The Greenway Project

Greenway Gardening Party

Saturday, March 26th, 9 am-noon
at the Children's Play Garden - Campbell/ Rutland Aves.

The Visitacion Valley Greenway is composed of a linear series of six publicly owned parcels, cutting a verdant swath through the heart of Visitacion Valley. It is being developed by the Greenway Project in partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (SFRPD). In 1999, after four years of intensive organizing and lobbying, the Greenway Project, the community, the Trust for Public Land and the SFRPD, created an agreement with the Public Utilities Commission, which has jurisdiction of the parcels, stating that the sites will be transferred to the SFRPD once the infrastructure (pathways, irrigation and fencing) are completed. So far funding has been secured for all of the six lots. Three lots, the Hans Schiller Plaza on Leland Avenue, the Agriculture Garden at Campbell and Rutland, and the Children's Play Garden between Campbell and Teddy Avenues have been completed. The Herb Garden, in the end stages of construction will open this Fall. The final 2 sites, the Community (Raymond/Arleta Ave.) and Native Plant (Tucker/Tioga Ave.) Gardens, will be completed by the beginning of 2008. Visitacion Valley Greenway is already considered a new paradigm for infill open space.
In its entirety, the Greenway will function as an outdoor classroom and recreation area beautifying the landscape and uniting the diverse groups and generations of Visitacion Valley. This park land is anticipated to incorporate a native plant garden, children's play garden, various fruit and street trees, public art made by school children and community members, agricultural crops, herb gardens, a Senior Pavilion, job training and horticultural classes. The Hans Schiller Plaza opening onto Leland Avenue - the neighborhood commercial area - is the southern gateway to the Greenway and an important part of the revitalization of the commercial area.

Click here to see news on individual parcels in the Greenway.

When completed, the entire Greenway will function as a corridor of native and other beneficial plants that attract insect and avian pollinators. Pathways will provide a pedestrian connection from the lower to the upper Valley. Soil erosion prevention, water wise irrigation, and drought-resistant planting methods will be practiced. Thematic design of fencing and sidewalks will create a visual unity throughout the Greenway. The ultimate goals are to establish a dialogue within the community so that, eventually, the entire neighborhood will be greened by incorporating methods practiced and promoted in the Greenway and provide educational and recreational opportunities for the residents of Visitacion Valley and beyond.
What sets the Greenway apart from other neighborhood parks is that it is an outdoor classroom. Last year, the Visitacion Valley Green Stewards program was inaugurated, The Green Stewards consists of 18 middle school to high school students from the area who are learning about environmental education, career opportunities and are participating in wilderness trips with the groups, ETC and the Sierra Club. The Scully Foundation funds this program.
Among its numerous awards, the Greenway Project has received two San Francisco Beautiful Awards for Beautification, and the Trust for Public Land has given its prestigious Lachman Soulage Award to the Greenway Project's leadership. The Greenway represents an outstanding model for using public and private sources for funding its capital improvements and creating a sustainable program for the future. The SF Recycling Company has generously funded construction of the Greenway's gates and contributed materials, such as compost and urbanite. Beautification of the neighborhood has been a spur to economic development and revitalization.

The Greenway Project was instrumental in the SFRPD's design and construction of the new Visitacion Valley Playground and Clubhouse, which opened in October 2003 for which it is a recipient of the San Francisco Beautiful 2004 Award for B eautification. VVGP participated in the landscape design and installation of plants for the new Clubhouse. VVGP also has participated in the design process for the renovation of Kelloch Velasco Park with the Recreation and Park Department. Working with Harkness Avenue Neighbors, VVGP has helped beautify the vacant DPW lot at Rutland and Harkness. VVGP continues to partner with local community based organizations, such as the Beacon Center and the Visitacion Valley Community Center. In addition VVGP works with other organizations such as the Friends of the Urban Forest to plant trees throughout the Valley, the SF Parks Trust and the Trust for Public Land.