Greener Block Award Presentation

You're invited to the presentation of the annual Brian Tsai Greener Block Award to representatives of Mission Verde and Calle 24 for their work in promoting and caring for the urban forest in the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District. The presentation will happen on the southwest corner of 24th and Harrison streets.

Mission Verde is a coalition of community volunteers that created a watering plan to support the planting of new trees along 24th Street in San Francisco's Mission neighborhood. The project formed after the City notified residents in 2019 of its intent to remove 77 mature ficuses in that area. Project members requested a continuance to study the removal from an environmental perspective, and developed a proposal to mitigate the impacts of the mass removal and to establish a community-owned watering plan for all new trees. Thanks to this effort, the City agreed to remove only 33 trees and to plant 145 new trees.

Since 2013, we have given this award to recognize the part of San Francisco that has undergone the most significant transformation in increased street trees and/or sidewalk gardens in the public right-of-way in the past year. The award is named after a former longtime staff member. We nominate projects based on three primary criteria -- Vegetation, Community Participation, and Beauty -- and all of our staff vote on the project they think most deserves it. We hope the award inspires others to step up to grow and care for San Francisco's urban forest.