You know how it is. You plan a workday a month in advance. It hasn’t rained since spring, the volunteers are signed up, everything is lined up, and then the forecast says rain. Oh well. The show must go on.
We’d booked a dumpster a week out, set for delivery the day before so it would be waiting for us. That day came and went, and no dumpster showed up. By morning, there was still no dumpster, and now it was raining.
We spent most of the morning chasing it. It’s close, they said. An hour later it was stuck in traffic. An hour after that, it was stuck at the bridge. It finally showed up a full day late, but even that couldn’t dampen our crew's spirits.
A Great Day Anyway
Despite dumpster drama and a little rain, it was a great day.
We teamed up with Rebuilding Together San Francisco, corporate volunteers from Stewart Title, and local residents to prep an overgrown basketball court at Mariners’ Village Park in Bayview-Hunters Point. Over the day, the crew pulled weeds, dug out invasive plants, trimmed trees, and shoveled dirt. They also cleaned up more poop than I care to mention. Nobody complained.
As we worked, residents and volunteers swapped memories of the space from their younger years. Many said they felt real pride in helping bring it back.
Ron Arana Jr., a board member of Rebuilding Together San Francisco, thanked the volunteers afterward: “Thank you for your work on the greening projects and for helping make a meaningful difference in our communities.”
Justin Sommer of Stewart Title shared his own reflection:
“Seeing our regional teams from Stewart Title National Commercial Services unite for urban greening and community wellness is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together.”
From Forgotten Lot to Future Community Space
Funding cuts and decades of underinvestment in an underserved community left this site unusable. It sat empty and became a blight on the neighborhood. Now it’s cleared and ready for its makeover.
A City of San Francisco Community Challenge Grant, plus all that volunteer labor, means we can move on to the next steps: replacing the court surface and adding new fencing. When it’s finished, the space will be a vibrant recreational hub for neighborhood youth, with brand-new hoops and a re-graded, painted court. Beside it, a common area with seating and tables will give neighbors a place to gather, with a view out over the bay. The whole site will be a sustainable landscape designed to help absorb stormwater, prevent localized flooding, and build climate resilience for the neighborhood.
By the end of the day, the dumpster was full, and the volunteers were wet but happy. We’re looking forward to a new green space in the Bayview, and we’re hoping it arrives a little more on schedule than the dumpster did.
Join Us
This is a behind-the-scenes look at Greening Projects' work: the early mornings, the muddy boots, the logistics that don’t go to plan, and the neighbors who show up anyway. Days like this one turn vacant lots into places people want to be.
There’s room for you on the next one. Whether you want to swing a shovel, bring your team from work, or just come see what a workday looks like, we’d love to have you.
Bring a rain jacket. We’ll try to have the dumpster there on time.