To better understand the story of the Visitacion Valley Greenway, we sat down with Anne Seeman, one of the local leaders behind this beloved community commons. Read on to learn how Anne and her neighbors turned a series of vacant lots into a thriving green corridor of connection.
“When my daughter was born in 1994, I realized just how neglected the nearby playgrounds were. They were dilapidated and abandoned, with broken structures and no assigned gardener.
That was also around the time when the City began organizing our community to advocate for park improvements. I became one of the key organizers, with the incentive of building community cohesion and a safer, more beautiful neighborhood for my daughter to grow up in.
At the time, our neighborhood had no large grocery store and was considered a food desert. Our neighborhood had also once contained dairies and truck farms, so it felt right to return land to growing fruits and vegetables.
I read much about how urban gardening benefits under-served communities, and I experienced those benefits first hand by working with our diverse group of local gardeners.
Working with a steady group of neighbors, our vision expanded to include not just a ‘farm,’ but a more park-like green corridor for passive recreation and a pollinator corridor, as well as a section devoted to native plants.”
“I am proud to say that we have built a community commons, which fosters neighborly interaction. We continue to exchange seeds, cuttings, and knowledge.”
“Organizing efforts began in 1995, and after months of informing and recruiting neighbors to our cause, we held a community picnic on one of the empty lots.
Local seniors, immigrants who spoke no English but who knew how to farm, helped us clear weeds and make the lot presentable. We fired up the long-abandoned barbecue pit for a potluck and invited local musicians to play. The day was a success, and confirmed that we had the support of our neighbors.
It took several years to gain access to the land, but we achieved it by 2000. Then, with a combination of public and private funds, all of the lots were developed.
SF Parks Alliance is our fiscal sponsor. Their yearly conferences are always an exciting opportunity for us to network with other like-minded groups, and their staff has helped us search for grant possibilities. Their sponsorship is also vital to our ability to hold festivals on the Greenway.
I am proud to say that we have built a community commons, which fosters neighborly interaction. We continue to exchange seeds, cuttings and knowledge.
Children have a safe place to connect with nature, and they benefit from harvesting and tasting crops they have grown. The Greenway is an incredibly positive piece of our neighborhood identity.
For other groups looking to start their own community improvement projects, my advice is to commit to the long haul. It may take years to achieve your vision. You may be hindered by unanticipated guidelines and roadblocks, so accept that your vision will evolve, but welcome the contributions that other people bring to it!”