News Releases
The latest news and announcements from Mayor London N. Breed

Mayor Lee Announces Recipients of City Grants to Green & Beautify Neighborhoods

Investments in Environmentally Sustainable Improvement Projects will Green & Beautify City Streets, Schools & Parks

Mayor Edwin M. Lee and City Administrator Naomi Kelly announced $1.2 million in matching Community Challenge Grants to residents, businesses, schools, non-profits and community groups to make neighborhood greening and beautification improvements. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) also contributed funding for projects with stormwater benefits to the City’s sewer system.

“These are innovative projects that were created and inspired by residents and businesses who will be making improvements to their own neighborhoods,” said Mayor Lee. “Community Challenge Grants help all of San Francisco’s diverse communities improve their streets, parks and schools while enhancing the economic vitality and vibrancy of our City.”

Funding for Community Challenge Grants comes from City businesses that voluntarily designate one percent of their business tax toward Community Challenge Grants. The program is an important tool for communities who want to leverage public and private dollars to undertake neighborhood improvement projects.

“We are allowing the creative ideas generated from grassroots community groups to become reality,” said City Administrator Kelly. “Many of these projects to improve our City’s quality of life and environmental health would never be implemented if not for the Community Challenge Grants program.”

The bulk of the awards are for permeable sidewalk landscaping, public artwork, graffiti and litter abatement, community gardens and gathering spaces, equitably covering all areas of the City.

A portion of Community Challenge Grants are supported by the SFPUC under the Urban Watershed Stewardship Grants. These include sidewalk landscaping, community gardens, and rainwater harvesting systems. SFPUC funded five Urban Watershed Stewardship projects totaling $200,000.

“We’re supporting the growing use of sustainable green technologies in our neighborhoods to wisely manage stormwater,” said SFPUC General Manager Harlan H. Kelly Jr. “As we plan for the effects of climate change, these green stormwater strategies are a key part of our long-term upgrade to the city sewer system.”

This year, Community Challenge Grants partnered with the San Francisco Planning Department to provide resources to community groups, businesses, schools, and nonprofit organizations. The new Community Challenge Grants Market Octavia and the Eastern Neighborhoods Area Plans Pilot Program is geographically focused on projects that create green spaces, gathering places, gardens, mini-parks, public art, and other neighborhood amenities that enhance recreation and open space needs.  Market Octavia and the Eastern Neighborhoods, are the focus of this pilot program. The Planning Department funded seven projects totaling $275,771.

“Greening San Francisco streets and creating public spaces for the community to enjoy are long-term investments in our neighborhoods for residents and visitors alike,” said Planning Director John Rahaim. “We are looking forward to working with the Community Challenge Grantees to help provide valuable resources that will continue to enhance neighborhood character and safety.” 

Community Challenge Grant Program Award Recipients

1.            Bayview Hunters Point Foundation Youth Services Program
                Awarded:            $20,000
                Project:                Youth employment litter abatement program.

2.            Chinatown Community Development Center
               Awarded:            $16,030
               Project:                Adopt-An-Alley & Community Clean-Up Program in Chinatown.

3.            Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco
               Awarded:            $100,000
               Project:                Creation of a community gathering space on the bridge at Portsmouth Square.

4.            Community Youth Center of San Francisco
                Awarded:            $70,000
                Project:                Creation of an “Asian Themed” community garden in the Bayview.

5.            Delivering Innovation in Supportive Housing (DISH)
               Awarded:            $40,000
               Project:                Public art on the Windsor Hotel, facing Boeddeker Park.

6.            Diamond Heights Neighbors, sponsored by SF Parks Alliance
               Awarded:            $46,000
               Project:                Greening & landscaping of the medians on Diamond Heights Boulevard.

7.            Dolores Street Community Services, sponsored by SF Clean City Coalition
               Awarded:            $25,000
                Project:                Street sweeping & maintenance program along Cesar Chavez Street and the surrounding area.

8.            Enterprise for High School Students
                Awarded:            $57,932
                Project:                Youth employment summer gardening program.

9.            Inner City Youth
                Awarded:            $26,000
                Project:                Youth employment litter abatement program in OMI.

10.          Nature in the City, sponsored by SF Parks Alliance
                Awarded:            $70,000
                Project:                Adah’s Stairway Beautification & Greening Project

11.          North West Bernal Alliance
                Awarded:            $12,550
                Project:                Graffiti abatement program

12.          Ocean Avenue Association, sponsored by SF Beautiful
                Awarded:            $60,000
                Project:                Creation of two community gathering spaces.

13           Rebirth and Development, Inc.
                Awarded:            $29,900
                Project:                Public art & greening project in front of the All In Common Gardens.

14.          Revere Neighbors, sponsored by SF Clean Coalition City
                Awarded:            $29,100
                Project:                Public art on Revere and Selby Streets.

15.          SF Beautiful
               Awarded:            $14,728
               Project:                City-wide Public Art Program on MTA buses.

16.          SF Beautiful
               Awarded:            $34,111
               Project:                Public art & traffic calming project on Broad Street in the OMI.

17.          Top of Broadway CBD
               Awarded:            $30,000
               Project:                Installation of historical markers in the North Beach neighborhood.

18.          UP Urban, Inc.
               Awarded:            $44,165
               Project:                Creation of a community gathering space “Dogpatch Arts Plaza.”

19.          WalkStop, sponsored by SF Beautiful
               Awarded:            $33,300
               Project:                Public art, physical improvements & landscaping at the intersection of Haight and Fillmore Streets.
 
CCG/SFPUC Urban Watershed Stewardship Grant Program Award Recipients

20.          Climate Action Now!, sponsored by SF Parks Alliance
               Awarded:            $25,000
               Project:                Sidewalk landscaping & creation of community gardens.

21.          Community Grows Garden
               Awarded:            $35,500
               Project:                Installation of a greenhouse & rainwater catchment system.

22.          Far Out West Garden, sponsored by SF Parks Alliance
               Awarded:            $29,500
               Project:                Community garden & installation of a rainwater harvesting system.

23.          Starr King Elementary School, sponsored by the SF Beautiful
               Awarded:            $93,000
               Project:                Community garden & installation of a rainwater harvesting system.

24.          Lakeshore Elementary School, sponsored by Tuolumne River Trust 
               Awarded:            $17,000
               Project:                Installation of a rainwater harvesting system.

CCG/SF Planning Market-Octavia Eastern Neighborhood Grant Program (MOEN) Award Recipients

25.          Angel Alley Beautification Committee, sponsored by SF Parks Alliance
               Awarded:            $49,310
               Project:                Community Gathering Space at Tennessee and 22nd Streets.

26.          Black Rock Arts Foundation
               Awarded:            $54,000
               Project:                Public Art located at Patricia’s Green in Hayes Valley.

27.          Connecticut Friendship Garden Committee, sponsored by SF Parks Alliance
               Awarded:            $46,051
               Project:                Community & Outdoor Classroom at Connecticut and 22nd Streets.

28.          Friends of Fallen Bridge Park/MUNA Committee, sponsored by SF Parks Alliance
               Awarded:            $9,410
               Project:                Physical improvements at Fallen Bridge Park.

29.          Friends of the Urban Forest
               Awarded:            $32,000
               Project:                Sidewalk landscaping in the Dogpatch and Potrero Hill neighborhoods.

30.          Ivy Street Improvement Committee
               Awarded:            $30,000
               Project:                Public Art located in Hayes Valley.

31.          Tunnel Top Park Committee, sponsored by SF Parks Alliance
               Awarded:            $55,000
               Project:                Creation of a mini-park at 25th and Pennsylvania Streets.