Community Profile: Vicky Rideout
Steering Committee Member & Volunteer, Tompkins Stairway Garden
When Vicky Rideout moved to Bernal Heights, she quickly noticed something troubling in her new neighborhood: a neglected staircase that had become a source of concern for local residents. Rather than simply accepting this as an unfortunate fact of urban life, Vicky decided to investigate. What she discovered was a bureaucratic gap that explained everything. While the city owned the property, it claimed no responsibility for its upkeep. The staircase had fallen through the cracks, literally and figuratively.
But Vicky saw an opportunity where others might have seen only frustration. She reached out to the mayor’s office, researched property ownership, and began organizing her neighbors. Despite some initial setbacks, she persisted in bringing people together. What started as informal conversations eventually became organized meetings with both neighbors and city officials. Through these efforts, Vicky and a dedicated group of neighbors formed a street park and took on the responsibility of maintaining the staircase themselves. They secured support from city agencies through the provision of supplies and trash removal, creating a sustainable model for community stewardship.
The transformation that followed exceeded even Vicky’s initial hopes. What began as a modest cleanup effort evolved into a major neighborhood improvement project, supported by grants and sustained through ongoing volunteer efforts. The once-problematic space became a community asset that enhanced neighborhood spirit, improved safety, and reduced the negative behaviors that had previously plagued the area. Today, residents regularly use the transformed stairway, and it serves as a gathering point that brings the community together.
Photo Credit: Jason Corning, San Francisco Chronicle
Throughout this journey, Vicky developed a leadership style rooted in relationship-building and inclusive engagement. She speaks warmly about the opportunity to meet and connect with neighbors through volunteer work, emphasizing how this shared effort has fostered a genuine sense of community. She actively welcomed new neighbors and families into the project, understanding that a thriving community space requires fresh energy and continued participation.
Vicky has always been candid about the challenges that come with community stewardship. Volunteer burnout remains a persistent concern, and the space requires continuous maintenance and sustained engagement from residents. The neighborhood itself is changing, with some original residents moving away while new families arrive. Balancing the involvement of long-term residents with the welcome of newcomers requires ongoing attention and effort.
The success of the Tompkins Stairway project has never been Vicky’s alone. She acknowledges the crucial support of community members like Karen Rhoades, Scott Knudson, and Architect Andre Rothblatt, among others, who have stepped in to help when needed. This collaborative network has proven essential, particularly during moments when the demands of maintaining the space might otherwise have overwhelmed a smaller group.
Today, while Vicky has stepped back from the day-to-day stewardship of the project, she remains deeply committed to its success. She continues to volunteer on work days and serves on the Steering Committee, contributing her institutional knowledge and community connections to guide the project’s ongoing development. Her involvement reflects a sustainable model of leadership, one where founding energy transitions into continued support, allowing new leaders to emerge while maintaining continuity and wisdom. Her focus remains squarely on ensuring the Tompkins Stairway Garden continues to thrive as the community asset she helped create, preserving the relationships and neighborhood spirit that have made the project such a meaningful part of Bernal Heights.