Got an Idea for Your Neighborhood Park? 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Dreaming of a more accessible trail, improved dog park amenities, or a new community garden? Residents now have a chance to turn those ideas into reality. Nominations are open for the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s Community Opportunity Fund (COF), a program that supports community-driven park improvement projects across the city. 

This marks the first opportunity for communities to propose new projects funded by the 2020 Health and Recovery Bond, reopening a program that has not offered a citywide application round in nearly a decade. 

The COF empowers everyday San Franciscans—neighbors, parents, volunteers, and community groups—to help shape the future of their local parks. Through the program, residents can propose capital improvement projects that reflect what their neighborhoods want and need most. This funding round is supported by $6 million from the 2020 Health and Recovery Bond. 

“The Community Opportunity Fund enables community-driven ideas to come to life,” said Sarah Madland, Interim General Manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. “Whether it’s improved pathways, fitness equipment, or picnic areas to gather and connect, this funding gives residents a real opportunity to shape their neighborhood parks in meaningful ways.”    

This year’s Community Opportunity Fund application process has been refreshed to be more streamlined and transparent, with a clear focus on parks in Environmental Justice Communities to help ensure investments reach neighborhoods with the greatest need.  

How to Get Involved 

Getting started is easy: 

• Visit the Community Opportunity Fund program page.  
• Register for one of two pre-application workshops in February 2026 (registration closes a week before each workshop is held.)

Participants who attend a workshop and receive pre-approval from Rec and Park will gain access to the online application. 

Application materials are available online now, allowing prospective applicants to start brainstorming ideas, gathering community input, and building support. 

Applications will be accepted from February through March 2026. After applications close, proposed projects will be reviewed by an independent panel led by Rec and Park, followed by final award decisions from the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission in June 2026. Selected projects are expected to kick off in summer 2026. 

Since 2008, the Community Opportunity Fund has supported community-driven improvements in 35 parks across San Francisco, leveraging millions of dollars in partnerships and volunteer contributions. This next chapter continues the City’s commitment to making parks more welcoming, vibrant, and reflective of the people who use them every day. 

More questions? Contact the Community Opportunity Fund project manager Alexis Ward at rpdcof@sfgov.org.  

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