San Francisco residents can now propose ideas to improve neighborhood parks as the city reopens nominations for the Recreation and Park Department’s Community Opportunity Fund, officials announced.
The program supports community-driven capital improvement projects, such as accessible trails, dog park upgrades, and community gardens.
This marks the first citywide application round for the fund in nearly a decade, and the first supported by the 2020 Health and Recovery Bond, a press release issued Friday said.
The funding round includes $6 million and is designed to empower residents, community groups, and volunteers to help shape local parks. Projects will be prioritized in Environmental Justice Communities to ensure investments reach neighborhoods with the greatest need.
“The Community Opportunity Fund enables community-driven ideas to come to life,” said Sarah Madland, Interim General Manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. “Whether it’s improved pathways, fitness equipment, or picnic areas to gather and connect, this funding gives residents a real opportunity to shape their neighborhood parks in meaningful ways.”
Applications will be accepted from February through March 2026, with final funding decisions expected in June, park officials said. Selected projects are anticipated to begin in summer 2026.
To start, go to https://sfrecpark.org/1123/Community-Opportunity-Fund-2020-Bond.
Sign up for one of two pre-application workshops in February 2026. Registration closes one week before each workshop. Then, attend a workshop and receive pre-approval from Rec and Park to access the online application.
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