San Francisco is stepping up its game in the green spaces department, and your neighborhood park could be the latest beneficiary. The city's Recreation and Park Department is throwing open the doors for residents to submit their most cherished park improvement ideas.
It's been nearly ten years since the citywide application round was last open. Evidently, this year, they're looking to comprehensively modify instead of just freshening up the swings. The Community Opportunity Fund (COF) is rolling out of the gates with $6 million from the 2020 Health and Recovery Bond, ready to back proposals coming straight from the community fabric. It's your chance to get involved and, as stated by Sarah Madland, Interim General Manager of the Recreation and Park Department, "The Community Opportunity Fund enables community-driven ideas to come to life."
The COF is particularly jazzed about receiving proposals that reflect the needs and wants of the neighborhoods they'll benefit, specifically those in Environmental Justice Communities perceived to need an extra helping hand.
This year's application is also aiming to quickly cut through the usual bureaucratic red tape and make the process more accessible for everyone involved. Parks in San Francisco have seldom seen such a concerted effort to genuinely take into account what the locals dream up for their communal backyards. And indeed, as Madland told SF Rec and Park, "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."
