San Francisco, CA —Mayor London N. Breed, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, community organizations, and Fillmore neighborhood families kicked off the holiday season today with the reopening of the Fillmore Turk Mini Park. The mini park’s $2.6 million community-led renovation creates a more comfortable green oasis in the heart of the historic neighborhood.
Renovations include improved drainage, an enhanced outdoor space and lawn with new landscaping for the community to gather and enjoy, upgraded lighting to boost security, game tables, and new benches that double as sculptures to offer park-goers with an inviting area to lounge. Additionally, the park’s performance stage was updated to ensure its accessibility.
“As someone who grew up in the neighborhood, I am especially proud of the re-opening of the Fillmore Turk Mini Park,” said Mayor London Breed. “San Francisco is known for its world -class parks and open spaces, and now we have another beautiful location for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. I want to thank this community and the neighbors who inspired this renovation, and our partners who helped fund such a special space for our City.”
During the celebration, CHARM -a collaborative of City Departments and nonprofits dedicated to youth and health- kicked off the park’s traditional series of tree giveaways. Additional tree giveaways will follow in the Bayview and Civic Center on Dec. 17 and 18. The celebration was immediately followed by the Second Annual Holiday Night Market and Block Party at Fillmore and O'Farrell streets featuring live music, a kids’ wonderland, food trucks, and local vendors.
The New Community Leadership Foundation (NCLF) were the catalyst for the park improvements beginning in 2016 after receiving a $330,000 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond’s Community Opportunity Fund. San Francisco Beautiful served as NCLF’s nonprofit sponsor. In total, bond funding provided $1.6 million toward the project. The rest of the renovation’s funding was paid for through a combination of public funding earmarked by former Supervisor Vallie Brown, a Community Challenge Grant, open space funds, and pro bono landscape design services from TS Studio. More than 200 people participated in the redesign process before the project broke ground in winter of 2022.
“The community was clear they wanted to increase the park’s capacity for gatherings, events, programming and fun activities,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Neighbors of all ages shaped this project every step of the way and their love for the Fillmore shines through.”
“As a proud sponsor and supporter of the Fillmore Turk Mini Park since 2015, we are excited to see the park open,” said NCLF Executive Director Majeid Crawford. “This is the realization of our collective vision for the historic Fillmore District, home to generations of African Americans—a revitalized park where all community members have a place to call home and enjoy the wonderful activities and programs. NCLF thanks Mayor London Breed, the community, the Landscape Architects and City Department donors for their support."
A former train yard, the Fillmore Turk Mini Park was constructed in 1968 by the San Francisco Municipal Railway and later transferred to the Recreation and Park Department. It was last renovated in 1999.