Tremendous thanks to everyone who has participated in community gatherings, events, focus groups, and surveys in 2023!
The Fillmore Community showed up, shared honestly and vulnerably, offered innovative ideas, and made new connections, inspiring changes in the design and process of park renovations at Buchanan Street Mall. Check out these summary boards with our resulting Park Improvement Equity Action recommendations for how physical improvements can better strengthen the neighborhood, create economic opportunity, and improve health and wellness for everyone. We will continue to hone and add metrics to these recommendations in the new year, and plan to share an equity action toolkit for capital projects, in addition to detailing specific initiatives for Buchanan Street Mall Renovations.
SF Rec and Park, partners, and consultants are finalizing the plans for park renovations and will begin permitting with SF Department of Building Inspection (DBI) at the start of the new year, followed by public bidding midwinter. Construction is on the horizon, currently scheduled to begin before the end of summer 2024.
Engagement in the new year will focus on the development of artwork and art and culture programming for the Memory Walk. This effort is funded by a Statewide Parks grant through Trust for Public Land, and is being guided by the African American Arts & Culture Complex, in collaboration with SF Rec and Park and Citizen Film. Starting in January, we will begin a process of cultural reengagement with key community members, and we hope to have a reengagement strategy launched by the end of February 2024.
New year community skate on January 1. Folks who attended equity action community gatherings and healing circles know our youngest consistent member, Jolene, who encouraged us all to agree: “don’t be mean.” She’s been skating and promoting roller skating and is hosting a community resource skate party with free food at nearby Hayes Valley Playground on New Year’s Day.
Summer job opportunity for teens. Rec and Parks’ Workreation program is accepting applications from teens, ages 14-17, who either live or go to school in San Francisco. Teens can apply for summer positions in day camps, rec centers, or parks. The pay rate is currently $20.75/hr and teens can work up to 25 hours per week during the summer. Click here for more info and to apply. Applications are due Monday, January 8 at 5 p.m.
Lauren Dietrich Chavez, Project Manager, lauren.chavez@sfgov.org, 628-652-6643