New park breaks ground at 17th and Folsom

San Francisco officials Thursday broke ground in the Mission District on what will become The City’s first new neighborhood park in more than a decade.

The 31,850 square foot park at 17th and Folsom streets will be built on former San Francisco Public Utilities Commission property that currently houses a parking lot, according to Recreation and Park officials. A 101-unit housing project is planned just to the north of the park, on the remainder of the property.

The property was identified as a future park site following the adoption of the Eastern Neighborhoods Rezoning and Area Plan in 2008. It is intended to help meet the growing need for open space as The City’s population grows over the next several decades, officials said.

Supervisor David Campos, whose district includes the new park’s site, said in a statement Thursday:

“This is a great example of how The City and the community can come together to better one of the most densely-populated neighborhoods in The City. … This is an important addition to our district and the city at-large.”

The park will include an outdoor performance and classroom space, a children’s play area and adult fitness equipment, a lawn, an interactive water feature that will reuse water in the park’s irrigation system, a community garden, wildlife habitat and education gardens as well as pathways and lighting. The landscaping will include native and drought tolerant shrubs and trees as well as water conserving irrigation systems.

The $5.2 million project is primarily being paid for with a $2.7 million state grant, with other funds coming from the Eastern Neighborhood Impact Fees fund, the SFPUC, the California Department of Housing and Community Development, a 2006 bond and the Open Space Program.