Get ready to roll up your sleeves, San Francisco! The Community Opportunity Fund Program, part of the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks General Obligation Bond, gives neighborhoods, community groups, and park lovers an opportunity to make a difference in their favorite parks.

Park users know how to make their parks better and we want to help you make change happen! Our goal is to build community, foster stewardship, and leverage resources to improve San Francisco's vital public spaces.

Who and what is eligible?

Any group or individual with an idea for how to improve their park can apply! To be considered, projects must fit these basic requirements:

• The project must be located on land owned by the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.

• Proposals must be a Capital Project. This means that the proposed work must be permanently affixed to the park property and be an investment in the future of the park. Events, classes, programs, and maintenance work cannot be funded by the COF. Installation or replacement of playgrounds, paths, benches, drinking fountains, and sports courts are all examples of Capital Projects.

• Parks funded through the Neighborhood Park Renovation Program of the 2008 Bond are ineligible. This list of parks is available on our 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bondpage.

How much money is there?

• There are 3 rounds of funding scheduled for Fall 2010, Spring 2011, and Spring 2012. Funding for Round 1 is $500k, ($150k for menu projects, $350k for custom projects). Rounds 2 and 3 will each have $1.25 Million in funding (with a possibility for more funding in Round 3).

• The maximum funding request for menu projects is $100k and for custom projects is $250k.

How do I apply?

• Share your improvement idea with your parks Park Service Area Manager and your community. Their contact info is available here.

• Attend one of the applicant workshops. Attendance at one workshop is mandatory for all applicants. Round 2 Workshops are scheduled as follows:

  • Monday, March 21 6-7:30pm - Parque de los NinosUnidos
  • Wednesday, March 30 6-7:30pm - Ocean View Recreation Center
  • Wednesday, April 6 6-7:30pm - Location TBD (Likely Joe Lee Recreation Center)
  • Saturday, April 9 12-1:30pm Harvey Milk Rec Center / Duboce Park
  • Wednesday, April 13 6-7:30pm - County Fair Building

• Attend RPD Project manager office hours to receive technical assistance with your application.

• Complete and submit the application by June 24 2011. Be sure to use the Application Checklist to insure that you have completed all of the steps. Awards will be announced in September 2011.