Program Descriptions and Budgets

Sidewalk Gardens for Ocean Avenue Program

With discretionary funding allocated from Supervisor D7 Heman Yee’s Office, CAN! partnered with Lakeside Landing and community members at large to design, plan for and physically plant out 9 new street trees and over 350 ft2 of new sidewalk landscapes and tree basins expansions up and down Ocean Avenue in Lakeside neighborhood, between Junipero Serra Boulevard and 19th Avenue. CAN! ensured plant and tree establishment over the year-long establishment period, procured all permits from SFPW-BUF and coordinated with property-owners the proposed plantings for the project.

Program Timeline: September 11, 2023 to September 10, 2024

Funding Source: City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco Public Works

Total Budget: $25K

Win Win for Safety and Beauty Along Junipero Serra Blvd Program

With discretionary funding allocated from Supervisor D7 Heman Yee’s Office, CAN! partnered with Lakeside Landing and community members at large to design, plan for and physically plant out 45 trees along the Junipero Serra median between Ocean Avenue to Woodacre. With multiple planning sessions executed on Zoom, and subsequent community workdays to physically prepare the site (removing invasive Acacia and Eucalyptus) followed by 5 community-led planting dates, the project successfully replanted the Junipero Serra median with dozens of California native trees and shrubs (including Coast Live Oak and Toyon, Ceanothus and Silk-Tassel) to support local wildlife and create a habitat corridor for the whole neighborhood to enjoy.

Program Timeline: November 7, 2023 to November 7, 2024

Funding Source: City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco Public Works

Total Budget: $25K

Sunset District Education-Based Maintenance and Community Engagement Program

With Discretionary funding allocated through the D4 Office of Supervisor Gordon Mar, CAN! staff executed a Herculean community and student-led restoration initiative along Western SF’s largest thoroughfare, Sunset Boulevard.

Program Timeline: November 27, 2023 to November 27, 2024

Funding Source: City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco Public Works

Total Budget: $130K

Ortega-Pacheco at 37th Community-Based Nature Play and Habitat Restoration Program

With Discretionary funding allocated through the D4 Office of Supervisor Gordon Mar, CAN! staff executed our most dynamic community-informed design project yet. After years of planning and community engagement, planting and coordination, the “Biodiversity Park” got its grand opening celebration on October 27th, 2024 with the green ribbon cutting attended by Mayor London Breed and Chairperson of the Board, Aaron Peskin. Partnering with Sunset Mercantile, USF Biology Department, SF City College Environmental Horticulture Department and the SFUSD, CAN! staff designed the entire western median of Sunset Boulevard between Ortega and Pacheco into a dynamic nature play zone for children and adults of all ages. Working with donated materials from SF’s historic streets, donated from SFPW, CAN! created the “Event Horizon Bench” made of granite curbs from old City streets. With other granite curbs staff created the “Curb Extinction Gardens” to showcase SF’s botanical diversity, and with the installation of a split-rail fence, staff created a Nature Play Zone, mid block, resplendent with logs and other natural elements to engage youth into urban nature. The showstopper, however, is the “California Floristic Province Garden” which sits behind the Event Horizon Bench, showcasing California’s extensive botanical diversity from the Channel Islands to Trinity County. 10 field trips for K-8 students were included in the grant, with students participating from adjacent SFUSD schools, Lawton K-8 Alternative School and AP Giannini Middle School.

Program Timeline: November 27, 2023 to November 27, 2024

Funding Source: City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco Public Works

Total Budget: $50K

North Beach Green Community Challenge Grant Program

In partnership with North Beach Neighbors (www.northbeachneighbors.org) with funding from the Community Challenge Grants Program, CAN! is breaking ground in our newest neighborhood, North Beach!

Over the first months of 2025, CAN! will partner with homeowners and businesses, schools and even the US Postal Service to plant 25 street trees and remove over 1,050 ft2 of pavement in the neighborhood. New street tree basins, new sidewalk landscaping and pollinator gardens will thrive thanks to this exciting new program. Live in North Beach and looking to green your front yard? We CAN! help. As of 4/1/2025, we’ve cut 550 ft2 of pavement – just over half of the program’s initial goal. Join the movement today and help us green North Beach.

For more information, email: californiacanoperations@gmail.com.

Program Timeline: January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025

Funding Source: City and County of San Francisco, Community Challenge Grant Program, Division of the Office of the City Administrator

Total Budget: $147K