Founded in 1887, Redondo Beach was built according to a unique street pattern designed by San Francisco civil engineer William Hammond Hall, who was hired by the Redondo Beach Company. Unlike the grid patterns of most 19th century towns, Redondo Beach used a curvilinear street system. Its streets, named for Hispanic women and gemstones, were tiered from a single focal point at the Pacific Ocean and extended inland in an easterly direction. The pier served as that focal point, providing entry to the community and the South Bay from the sea and connecting residents and inland visitors with the ocean for commerce and recreation. Hall was also the first superintendent of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, which he designed, and its curved streets, like those of Redondo Beach, were intended to control the speed of horse and buggy drivers and shelter people from the winds. As California's first state engineer, he oversaw water and drainage systems throughout the state, led major river navigation projects, and promoted an integrated flood control system for the Sacramento Valley. He also became a controversial figure, alienating major landowner groups, including hydraulic mine operators, ranchers, and farmers, through his advocacy of a larger and more assertive public role in managing California's water resources.