Nearly $4 million in federal funding is being dedicated to renovating San Francisco’s Buchanan Street Mall, Mayor London Breed announced recently.
The federal allocation of $3.9 million means the improvement project is now fully funded.
The Buchanan Street Mall stretches five blocks between Eddy and Grove streets in the city’s Western Addition.
Construction will begin on the first three blocks, from Eddy Street to Golden Gate Avenue, and McAllister Street to Fulton Street, in Spring of 2023. Construction of the remaining two blocks, from Golden Gate Avenue to McAllister Street and Fulton Street to Grove Street, will begin in Summer 2024.
“The community has shaped every aspect of the plan for Buchanan Street Mall. This is their vision and reflects the neighborhood’s rich culture and history. We are so excited to bring the design to life.”
Phil Ginsberg, San Francisco Recreation and Parks
City officials said the vision for the Buchanan Street Mall Project, developed in an ongoing partnership with the community since 2014, is to create a vibrant, safe, and equitable gathering space that encourages interaction between people of all ages.
The project’s design includes a flexible open plaza, a creative new playground, sports courts, adult exercise equipment, a barbecue area, community gardens, a canopy stage for events, expansive lawns for relaxing, and a Memory Walk incorporating art and interpretive elements to tell the stories of the neighborhood.
“The community has shaped every aspect of the plan for Buchanan Street Mall. This is their vision and reflects the neighborhood’s rich culture and history. We are so excited to bring the design to life,” said Phil Ginsberg, the city’s Recreation and Park Department general manager.
The Buchanan Street Mall conceptual design was funded by The Trust for Public Land and its donors. Seed funding came from the 2012 Neighborhood Parks Bond and Let’sPlaySF! program, with additional funding coming from the 2020 Health and Recovery Bond, development impact fees, and the Buchanan Joint Green Infrastructure Project, a partnership between the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, as well as California’s Prop. 68, which voters passed in 2018. Additionally, Sen. Scott Wiener worked to secure $4.8 million in state funding for the renovations.
“As someone who grew up in the Western Addition, I am proud to see this community-focused project move forward,” said Mayor London Breed. “Parks and public spaces are critical for the development and well-being of our communities, and as we continue to recover from the pandemic, we need to ensure that we are investing in public spaces for all San Franciscans to grow and thrive. I want to thank the National Park Service and the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership for providing the extra funding needed to transform this space.”