Growing Hope: Transforming San Francisco’s Forgotten Streets
Into Community Gardens, Parks, and Green Spaces
Standing at the corner of Ogden Avenue between Folsom and Gates, I can now see beyond what currently exists. Where most people still see abandoned cars sitting for months, weeds pushing through cracked pavement, and scattered trash caught in the bushes, I see our community’s vibrant green future taking shape.
It all started with a simple comment I made to my daughter while walking past this neglected patch of Bernal Heights. “Somebody should do something about this,” I sighed. With teenage directness that cut through my complacency, she looked at me and said, “Why don’t you do something?”
As excuses formed in my mind, I realized she was right. This spot, our neighborhood space, deserved better. And we, as Bernal Heights residents, deserved better, too.
What began as that challenging conversation has now become a fully formed plan for Ogden Avenue Gardens. We’ve made tremendous progress in recent months. Thanks to the dedication of neighbors and local businesses, we secured Community Challenge Grants that will help begin our transformation. Our landscape architect has completed the final designs, incorporating feedback from community workshops and highlighting native California plants that will support local pollinators. Our team of volunteers continues to raise funds and awareness.
The vision is no longer just in our minds – it’s documented in beautiful renderings showing meandering pathways, educational garden beds, community gathering spaces, and sustainable water features. The permit applications have been submitted to the city, and we’re now in the final waiting period before breaking ground.
When my daughter challenged me to “do something,” she wasn’t just talking about creating a garden – she was talking about creating community. And that’s exactly what’s happening, even before the first shovel breaks ground.
Ogden Avenue Gardens represents just one transformed space among 2,224 “unaccepted streets” scattered throughout San Francisco – public spaces the city doesn’t maintain that hold immense untapped potential.
Forgotten Fragments, Extraordinary Opportunity
These overlooked spaces, alleyways, dead-end streets, and forgotten corridors represent over 61 miles of potential green space waiting to be reclaimed. While individually they might seem insignificant, collectively they offer a remarkable opportunity to address multiple challenges facing our city:
- Environmental healing in a concrete urban landscape
- Community building in an increasingly disconnected world
- Food security for vulnerable populations
- Mental health support through green space access
- Climate resilience through improved stormwater management
The Power of Your Support
With your donation to Greening Projects, we can expand this proven model across San Francisco’s 2,224 unaccepted streets. Your contribution directly enables:
- Community Engagement: Facilitating neighborhood design workshops and volunteer coordination
- Infrastructure Development: Installing irrigation systems, accessible pathways, and garden beds
- Educational Programming: Supporting garden-based learning for all ages
- Maintenance Support: Providing tools, seeds, and technical assistance to ensure long-term success
A City Transformed, One Street At A Time
Your donation transforms unaccepted streets and empty lots into thriving community hubs that grow more valuable with time. Unlike traditional projects, our green spaces flourish through dedicated neighborhood stewards who develop genuine pride and ownership in these shared sanctuaries. This community-driven approach ensures that your contribution yields sustainable benefits for generations, creating a lasting impact beyond the initial transformation.
Join us in Growing Hope.
Two thousand two hundred twenty-four unaccepted streets have represented neglect and missed opportunity for too long. Today, with your support, they can become the green threads that weave our city together – connecting neighbors, nourishing families, and creating resilient communities prepared for whatever challenges lie ahead.
Together, we can grow hope – one forgotten street at a time.