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Bright orange vests dotted the city on Saturday as volunteers took part in San Francisco’s first citywide day of service through a variety of beautification events, including trash pick-ups, graffiti removal and tree plantings.
Over 3,500 people participated in 183 beautification events for the inaugural One City Day, and Mayor Daniel Lurie himself kicked off the day of volunteering at Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreation Center in Ocean View.
“A day of service is a great way of unifying a city that is, without question, a city on the rise,” Lurie said. “But it is a city that needs to benefit everybody, and we know we still have a lot of work to do.”
Mayor Daniel Lurie awards the winners of a garbage-collecting competition medals at Ward Recreation Center. | Seamus Geoghegan/Ingleside Light
Volunteers at Ward Recreation Center pulled up weeds, planted trees and seedlings and sharpened gardening tools. At the southwest corner of the park, younger volunteers took part in a competition to pick up the most trash. In total, 189 pounds of trash were picked up in and around Minnie and Lovie, including over a pound of cigarette butts.
“To see all these young people come together to help our city, that’s been so exciting to me,” Lurie said.
The city welcomed the intergenerational aspect of the day, highlighting youth participation.
“One of the things that makes San Francisco is the people who call it home,” said Sherrice Dorsey-Smith, executive director of the San Francisco Department of Children, Youth and Their Families. “Ours is a city of neighbors, families, advocates and volunteers who believe that when we show up for one another, we all will thrive.”
Lurie credited First Lady Becca Prowda for conceiving the idea for One City Day, hoping to bring communities together through public service.
“When my wife puts her mind to something, she accomplishes big things,” Lurie said. “This is just the first of many.”
Volunteers at Ward Recreation Center picked up over a pound of cigarette butts. | Seamus Geoghegan/Ingleside Light
Avery Sio heard about the day’s festivities just the night before, showing up to his local park to spend his morning picking up garbage.
“I jog this area almost every day, so I know there is hella trash all the time,” Sio said. “I love picking up trash. It’s pretty peaceful.”
Pulling weeds, including invasive ice plants, at Minnie and Lovie, Salesforce’s Margaret Taylor represented one of the event’s sponsors.
Avery Sio picks up trash at Ward Recreation Center. | Seamus Geoghegan/Ingleside Light
“I’m a San Francisco resident, and I care very much about our city,” Taylor said. “I love a city beautification project, especially one that takes place in our parks because I spend a lot of time in them.”
After awarding medals to the winning trash-picking team and a quick photoshoot, the mayor headed to Ocean Ale House to celebrate the inaugural day of service, thanking those who showed up to serve their city along with District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar.
“We have a lot of people here who, this is what they do every weekend. They’re out there supporting their neighbors and supporting their neighborhoods,” Melgar said. “Thank you for supporting our small businesses, thank you for supporting our neighborhoods. Let’s do it again next year.”
