log climbing structure and the new park surfacing in the second phase. Jordan Weill was not involved in that phase, and he is pleased with the beautiful neighborhood park next door.
What is at Hilldale Pocket Park today?
After the Town's second phase, the park has a wooden log climbing structure, new park surfacing and a few benches. For current details and before-and-after photos, see the Town of San Anselmo's Hilldale Pocket Park page.
When was the Hilldale Pocket Park ribbon cutting?
The Town of San Anselmo held the ribbon cutting in September 2026.
Who is Jordan Weill?
Jordan Weill is the founder of Build Shepherd Inc, a licensed general contractor in San Anselmo (CSLB License #1106853). He began his career in documentary film production at Dolby and lives next to Hilldale Pocket Park.
Sources
- Town of San Anselmo: Hilldale Pocket Park (project details and before-and-after photos)
- Patch: San Anselmo Launches Survey On Pocket Park Project (June 13, 2022)
- Background on the park's origins: Jordan Weill, Build Shepherd Inc
Jordan Weill is the founder of Build Shepherd Inc, a licensed general contractor in San Anselmo (CSLB License #1106853) that builds bathrooms, kitchens and ADUs across Marin County. He began his career in documentary film production at Dolby, and he lives next to Hilldale Pocket Park.
Media contact: Jordan@buildshepherd.com · 415-686-1230