Fifth Street Nursery will turn littered ground to fertile space for 1,000 trees

A parcel of land in San Francisco commonly littered with trash will soon be transformed into fertile ground for 1,000 trees. 

The Fifth Street Nursery project, which will be located between eastbound and westbound Interstate 80 ramps, is part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s $1 billion Clean California initiative to “beautify and improve local streets and roads, tribal lands, parks, pathways, and transit centers to clean and enhance public spaces.” The $2.6 million project is a collaboration with Caltrans, San Francisco Department of Public Works, the San Francisco Bureau of Urban Forestry and Cal Fire.

Caltrans Deputy Director of External Affairs Cheryl Chambers said the empty land “will transform into a green oasis and living classroom.”

Interim Public Works Director Carla Short said the project helps fulfill the department’s vision for a tree-filled city as part of the Urban Forest Master Plan.

She said the nursery will be an opportunity to grow tree species that are hard to find at commercial nurseries, adding:

“Some of the species that are really important for San Francisco are not commercially available or they’re difficult to source. So we’re going to be able to grow the trees that we need that will thrive in our many, more than 16 different microclimates, and be successful as street trees in the city of San Francisco.”

When trees are mature enough to moved, they will be planted in neighborhoods with low canopy cover, said Public Works spokesperson Rachel Gordon. Gordon said The City is also investing $500,000 to bring the project to life. 

A workforce component will be part of the project. A $1.2 million Cal Fire grant will help fund the project’s workforce component by providing training and jobs in urban forestry and landscape maintenance.

Tuesday, The City and Caltrans also announced the award of a $1.8 million Clean California grant that will be used to activate and beautify the space near the Yerba Buena/Moscone Center Muni subway station.

The Yerba Buena project will include drought-tolerant landscaping and two murals painted on concrete Fourth Street buildings. The funds will also enable the Yerba Buena Community Benefit District’s cleaning crew to double its cleaning frequency and power wash sidewalks throughout the area.

SFMTA Director of Transportation Jeffrey Tumlin said in a statement:

“We’re so grateful for Caltrans’ support in beautifying the station area, and making it easier and safer for residents and visitors to walk to and from our station.”

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.