HANC and Allies Win City Funding for Panhandle and Buena Vista Park

For the past few months, HANC helped organize a multi-neighborhood organizational push to get Rec and Park funding for long-neglected neighborhood parks. The effort was successful, getting $600,000 in funding over the next two years for rebuilding the pedestrian path along the southern boundary of the Panhandle ($500,000) and a tree maintenance program for Buena Vista Park ($100,000).

HANC, along with Friends of Buena Vista Park, North Panhandle Neighborhood Association and the Haight-Ashbury Merchants Association engaged in a joint effort to secure funding for the neighborhood’s two main parks. Supervisor London Breed's support for the effort was early and enthusiastic.

The effort started in April of this year when Supervisor Breed held a joint budget hearing with Mayor Ed Lee for District 5 neighborhood organizations. HANC presented the request for $1.1 million for a pedestrian path rebuild for the Panhandle and a tree maintenance program for Buena Vista Park. Supervisor Breed quickly supported the Panhandle request and reminded all that Buena Vista Park was in District 8 and that Supervisor Wiener should be approached. Meetings were organized with Supervisor Mar and Supervisor Wiener both of whom represent districts that contain either Buena Vista Park or a portion of the Haight-Ashbury and both of whom are on the Finance Committee.

In the coalition meeting with Supervisor Wiener, the District 8 Supervisor stated his primary concern was in getting more park police funded and indeed, that's what he did, securing $1 million in funding for new park police and $100,000 for the tree program for Buena Vista Park.

The $500,000 for the pedestrian path in the Panhandle will be allocated over the next two fiscal years with $250,000 made available this year and $250,000 available next year. Details are unknown about the $100,000 allocation for Buena Vista Park.