After a decade of planning, Fern Alley has been transformed into a community space through the removal of parking spaces, widened sidewalks, new pedestrian lighting and colorful street and sidewalk markings. Public Works worked closely with Lower Polk Neighbors to redesign the alley to foster community gatherings and improve safety with new lighting, widened sidewalks, [...]
Over 10 years, Excelsior residents partnered with the San Francisco Parks Alliance and the Department of Public Works through the "Street Parks" program to transform underutilized Public Works land into a neighborhood amenity. Once a barren public-right-of-way, residents were integral to creating Athens Avalon Green Space - from designing the new landscaped terrace to providing [...]
Madrone Art Bar privately funded a street mural at Fell St. and Divisadero St., partnering with SFMTA to transform one parking spot into 12 bicycle parking spaces and a platform for Bay Area artist Kristin Farr's “Diamonds on Divis”, a bright, geometric mural on an unexpected surface. Learn more about how to get a standard, [...]
As urban dwellers, City residents may not have enormous backyards and front lawns to create large, lush gardens. However, Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) helps home-owners and neighborhood groups get trees planted on modest sidewalk plots throughout the City, transforming your front steps into an urban oasis. Contact FUF for free trees and technical [...]
When you don’t want to get fit in a gym, there are so many options to get active with your neighbors outdoors in nearby parks and public spaces. If you want to join an existing class, check out Zumba in the Parks schedules or Meet-Ups for specific exercise classes and fitness levels. If you want [...]
Industrious residents have sprouted Little Free Lending Libraries throughout the City, creatively constructed miniature libraries on the streets to encourage readers to lend books to their neighbors. And some Little Free Lending Libraries transformed into mini-markets of household staples during sheltering-in-place, inspiring residents to donate essential items to their fellow San Franciscans in need. Find [...]
Without a clear timeline of when sheltering-in-place orders would lift, many businesses throughout the City boarded up their storefronts. Lower Haight businesses wanted to use the blank plywood walls to convey messages of hope and beautify their storefronts as their normal business operations temporarily closed. While the Lower Haight Merchants and Neighbors Association provided some [...]
The young, and the young at heart, all deserve to know their friends and family love them on their birthday. When Zoom isn’t enough, Bay Area residents have organized mini-parades to wish their loved ones a happy day, coordinated well-wisher visits and decorated their front porches and doors to create a festive vibe on the [...]
Have you spotted teddy bears in windows along your morning walk? Or noticed tins hanging in trees or rainbows on your sidewalks? Following social distancing practices doesn't mean you can’t foster interactive games and sharing with your neighbors in times of need (especially when you’ve run out of yeast!). If you’re tech savvy, spread your [...]
Many residents feeling isolated during sheltering-in-place throughout the Bay Area have found ways to remind their neighbors we’re all in it together. Sidewalk messages of encouragement and colorful art can be appreciated by the whole community along everyone’s daily walks; and residents and businesses have used post-it notes on windows and walls to give neighborhood [...]
