San Francisco – From kickflips to community gardens, amphitheater pathways to playground pergolas, seven citizen-driven park improvement projects are moving forward after receiving approval from the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission today.
The projects are being paid for through the Community Opportunity Fund, an innovative program that invites residents, neighborhood groups, park advocates, and community partners to help shape the future of the City’s park system
The selected projects will bring meaningful upgrades to parks and public spaces, improving accessibility, safety, recreation opportunities, and neighborhood gathering spaces across the City.
Projects approved to move forward include:
- Balboa Park (Skatepark): The park’s 10,500-square-foot skatepark will receive major upgrades, including the replacement of deteriorated wood features with durable concrete terrain, new fencing, and enhanced seating areas.
- Howard Langton Community Garden: Improvements include new fencing, upgraded planter beds, and accessibility enhancements to better serve gardeners and visitors of all abilities.
- John McLaren Park (Native Plant Garden): The area south of Visitacion Valley Middle School will receive new native plantings, decorative boulders, upgraded irrigation, and a shipping container for storage and maintenance needs.
- John McLaren Park (Jerry Garcia Amphitheater): The entrance and connecting pathways to the amphitheater will be fully repaved to improve accessibility, alongside important drainage upgrades.
- Michelangelo Playground Park: The project will renovate the park’s central lawn and include new drainage infrastructure, upgraded decking and stairways, a new pergola, and additional seating.
- St. Mary’s Playground (Alemany Farm): Accessibility improvements will include a new ramp, pathway and parking lot upgrades, and replacement of a deteriorating retaining wall.
- Woh Hei Yuen Playground: The project will replace the playground’s entrance gate and drinking fountain and upgrade railings along the John Street entrance.
“San Francisco has an incredible park system, and the Community Opportunity Fund gives residents a direct role in shaping the future of these spaces,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “With these seven projects, we are listening to communities and creating safer, more welcoming gathering spaces in the neighborhoods that make San Francisco special.”
“The Community Opportunity Fund is helping ensure that San Francisco’s parks continue to reflect the needs and dreams of the communities that use them every day,” said SF Rec and Park General Manager Sarah Madland. “These are community-driven projects, shaped by the people who know and love these spaces best, and the enthusiasm behind them shows how much our parks mean to San Franciscans.”
Approximately $6 million has been allocated to the selected projects through the 2020 Health and Recovery Bond, with individual projects eligible to receive between $500,000 and $1.5 million in funding.
The application process launched in January and included two public workshops held in February to help prospective applicants develop their proposals. Rec and Park received 36 applications, which were evaluated by a selection committee made up of City staff and community partners. Projects were scored based on how well they aligned with the program’s goals and community needs.
“The Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park brings people together through music, culture, and celebration, and these improvements will make it easier for everyone to access and enjoy,” said park advocate Linda Litehiser. “The entrance and pathways are used by visitors of all abilities, including people using paratransit and the crews who help bring performances to life. These upgrades will help ensure the amphitheater remains safe, accessible, and welcoming.”
Since its creation in 2008, the Community Opportunity Fund has empowered communities to lead improvements in their local parks. The program has helped deliver projects at 35 parks citywide, leveraging $5 million from the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond, $12 million from the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond, and an additional $13.7 million in philanthropic contributions and in-kind support.
With Commission approval now secured, the seven projects will move into design development and environmental review. As plans advance, projects may return to the Rec and Park Commission for additional review and approvals as needed before construction commences.
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