Illinois Street Bay Trail Greening
Greening and safety improvements along the Illinois Street Bay Trail corridor from Mariposa to Cargo Way — with street trees, native plantings, protected bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and a welcoming pocket park on the PG&E parcel between 23rd and 24th Streets
Take Action to Support This Project
📍 Location
Corridor: Illinois Street from Mariposa to Cargo Way
Pocket Park Site: PG&E-owned parcel between 23rd and 24th Streets
Neighborhood: Dogpatch / Potrero Hill, San Francisco
Connects: Crane Cove Park, Power Station development, Heron's Head Park
Nearby: Warriors Chase Center, AIC Building, YMCA, Dogpatch neighborhood
🌱 Project Overview
Illinois Street from Mariposa to Cargo Way is a critical segment of the San Francisco Bay Trail — but today it's a bleak, treeless corridor dominated by heavy commercial traffic with little protection for people walking or biking. Empty tree wells have been paved over, crosswalks feel unsafe, and the stretch between Crane Cove Park and Heron's Head Park offers no green respite.
This project envisions transforming the entire Illinois Street corridor into a green, safe, and welcoming Bay Trail connection — with street trees, native plantings, protected bike and pedestrian infrastructure, stormwater management, and traffic calming. The project integrates with the Safer Illinois Street initiative to bring a protected, bidirectional bike lane and multi-use trail along the corridor.
At the center of the corridor, we envision a shady, welcoming respite in the PG&E parcel between 23rd and 24th Streets. This nearly half acre stretch is currently a barren hardscape — its sharp, grey rocks and sparse plantings seem designed to discourage lingering. The project would transform it into a genuine neighborhood green space with native plantings, tree canopy and community gathering areas. An inviting stopover on the Bay Trail, it would also serve as a gateway to the Power Station's new Prequel Park to the north and the soon-to-be-renovated Warm Water Cove park to the south.
🤝 Supporters & Advocates
Lead Advocate: Kate Blumberg (Safer Illinois Street / Dogpatch community)
Potential Supporters: Dogpatch Neighborhood Association, Potrero Boosters, AIC Building tenants, Sierra Club SF Group, Green SF Now
Key Stakeholders: SF Port, PG&E (landowner), Power Station developers, YMCA, Dogpatch businesses, Crosstown Trail advocates
Primary Contact: Safer Illinois Street
💰 Potential Funding Sources
Federal: Bay Trail connector and active transportation funding
State Funding: California Urban Greening Program, Active Transportation Program
City Programs: SFPUC Green Infrastructure Capital Fund, DPW stormwater management programs, SFMTA bike/ped infrastructure
Developer Contributions: Power Station development community benefits
Utility: PG&E community investment for pocket park (pending city/PG&E asset negotiations)
🚲 Safer Illinois Street Integration
This greening project is tightly integrated with the Safer Illinois Street campaign to bring a high-quality, protected bi-directional bikeway along Illinois St. from Mariposa to Cargo Way. This would close a major gap in the Bay Trail, linking six miles of bikeway and shared paths from north of the Ferry Building south all the way to India Basin park, and provide a critical safe north-south connection for the southeastern neighborhoods. This project will:
- Green the Protected Bike Lane: Native plantings, trees and rain gardens provide shade, green buffering, stormwater management and beautification along the full Illinois corridor of the Bay Trail
- Make it Multi-Use: A tree-lined walking and cycling path connects multiple new and newly renovated parks and upgrades an otherwise barren section of the crosstown trail
- Guide the Way: Signage along the route points the way to hidden parks and local businesses
- Improve Crossing Safety: Hardened intersection treatments integrate with stormwater curb extensions and improve safety for everyone
- Provide a Respite along the Route: The PG&E parcel park provides a green rest stop and gathering place along the trail, with the bike lane running alongside
🌳 Vision: The Corridor and Pocket Park
- Tree-Lined Corridor: Street trees along the full stretch of Illinois from Mariposa to Cargo Way, filling empty tree wells and creating a shaded, comfortable Bay Trail experience
- Native Plantings: California native species along the corridor and throughout the pocket park, supporting pollinators and local ecology while replacing hostile rock landscaping
- Protected Infrastructure: Green-buffered bike lane and widened pedestrian paths along the full corridor with safer crossings at every intersection
- Pocket Park: Transform the PG&E parcel into a community green space with outdoor seating, picnic areas, and a welcoming plaza
- Fun and Welcoming: Active recreation, exercise stations, an off-leash dog area, a dedicated spot for the neighborhood taco truck and outdoor seating — there are so many ways to turn this barren space into a gathering place
⚡ PG&E Land & Ownership Context
The pocket park site between 23rd and 24th is PG&E-owned land, which adds complexity. The City of San Francisco and PG&E are currently in negotiations over potential transfer of PG&E assets to city ownership. While a transfer would simplify the pocket park component significantly, the broader corridor improvements on public right-of-way can proceed independently, and community advocacy for greening the PG&E parcel can proceed regardless of ownership status.
Even without a land transfer, PG&E community investment programs, SFPUC grants, Power Station developer contributions, and other grants could fund pocket park improvements. The key is building a coalition that demonstrates strong community demand for transforming both the corridor and this space.
📸 Project Gallery
📈 Current Status
Phase: Community Visioning and Coalition Building
Next Steps: In coordination with the Safer Illinois Street campaign, document existing corridor conditions, build upon supporter coalition, and identify initial funding sources for both the corridor and the pocket park
Timeline: TBD
Related Initiative: Safer Illinois Street protected bikeway campaign
Want to stay in touch? Send a note to contact@safe-illinois.org.