What is Playland at 43rd Avenue?

Susan Ryan
Sep 3, 2018 · 2 min read

Playland at 43rd Avenue is a multi-use community space created on an unused 1.25 acre asphalt lot on San Francisco Unified School District property, the site of a former elementary school in the Outer Sunset neighborhood. Playland has become a cherished community resource in the two years that it has been open and is the result of a lot of heart, a lot of work, and a lot of fun. The idea to convert the empty lot originally came from our District 4 Supervisor Katy Tang and was quickly taken up by community members who decided how the space should be used. Creating a space for artists was one of the original requests of folks who participated in the Community Engagement process as the park was designed — along with the community garden, skatepark, basketball courts, ping pong table, and plenty of space for climbing and running and scooting. Playland at 43rd Avenue received the San Francisco Parks Alliance’s Innovative Project of the Year Award in May 2017.

As Program Manager at Playland at 43rd Avenue since 2016, I work on activating the park with programming that reflect the needs of the Outer Sunset community, and that the park is well managed, monitored, and maintained. We have yoga classes, gardening workshops, community festivals, art shows, craft activities, skate jams, exercise classes, music meetups, and whatever else community members want to offer to their neighbors.

Playland at 43rd Avenue, San Francisco, CA
Entry to Playland at 43rd Avenue from the 43rd Avenue Gate
Original plan for build out

A Slice of Green

Looking for Parks in Unexpected Places

Susan Ryan

Written by

A Slice of Green

Looking for Parks in Unexpected Places

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