San Francisco, CA – Today, District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio, Senator Scott Wiener, and Mayor Daniel Lurie’s Chief of Climate, Transportation & Mobility Alicia John-Baptiste announced a coordinated city and state investment to revitalize Sunset Boulevard, a major recreation and open space corridor on San Francisco’s westside.
$1 million will be dedicated to the Sunset Boulevard Recycled Water Project. The improvements, designed by Public Works, will replace potable water supplied for irrigation with highly treated recycled water that exceeds state standards. Senator Scott Wiener successfully secured this funding in the California state budget this fiscal year.
The remaining $500,000 will launch a new maintenance and workforce training program, a partnership of Recreation and Parks, Northern California Laborers Training Center, and Public Works. Supervisor Joel Engardio prioritized this request in the city budget, which also secured support from Mayor Daniel Lurie.
“Sunset Boulevard should be a gem of San Francisco. The greenbelt has the potential to create an ‘emerald necklace’ of San Francisco that connects Lake Merced and Fort Funston, Ocean Beach and Sunset Dunes, and Golden Gate Park. This continuous green loop will let residents and visitors revel in the natural beauty our city offers,” said Supervisor Joel Engardio. “But for many years, Sunset Boulevard has not received the care it deserves. A combination of drought, deferred maintenance, and broken irrigation pipes have resulted in a boulevard far less green and vibrant as it could be. This new funding will ensure Sunset Boulevard receives the same level of care and staffing as other prominent greenspaces in San Francisco. But more importantly, it also showcases an investment in our incredible workforce, who help make our neighborhoods vibrant and beautiful places to live, play, and visit.”
“I am grateful this important project was able to be included in the State Budget,” said Senator Scott Wiener. “Since 2023, Supervisor Engardio has been engaging with my office about how the State could contribute to this important infrastructure project. While improving the streetscape remains the primary objective, I am thrilled that the Public Works-Recreation and Parks partnership will create a workforce training program. I am thankful for Mayor Lurie and Supervisor Engardio’s leadership in making this project a reality.”
“The new partnership and investment focusing on the improvement of Sunset Boulevard will advance the recent momentum in the revitalization of this important westside corridor,” said Public Works Director Carla Short. “The collaborative operation that brings together City departments, elected leaders, labor and the community demonstrates our joint resolve to create a more resilient and beautiful greenway.”
“This investment is an exciting opportunity to reimagine what Sunset Boulevard can be – a vibrant, sustainable green space that truly serves the public,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “We’re honored that Rec and Park will assist in its care, and we’re grateful for the recognition of our dedicated staff. The men and women of Rec and Park take great pride in serving San Francisco, and we look forward to bringing that same commitment to Sunset Boulevard.”
“This exciting investment builds on the past 20 years of workforce development collaboration between the Laborers Union and the City and County of San Francisco, including our ApprenticeshipSF partnership with the Recreation and Parks Department and SF Public Works, as well as the Mario De La Torre Academy pre-apprenticeship program,” said Leonard Gonzales, Executive Director of the Northern California Laborers Training Center. “Thanks to Supervisor Engardio’s leadership and support from Mayor Lurie, the Sunset Boulevard project will not only help beautify the neighborhood, but provide industry-recognized training for jobseekers looking to enter the unionized maintenance and construction fields.”
Measuring over 2 miles in length, Sunset Boulevard is a 60-acre greenbelt that connects Golden Gate Park and Lake Merced. A biodiversity hotspot, the corridor features 30 rain gardens, native plant habitat, a multipurpose recreational trail, and exercise equipment. In June 2025, Supervisor Engardio successfully nominated Sunset Boulevard as a Priority Conservation Area, a regionally significant designation adopted by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
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