St. Mary's Park Greening is a group of residents working together to increase the number of trees and green, drought-tolerant landscaping in the neighborhood. We do this to have a positive environmental impact, to enhance beauty and safety in our neighborhood, and to get to know our neighbors.

Opened for subdivision in 1924, St. Mary's Park is in the southwest corner of Bernal Heights in San Francisco, CA. With 320 homes arranged in a bell shape, St. Mary's was designed to honor the college of the same name, which occupied this land from 1862 to 1889.

All donations are greatly appreciated. Your contributions help us purchase replacement plants, irrigation parts, mulch, and other supplies that keep the medians beautiful and healthy. All donations are tax-deductible and used solely by St. Mary's Park Greening to enhance the beauty of our neighborhood and create a positive environmental impact.

Learn more on our website at www.smpgreening.com; sign up for updates to stay connected and learn about volunteer opportunities by emailing smpgreening@gmail.com.

Our Biggest Accomplishments So Far

Our work began in November 2021, when we planted trees along the College Avenue medians. Since then, we have painted, planted, and planned, and we continue to maintain the beautiful landscape.

Mural Project

The mural at the top of College Avenue (201 College Ave) was completed by our very own St. Mary's Park resident, Matt Evans. The mural design is a love letter to the Bay Area's landscape and the California Poppy. Inspired by San Francisco native, folk singer and songwriter Kate Wolf, the design is named "The Poppied Rolling Hills of California".

College Avenue Median Landscaping

Phase I of landscaping included planting 35 trees along the College Ave medians. The trees are all California Native Oak and Buckeye. They will continue to grow over the years.

Phase II of landscaping included SMP Greening obtaining $150,000 from the Community Challenge Grant program to landscape the 300 and 400-block medians along College Avenue. The understory landscaping features native plants, a small pathway, and logs and boulders to define the space.

Phase III is not yet done! We hope to secure additional grant funding and additional volunteers to continue understory landscaping in the lower and upper medians.

St. Mary’s Park Greening