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Sunday Streets: A Celebration of Community in the Tenderloin
June 27, 2024
The Tenderloin community came together to celebrate Sunday Streets, a vibrant block party co-hosted by St. Anthony Foundation and Livable City on June 23rd. This year’s event transformed the 100 and 200 blocks of Golden Gate Avenue into a lively, car-free zone filled with fun, family-friendly activities, fostering community connections and showcasing the potential of the Golden Gate Greenway project.
Dr. Larry Kwan, CEO of St. Anthony Foundation, captured the spirit of the event, saying, “This is the vision we want for the Golden Gate Greenway. We want a place where people can feel safe and can imagine a neighborhood like this every day.” He further stated, “At St. Anthony’s, our goal is to bring people together and this is the vision and the hope we want on a daily basis in the Tenderloin.”
In its 16th year, the event featured a plethora of activities for all ages, including a dunk tank, food trucks, live music from local bands, a photo booth, basketball and soccer games, circus performers from Circus Center, plant-potting stations, and numerous community information booths. Contests, giveaways, and prizes added to the festive atmosphere, ensuring everyone had a memorable time.
The event also marked the unveiling of the first of three parklets to be built on the block. “Sleeping here is preferable to the sidewalk,” remarked Jeffrey Miller, the creator of the parklet. He constructed the beautifully designed parklet with top-quality redwood for the benches while also utilizing recycled materials, such as paving stones from a demolished garage at his Bernal Heights residence. “I aimed to bring a sense of healing through the design because this neighborhood is greatly in need of it,” explained Miller.
The success of Sunday Streets would not have been possible without the collaboration of various community organizations. Special thanks to the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center (APICC), Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC), Glide Memorial Church, Circus Center, Tenderloin Community Benefit District (TCBD), San Francisco Public Library, Tenderloin Museum, Street Soccer USA, De Marillac Academy, Wu Yee Children’s Services, 826 Valencia, Code Tenderloin, Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT), Chinatown Community Development Center (Chinatown CDC), San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, Friends of the Urban Forest, and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA).
We extend our gratitude to our incredible staff, volunteers, and the numerous partners who made this event a resounding success. A special shout-out goes to Pacific Nurseries for helping green our block, providing a beautiful backdrop for the day’s activities.
We also want to acknowledge the support of our local leaders, including District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston and SFMTA Director of Transportation Jeffrey Tumlin, who joined us to say a few words in celebration of our vibrant Tenderloin community.
Finally, a big thank you to Sam Whiting and the San Francisco Chronicle for featuring the Sunday Streets Tenderloin event and to Luz Pena and ABC-7 TV, KQED, KTVU, and KRON 4 for showcasing the strength and unity of our community.
The Sunday Streets Tenderloin event continues to be a testament to the power of community, creating safe, fun, and engaging spaces for all to enjoy. We look forward to many more years of celebration and community building.
