Franceschi Park is a 17-acre park in Santa Barbara's Riviera neighborhood, featuring picnic areas, walking paths, and panoramic views. The Park's namesake, Dr. Francesco Franceschi, operated a botanical garden and nursery at the location from 1903 to 1913 and introduced hundreds of exotic plant species to Southern California, some of which can still be found at Franceschi Park today.
In 1905, Dr. Franceschi constructed a redwood craftsman-style home on the property, which he named Montarioso. In 1926, social reformer and philanthropist Alden Freeman purchased the property and made extensive changes to transform it into a venue for public and civic events. This transformation included converting the original craftsman into the Italianate villa on site today, known as Franceschi House. In 1931, Freeman gifted the property and house to the City for use as a public park to recognize Dr. Franceschi's horticultural legacy and contributions to Santa Barbara's development in the early 1900s.
Without a funding source to maintain the sizeable three-story building, the condition of Franceschi House deteriorated. After multiple unsuccessful attempts to restore the house, the City Council voted unanimously in 2018 to replace the building with an open-air pavilion that would honor the legacy of Dr. Franceschi and Mr. Freeman, while incorporating elements of Franceschi House and providing access to the public. The decision was supported by the Pearl Chase Society, which had previously advocated and attempted to fundraise for the building's preservation and restoration.
In 2024, the Parks and Recreation Department began outreach to understand the community's vision for the space and to help develop design concepts for a future project. After four design concepts were presented, community feedback overwhelmingly favored a structureless overlook that would highlight the location's sweeping views and honor Dr. Franceschi's horticultural legacy through thoughtful landscaping.
