Dear Francisco Park Supporters:
As our Matching Gift Challenge Grant fundraising effort continues this month, we are simultaneously finalizing the landscaping plan for the new Francisco Park.
Our mission has always been to create a park featuring a diverse set of plants which are native to San Francisco; are stout, sturdy, and colorful; require low water use and maintenance; attract animals like birds, butterflies, and bees; and allow for optimal visibility across the property.
On Wednesday of this week our landscape design firm, BFS Landscape Architects, led a productive design workshop with leaders from San Francisco’s horticulture and naturalist community.
We are grateful to attendees including:
- Christopher Campbell from the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s Natural Resources Division;
- Robert Hall from the California Native Plant Society;
- Amber Hasselbring, Executive Director of Nature in the City;
- Bruce Lee, a Gardener with the San Francisco Recreation and Park’s Department;
- Mia Monroe from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation;
- Lew Stringer, Associate Director of Natural Resources for the Presidio Trust;
- Reuben Schwartz, Project Manager with the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department; and
- Zack Taylor, the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department’s Park Service Manager who will oversee Francisco Park.
The team from BFS reviewed the current plan and the group provided feedback about the varieties of plants which will most likely flourish in the unique location and topography of Francisco Park. Mia Monroe from the Xerces Society presented on how Francisco Park can provide an important haven for migrating Monarch butterflies.
We are grateful for all of the input we received. Our next steps are to refine the landscaping plan and we will stay in close touch with these experts as we get closer to groundbreaking.
Please be in touch with any questions.
And again, you may hear from me or another Conservancy Board Member in the coming days about our urgent fundraising. We have just $1.25 million left to raise by January 31 in order to complete the Matching Gift Challenge Grant and bring these beautiful landscaping plans to life!
Best,
Leslie Alspach
Board President, Francisco Park Conservancy
[email protected]