Mid-Market Activation Report
In 1961, a report entitled “What to Do About Market Street” stated that “Market Street is a Paradox. It is San Francisco’s most famous street. It is wide, busy, and important. But is is also congested, dirty and unattractive.” Fifty years later these sentiments still persist. Once Northern California’s center for theatre and entertainment, the […]
Better Market Street
Better Market Street is a coalition of City agencies tasked with improving and enhancing the public realm along Market Street between Octavia Blvd and the Embarcadero. San Francisco Beautiful sits on the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) to the Better Market Streets Initiative. The CAC serves as a liaison to the City’s Better Market Street team, […]
Excelsior Action Group
In 2015 Excelsior Action Group was awarded the Activation Award. This award recognizes those who convert under-utilized spaces into vibrant useful spaces. Excelsior Action Group is a volunteer-driven, community-based, nonprofit organization that leads and implements a variety of projects on the corridor, including both large and small events, capital improvements, beautification, and safety work. Today, they continue […]
Annie Plaza
In 2015 Annie Plaza was awarded the Placemaking Award. This award recognizes contributions that have created a sense of place or identity in a public space. Annie Street is an important pathway for pedestrians connecting Market Street and Mission Street. The Plaza makes it safer for high volumes of pedestrians who use the alley every day to […]
San Francisco Veterans Mural
In 2014 San Francisco Veterans Mural was awarded the Placemaking Award. Amos Gregory founded Veteran’s Alley in San Francisco’s Tenderloin District in October 2011. The mural project uses public art to tell the story of war in the voices of veterans. Veteran’s Alley Mural Project beautifies a previously-blighted space and serves as an inspiration to the community. […]
Portola Neighborhood Association for Burrows Park
In 2014 Portola Neighborhood Association for Burrows Park was awarded the Activation Award. Previously, this public parcel was a dead end breeding ground for trash, litter, and illicit activity. The Portola Neighborhood Association worked with residents, businesses, and city employees to transform this space into a thriving, rich, and engaging public space now recognized as […]
Far Out West Community Garden
In 2014 Far Out West Community Garden was awarded the Activation Award. Far Out West is a community garden that recently sprang to life from the great ideas and hard work of Outer Sunset neighbors. The site was formerly a disused concrete lot; now it is a beautiful community garden providing educational opportunities for neighbors […]
Emerald Park
In 2013, San Francisco Beautiful gave a beautification award to Emerald Park, a newly created half acre park that was formed through a conservation easement initiated but the developer. The property is part of a housing development that will be publicly accessible in perpetuity thanks to the easement. For more than 40 years, San Francisco […]
Octavia Blvd Pop-Ups
In 2012, San Francisco Beautiful recognized Octavia Boulevard Pop-Ups, a project of Hayes Valley Art Coalition and Envelope A+D with a Beautification Award for activation of public space. For more than 40 years, San Francisco Beautiful has been honoring San Franciscans who make special contributions to the unique character and beauty of our City with […]
Tenderloin National Forest
In 2010, San Francisco Beautiful gave a Beautification Award to the Tenderloin National Forest. Two decades in the making, this alley in the heart of a challenged neighborhood has been transformed, with funding from the Art Commission and Mayor’s office, into a garden of redwood trees, performance and public art, classes and activities. For more than […]