Parks for People
Credit: Nita Winter
Less than half of all Bay Area children 15 years old and younger live within walking distance of a park. For these children, outdoor play spaces are streets and vacant lots–and that's if they get outside at all.
In San Francisco, TPL's Parks for People initiative is trans-forming worn-out local parks into vital community resources that promote neighborhood health and sustainability. The program focuses on:
Park Design and Build
Our team is leading the way in establishing a parks program that uses sophisticated research and GIS mapping techniques to pinpoint areas of need, and then engages the local community in every aspect of park design and stewarding.
Community-centric Design
Our hands-on design process with local residents ensures that the space reflects the unique character and needs of the community it will serve, setting it up for long term success. Wherever possible (and often at the request of the community) our designs incorporate green building practices and other environmentally friendly features such as living roofs and rainwater catchment systems.
Fundraising
Strong partnerships are at the core of our most successful parks, and park funding is the basis of many of our partnerships. The majority of our parks bring together funds from public agencies; federal, state, and local governments; private foundations; corporations; and individuals.
Current projects include:
Boeddeker Park
Boeddeker Park is located in the Tenderloin, a neighborhood that hosts the highest concentration of people in the city, but which suffers from a critical lack of open space. read more »Potrero Hill Playground
Located between a middle-class neighborhood of single-family homes and two of San Francisco's largest public housing projects, Potrero Hill serves families from across the economic spectrum. read more »
Hayes Valley Playground
Hayes Valley Playground is a quarter-acre inner city playground and clubhouse located in a diverse, dynamic San Francisco neighborhood with a strong sense of community. read more »Bertha Port Park
Until recently, West Oakland's Bertha Port Park featured only a quarter-acre sandy lot, a single tree, and a forlorn blue statue of a dolphin. read more »
