As one of the wealthiest cities in the U.S., San Francisco attracts tourists from around the world. But what creates the appeal of settling in this city? Beyond its historic architecture and vibrant culture, San Francisco boasts a particular quality that sets it apart from many other urban areas in the nation: green space.
San Francisco is home to more than 220 parks, ranging from the expansive Golden Gate Park—larger than New York City’s Central Park—to the more intimate Mission Dolores Park. According to an article published by the City and County of San Francisco in 2017, the city’s officials announced it to be “the first and only city in the United States where all residents have access to a park within a 10-minute walk.”
San Francisco resident Rosie Gillen has served on the Friends of Duboce Park board for over ten years. As described by the organization’s website, “Friends of Duboce Park is a non-profit organization, started in 1997 by a group of neighbors in the Duboce Triangle and Lower Haight neighborhoods who love and use the parks.” Duboce Park is a community space with amenities that include a playground, a basketball court, and a dog play area.
“Our mission as the Friends of Duboce Park is to organize and represent the collective interests regarding Duboce Park, to beautify and promote safety within Duboce Park, and to initiate and or support beneficial neighborhood projects on behalf of Duboce Park,” Gillen said.
The board initiates fundraising efforts to improve the park, such as the recent renovation of the children’s playground.
“So all of these projects just don’t happen out of thin air,” Gillen said. “You have to reach out to the neighbors to make sure they’re okay with it. You have to fundraise to start to have at least some money to get the project going, and then you have to do outreach to get the rest of the money to make all these projects happen.”
In San Francisco, community efforts to maintain the parks often stem from an understanding of the value that they provide to life in the city. Gillen emphasizes the personal and social benefits of green space.
“So the beauty is, the park gives back to me every day just because of being able to go to the park with my dogs, but it gives back to me in the social aspect as well, because I make that connection with everybody who I see in the park, too,” Gillen said.
Luciana Borba, an Archie Williams senior and member of the Social and Environmental Academy-Dedicated to Improving School and Community (SEA-DISC), works with Inspiring Young Emerging Leaders (I-YEL), an internship program that inspires involvement in leadership and nature for youth, headquartered in the Presidio of San Francisco. According to the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, “Since 2001, I-YEL has supported youth to expand their leadership skills, engage their voice in current social and environmental justice movements, and serve as an ambassador for their national parks.”
Luciana has gained new skills and experience in I-YEL through community service opportunities, such as outdoor activities, sustainable workshops, and a clothing swap, which honed in on the issue of fast fashion. Now in her third year as an intern, she has the opportunity to provide guidance and host workshops for her peers.
“I’ve definitely grown a lot in my outdoor activities, like camping, backpacking… And since I’m in my third year, I have more of a leadership role, so I’ve learned a lot about mentorship and a lot about public speaking,” Luciana said.
Recent federal actions have questioned the value of green space. On Feb. 19, President Donald Trump issued an executive order labeling the Presidio Trust as an “unnecessary governmental entity.” The Presidio Trust manages the Presidio of San Francisco, overseeing public programs, historic buildings, and recreational areas within the city. Though the executive order cites minimizing “Government waste and abuse” as a motive, the Presidio is treasured by the community, and the Presidio Trust allows for maintenance and preservation of the park.
SEA-DISC and AP Environmental Science teacher Clarke Bugbee began teaching at Archie Williams in 2018. Through his experiences with environmental education and the natural world, he has grown to understand the value of nature.
“I think it just strikes you deeper, in a deeper way, that connection to the importance of the natural world, because… not everybody knows the importance of the natural world, right?” Bugbee said. “That’s what’s keeping the planet our planet.”
Bugbee finds that the accessibility to nature right on the Archie Williams campus impacts the SEA-DISC program through the ability to conduct hands-on learning. He emphasizes how access to nature impacts one’s outlook on the environment.
“But I think the parks are really important to get people that are not used to being in nature to go be able to experience something… and just the wowness of the natural world that we don’t experience most of the time,” Bugbee said. “I think it just strikes you in a deeper way, that connection to the importance of the natural world because not everybody knows the importance of the natural world.”
