The India Basin Waterfront Park Project is gearing up for its massive overhaul of the India Basin shoreline with an exciting groundbreaking event for the community this Wednesday, September 14 at 11am. Guests can enjoy a special ceremony, food and drink, and a first peek at the newly-cleaned site. First on the list is rehabilitation of the Historic Shipwright’s Cottage and construction of a food pavilion, shop building, two new piers, and a floating dock… with much more to come.
This is the first time an Equitable Development Plan (EDP) has been adopted in San Francisco, and it means the park’s design will center the community’s needs and minimize displacement, allowing the community to benefit economically from the project. The EDP lays out some commitments that the city and partner agencies must meet during the project’s design process and execution.
Initiatives include the cultivation of performing arts, history, and cultural programming; mobile art showcases; training opportunities for community members in construction and post-construction jobs; improved park access; a free or subsidized shuttle system; public safety precautions, and much more. With a $150 million budget, this will be San Francisco’s most significant park investment in history.
The EDP’s leadership committee consists of over 20 Bayview-Hunters Point community members. The six areas of focus they’ve chosen are the following:
- Arts, Culture and Identity
- Workforce and Business Development
- Transportation, Access and Connectivity
- Healthy Communities and Ecology
- Youth Opportunities
- Housing Security
The park design includes gathering areas along the shoreline, gardens and natural habitats, a public plaza, farmers markets, a lighted bicycle and pedestrian path, an ecological education area, and improved accessibility.
“The Equitable Development Plan provides us with an opportunity to address social, economic, and environmental justice issues that have historically affected residents of Bayview-Hunters Point. This is truly a milestone, not only for the India Basin project but for all of San Francisco,” said San Francisco Mayor London Breed. “The EDP provides a roadmap to achieving equitable development and economic progress through vocational training, jobs, and small business opportunities, and by incorporating the culture and identity of Bayview-Hunters Point, it allows the people of this community to decide what is important for the City’s next great outdoor space.”
Featured image: Screenshot from SF Rec & Parks video release