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Mayor Lurie Breaks Ground on Renovation of Buchanan Street Mall to Create New Recreational Space, Improve Safety, and Celebrate History
03/31/2025
[ Article originally appeared in www.sf.gov ]
Mayor Daniel Lurie and State Senator Scott Wiener were joined by other city leaders and residents to break ground on the long-anticipated transformation of Buchanan Street Mall. More than a decade in the making, the project will turn the five-block corridor into a vibrant public space for neighborhood residents, strengthening community connections while honoring the Western Addition’s rich cultural heritage. “Buchanan Mall is more than just a park—it’s a symbol of resilience, history, and the power of our Western Addition neighborhood,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “This transformation reflects what’s possible when government works hand-in-hand with community members and will create a welcoming, safe, and vibrant space for generations to come.” A collaboration between the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, the Trust for Public Land (TPL), Citizen Film, Success Centers, and other local organizations, the renovation will include:
The $34 million investment is funded through a mix of federal, state, and local sources, including $4.8 million secured by Senator Wiener in the state budget $12 million in Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership federal grants administered through California State Parks; and $5.8 million from TPL through Prop 68. Additional funding includes over $6 million from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission as a collaborative investment in sewer and green infrastructure, development impact fees, the 2020 Health and Recovery Bond and 2012 Neighborhood Parks Bond, and other city sources. “Buchanan Mall is a terrific addition to our City, adding green space for the community to come together while honoring the rich heritage of the Western Addition,” said State Senator Scott Wiener. “I’m incredibly proud to have played a part in the creation of this community led effort to create a vibrant new public space in San Francisco.” Designed to promote intergenerational connections and healing, the renovated Buchanan Street Mall will reflect the resilience of a community that endured decades of redevelopment and disinvestment. The project’s vision was shaped through neighborhood feedback gathered in over 20 community events, design workshops, healing and listening circles, as well as more than 1,150 survey responses and 12 documentary videos. Local residents recorded personal stories and were hired to contribute to early design prototypes. “This intergenerational project is a testament of how to uplift our past into sustainable, transformational change that benefits Western Addition neighbors for generations to come. This renovation has thoughtfully been created in partnership with community to heal and create green, connected, and vibrant neighborhoods we can be proud of," said Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, who represents the Western Addition neighborhood. "Our residents are thrilled to have the city focus on strengthening this historic neighborhood's gardens, art, history, and local community into a new hub we hope many will come to visit." “This project is a true reflection of the people of the Fillmore—shaped by voices from every generation. It’s about creating a space that honors the neighborhood’s rich history while providing a place for future generations to connect, grow, and thrive,” said Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “We are committed to making sure that every neighborhood has access to equitable, vibrant public spaces. We’re proud to help bring this vision to life with the community every step of the way." The conceptual design, developed by the Office of Cheryl Barton with input from Studio MLA, was approved by the Recreation and Park Commission in April 2020. San Francisco Public Works is providing landscape design, engineering, and construction management services for the project, which is anticipated to be completed in late 2026. “The Buchanan Mall renovation embodies a collaborative partnership involving City departments and the Fillmore community that incorporates environmentally sustainable components, such as rain gardens and drought-tolerant native plants, as well as art and other beautification elements that help tell the story of this iconic neighborhood,” said Public Works Director Carla Short. “Today’s groundbreaking marks an exciting milestone in the transformation of this important public space.” Originally a road and later built as a pedestrian corridor by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency in 1975, Buchanan Street Mall was transferred to Rec and Park in 1976 and underwent renovations in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with additional repairs in the early 2000s. A grassroots effort in 2015—led by Citizen Film and Green Streets, and supported by the Exploratorium Studio for Public Space—brought new life to the space with temporary gardens, seating, historical displays, and audio dome installations sharing community stories—laying the groundwork for the renovation. “The heart of the Fillmore community beats through Buchanan Street Mall, where history is about to be etched into every mural, and echoed in every playground. Years in the making, this transformation is a testament to community power, honoring those who have walked these blocks for generations and ensuring that future generations have a vibrant, safe, and green gathering place to call their own,” said TPL California State Director, Guillermo Rodriguez. “We are proud to have joined with the community, San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and partners in making today a reality.” The scale of the project and associated Park Improvement Equity Action Initiative would not have been possible without dedicated and persistent community advocacy. Grassroots professional storytelling nonprofit Citizen Film has been organizing in the Fillmore since 2014, asking neighbors about their hopes and dreams for their neighborhood park and working tirelessly to ensure the authentic vision comes to pass. “The Buchanan Mall has been a community-driven project, and we are proud to see it come to fruition,” said Citizen Film Outreach Director Tamara Walker. “This park signifies a change in the city’s relationship with the community. It serves as a teachable moment for neighbors to learn about the process by which the city creates park space and how they can be a part of it. It brings opportunities to a space where residents once felt they were not invited to the table to make changes in the space they use daily. We have worked together to uplift the morale in the Western Addition through the Buchanan Mall Park project, ensuring that the stories, history, and community legacies are not forgotten and creating a rich five-block park space for future generations to play and learn. This park is just one example of the many ways the city, state, and community-based organizations can collaborate to create a healthy and vibrant space for people.” Rec and Park is partnering with Fillmore-based Success Centers as the project's workforce development lead. Success Centers is running pre-apprenticeship training for local residents, offering support services to remove barriers to employment. They are working closely with Rec and Park, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development’s CityBuild program, and contractor McGuire and Hester to place trainees in jobs on the project.
“The project is truly deserved by our youth and community, and it’s an honor to have the opportunity to work on it,” said resident Erin Westry, a graduate of the construction training program. “Being able to contribute to my own neighborhood means so much, especially knowing that others here look up to me. It’s a blessing to be part of something that will benefit the children—they deserve it.” Back To News |
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