Harvey Milk Plaza Beautification Project Approaches Finish

As the Harvey Milk Plaza beautification project moves forward, landscaping improvements and fresh plantings were made in April and May, bringing Spring and fresh color to the plaza. With an artistic new bench scheduled for installation along the upper walkway within the next few weeks, the beautification project is on track for  completion in early July.

Located at Castro and Market Streets in the area surrounding the entrance to the Castro MUNI station, Harvey Milk plaza has looked unkempt and forlorn in recent years as its foliage aged and languished. Area residents repeatedly said the plaza needed beautification and improvements such as seating during community feedback sessions held in 2008 by the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefits District (CBD).

The resulting CBD Neighborhood Beautification and Safety Plan proposed upgrading Harvey Milk Plaza, and the CBD began exploring various planting possibilities and ways to improve the plaza. Landscape architect Scott Cataffa, of CMG Landscape Architecture, contributed his services pro bono to develop a landscape plan, design seating, and assist the CBD in shepherding the project through approval by various city agencies in 2009 and early 2010.

Two-thirds of the funding for the plaza improvements came from a $58,167 Community Challenge Grant obtained by the CBD, which also contributed $25,228 to the project. In April and May of 2010, city workers replanted the concrete planter boxes surrounding the plaza with tall native grasses, shrubs and other foliage. A new bike rack was also installed.

When the new curvaceous metal bench is installed in the plaza in late June or early July, the CBD hopes it will became a welcoming spot for neighbors and visitors, much as the seating at 17th Street Plaza across Castro Street has become in the year since it was installed.