If you’ve been to the Bernal Heights Rec Center Plaza over the last year, you’ve seen what a difference we can make. A once-barren blacktop now has a nature play space for kids, trees for shade, and planters. We’ve added benches and tables to turn it into a real town square for Bernal residents — and this is just the beginning of its transformation into a livable, sustainable plaza.
It’s one story out of more than 30 projects now underway or completed across San Francisco.
Howard Langton Community Garden is a green oasis in the heart of SoMa. Connecticut and Arkansas gardens give local Potrero Hill neighbors a place to grow tomatoes and kale right in their own neighborhood. The Visitacion Valley Agriculture Lot has become a working source of produce and fruit trees, and a welcome gathering spot for the community. Tompkins Stairway Garden is now the main route for Bernal residents walking to the Alemany Farmers Market, its tiled staircase lined with greenery instead of bare concrete. Pennsylvania Gardens shows what Dogpatch neighbors can build even in the shadow of a freeway.
“Greening Projects helped us plan and execute the first fundraising campaign for the Tompkins Stairs, and it was a huge success. They generated strong community support and involvement!”
— Vicky Rideout, Tompkins Stairway Garden
More is on the way. An unaccepted street that’s turned into an unofficial long-term parking lot will soon become Ogden Avenue Garden — a greenspace and playground for the local daycare next door. NOPA is getting its own community garden at Kimbell Fields. On Cortland Avenue, Gateway Community Garden will greet everyone entering Bernal Heights. And Ridge Lane is next in line, moving through planning alongside several other sites across the city.
Why we keep doing this
A garden does more than look nice. It slows rainwater down instead of letting it run straight into the street. It replaces heat-radiating pavement with shade you can actually stand under. Pollinators show up. So do neighbors — to plant, to weed, to sit on a bench they helped build.
None of these projects start with us. They start with a community that already knows the site: the corner that floods every winter, the lot that’s been fenced off for a decade, the block that could really use a tree. What we bring is the part that’s harder to do alone — fiscal sponsorship, grant support, design and permitting, volunteer coordination, and a plan for who will water the plants after opening day.
“What began as a simple project to clear some Scotch Broom off a hillside on DPW land in Bernal Heights has become so much more, thanks to the guidance and support of Mike and Jorge. They helped us get a website up and a fundraiser going, and stay in regular contact to help us track the money we raise. We now have a budget to buy plants and tools. Without their help, we would never have been able to concentrate solely on the rewarding work of habitat restoration.”
— Lori Eanes, Bernal Wild
Join us in building a greener SF
Ridge Lane, Ogden Avenue, Kimbell Fields, and Gateway Community Garden are just the start — and none of them get built without people showing up now. Each one needs the same thing Tompkins Stairway and Bernal Wild needed: neighbors willing to show up, groups with a site in mind, and supporters who want to help fund the transformation. We need you this season, not someday.
Join Friends of Kimbell Community Garden’s picnic this Saturday!
To celebrate our past year of progress, we’re hosting a community picnic this Saturday, September 26, from 12:00–3:00 p.m. in Kimbell Park at the corner of Geary Boulevard and Steiner Street.
Here’s what you have to look forward to:
picnic fare generously donated by 4505 Burgers & BBQ, Jane the Bakery, and Wise Sons Jewish Deli
a showcase of the latest garden design concepts and presentations from our steering committee
a silent auction featuring a Palm Springs getaway and gift cards from Sloat Garden Center, Imperial Day Spa, and Pinsa Rossa
family fun including temporary tattoos and giant bubble wands from our friends at SF Recreation and Parks
Mexican Spirits & Wine Tasting
Mexican Spirits & Wine Tasting
A Fundraiser for Ogden Avenue Gardens
We had so much fun last year; we’re doing it again — premium tequila, smoky mezcal, and the wines of Mexico, poured for a good cause.
Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the rich spirits and wines of Mexico. Sip your way through exclusive tastings paired with small bites crafted to complement every pour. Gather with friends, savor the flavors, and raise a glass for something worth growing.
All proceeds benefit Ogden Avenue Gardens — help us grow something beautiful for our community.
📅 Saturday, October 17, 2026
🕕 6:00 – 9:00 PM
📍 Baukunst, 433 Cortland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
Come thirsty, leave inspired.