Hana E.
Google
For a park right outside the gorgeous City Hall, it's pretty unflattering in my opinion. The majority of it is open, empty space, which includes this awkward sandy part in the middle. I feel that it is probably like this for large events, speeches, or gatherings, but that does make it a boring public space. There is not much to do but walk, the view unchanging whether you're on one side of the park or another. The park is symmetrical; where there are flagpoles on one side there are an equal number of flagpoles on the other, where there is a small playground on one side there is a near-identical one on the other... you get the idea. It is not interesting at all, there is no variety.
Even though there are trees, they are isolated to these narrow strips, so the rest of the park gets no shade. Not to mention there is nowhere to sit but in the grass.
Overall, if you're in search of a park or public space to visit, there are so many amazing ones out here in San Francisco. Unfortunately, Civic Center Plaza does not make that cut (for me). 3/5.