Rene Dubos said, “man shapes himself through the decisions that shape his environment.”  In the era of global warming, we see this statement to be true more and more.   It is time for San Franciscans to make some tough decisions about our City’s environment and what it will be like for the next generation. 

Trees, parks and green space are essential for creating healthy, safe communities.   Access to public parks and recreational facilities has been strongly linked to reductions in juvenile delinquency and improved quality of life as well as tangible benefits for businesses, the environment and community development. 

Currently, San Francisco has a stated goal of 5.5 acres of park or open space for every 1,000 residents.  This goal represents about half the 10 acres per 1,000 residents recommended by the National Recreation and Park Association.  In neighborhoods like the South of Market and the Inner Mission, areas receiving thousands of new housing units, there are only 1.8 acres of parks per 1,000 residents.  As new units are built, the proportion of residents to park space continues to decline. 

If we want these new and existing neighborhoods to thrive, we must plan for and invest in more parks and open space now.  If we wait, the costs will be too prohibitive, the neighborhoods too dense, and the opportunity for a greener, healthier community will be lost.    

One great tool that San Francisco could and should use to develop more parks and green space is the Quimby Act (California Government Code section 66477).  The Quimby Act allows local governments to mitigate the impact of new development by creating a dedicated assessment on new residential construction for capital improvements for open space and parks.  All fees or set aside lands from Quimby Act assessments must be used for park and open space capital improvements, not operational or maintenance expenses.  This requirement ensures that the money raised would be spent to create expanded recreational opportunities in the City, not just pay for existing maintenance.  

Had the Quimby Act been in place between 2001 and 2005, when over 11,000 new units of housing were authorized, an additional $75 to 125 million dollars would have been dedicated to open space and park development in San Francisco.  This investment would have made our City a healthier, safer and greener place to live for generations to come.   With 300 other counties and cities in California using the Quimby Act to invest in their communities, isn’t it time San Francisco made the decision to invest in a healthy and greener environment as well?