“The vision is: how do we create the conditions necessary to make the Tenderloin truly into a place where the children can walk outside and enjoy the basic luxuries that everyone, every other child in the city, gets to enjoy,” said Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, who represents the neighborhood, and who helped hand out ice cream cones.
The event was the first in a series planned by Mahmood’s office and the Golden Gate Greenway Coalition, a group of local nonprofits led by St. Anthony’s. Every Thursday at 4 p.m. through Oct. 2, the coalition plans to host similar gatherings at 150 Golden Gate Ave., on the street outside St. Anthony’s. Thursday’s social also featured a pop-up soccer field and café seating.
“It’s wonderful to see all the kids out there enjoying something that they certainly deserve, which is ice cream in their own neighborhood, whether it’s pop-up or, someday hopefully, permanent,” said Sally Haims, a spokesperson for St. Anthony’s.
Haims said the coalition is focused on transforming the street into a cleaner, greener and more permanent community space. Their hope for the Greenway is to create a vibrant “campus” where neighbors can access critical services and community organizations can meet them where they are, according to Haims.
“I think it’s needed, especially for the kids and the community,” said Monique Collins, who attended the event with her 12-year-old son, Khryee Crowder. “A lot of kids and community people in general that don’t live down here are afraid to come down here. So these kinds of get-togethers are good for the kids.”
