Remembering Scott Knudsen: A Legacy of Care in Our Community
Friends and neighbors,
It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of our dear friend and longtime community steward, Scott Knudsen (1968–2026).
For nearly two decades, Scott was a vital heartbeat of our neighborhood. Back in 2007, when the call went out to transform an abandoned plot of land surrounding the Tompkins Stairs, Scott was one of the very first to step forward. What began as a grassroots effort blossomed into the thriving Tompkins Stairway Garden we cherish today, largely due to Scott’s tireless dedication, grant writing, hand-watering through scorching summers, and countless hours behind a gas-powered weed whacker.
Beyond his green thumb and endless volunteer hours, Scott helped weave the fabric of our community together. As his husband, Chris Grano, beautifully reflected: “During this time, he made so many friends with the neighbors, and I feel like we have a community instead of just people living next to each other.”
Scott always had a warm smile, a ready laugh, and time to stop and talk. He went above and beyond for this little corner of San Francisco, quietly and generously year after year.
We invite you to read our full tribute to celebrate Scott’s remarkable life, his enduring contributions to the Tompkins Stairway Garden, and the warmth and spirit he brought to all of us:
Rest in peace, Scott. You will be deeply missed and forever remembered in every bloom along the stairs.
In “Small isn’t the same as insignificant,” the post explores the profound impact of hyper-local action and neighborhood-level stewardship. It emphasizes that meaningful, long-term community health is built through consistent, sustained effort, such as caring for a single street tree or a small patch of dirt, rather than grand gestures or performative campaigns. By challenging cynicism, the article highlights how small, intentional acts are vital to building resilient communities.
You can read the full post here:
Special Events:
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.
Halloween on Cortland is an annual community celebration that transforms Bernal Heights into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly festive hub. Founded and hosted by Greening Projects, this event reimagines urban space by temporarily closing Cortland Avenue to vehicles, creating a safe and inclusive environment where neighbors of all ages can connect and celebrate.
Volunteer activities include:
Barricade & Signage Team (The Crypt Keepers of the Gate)
Traffic & Intersection Safety Monitors (”Safety Ghouls”)
Roaming Ambassadors & Crowd Stewards (Wandering Wranglers & Spirit Guides)
Barricade Removal & Traffic Reopening Team (The Curse Breakers & Gate Openers)
Join Us in Bringing the Bernal Heights Town Square to Life!
Are you interested in becoming a steward of the planters at the Bernal Heights Recreation Center? This green installation is a vital step toward a community-driven vision: transforming the blacktop into a vibrant, lush town square.
As a planter steward, you will help maintain this visual demonstration of what’s possible, bringing immediate beauty and greenery to the space. At the same time, we gather community input and secure long-term funding for the full site transformation. Whether you have a green thumb or just a passion for hyper-local urban spaces, your support makes a lasting impact.
Ready to dig in with your neighbors? Reply to this message or sign up today to adopt a planter and help grow our neighborhood’s future!
Workdays:
Mayflower Street Community Clean-Up
Join us for the Mayflower Street Community Clean-Up! Let’s work together to make our neighborhood cleaner, greener, and safer.
The Mayflower Stairs in the Bernal Heights neighborhood of San Francisco connect sections of Mayflower Street from Franconia Street up toward Peralta Avenue and Bernal Heights Boulevard.
Key Details & Location
Location: Mayflower Street, running from Franconia Street to Peralta Avenue (between Esmeralda and Powhattan Avenues) and near Bradford and Carver Streets.
Height & Layout: Features approximately 40 feet of elevation change on the main block, paired with nearby garden pathways with steps at the block ends, connected by rustic dirt paths.
Surroundings: Flanked by the Mayflower Garden, a community green space transformed by local volunteers from an overgrown plot into a habitat for local pollinators and native plants.
Cost: Free and open to the public at all times.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, October 25th
Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Meeting Location: 350 Mayflower St
How You Can Help
Pick up litter
Clear overgrown areas
Keep Mayflower Street clean and welcoming
Build a stronger, more beautiful neighborhood
Questions?
Call Andres at 415-710-2158.
Tompkins Stairway Garden - Once a trash-covered hillside, San Francisco’s Tompkins Stairway Garden is now a safe and welcoming street park, featuring a drought-tolerant garden in year-round bloom and a colorful tiled stairway. Dedicated attention from surrounding neighbors has transformed the site into a community greenspace and pedestrian corridor serving the Alemany Farmers’ Market and nearby schools and shopping districts.
Join us on the first Saturday of each month, 10 a.m. to noon, as we weed, trim, and clean up the garden. Tools and work gloves provided! If you’d like to help out or learn more, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Upper Esmeralda Garden Stairway – The Esmeralda Stairs are a three-block-long set of stairs that people can use to climb the west side of Bernal Hill. The bottom flight of stairs starts at Coleridge St., one block east of Mission St. The middle flight of stairs runs from Prospect Ave. to Winfield St. The top flight of stairs ends at Winfield and Esmeralda Streets. The Esmeralda Stairs are utilitarian, but they’re also fun. Two slides in the mid-section of the stairs are often called the Winfield Street Slides. These slides are 40 feet long, making for an exhilarating return trip after you reach the summit.
The Community Workdays are held on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.