Vision
Elm Alley is a safe, fun and welcoming oasis for Tenderloin children and families to gather, play, learn, and grow.
Mission
To build a car-free, child-friendly community open space for the children and families of Tenderloin Community School and the neighborhood at large, that fosters play and improves the health of the community.
History of Friends of Elm Alley
The Tenderloin has a lot of kids and very little public space for healthy, fun play. During the Covid-19 pandemic, this mismatch took on new urgency. Deteriorating street conditions made access to any safe outdoor space difficult if not impossible for many families.
These conditions sparked the idea to convert Elm Alley, the street directly behind Tenderloin Community School, into a safe, car-free, child friendly, and beautiful space for play, for learning, and for rebuilding community ties. The Elm Alley School Street vision and Friends of Elm Alley grew from that spark.
Through the city funded 2022 Tenderloin Community Action Plan, families and residents chose the projects they wanted to see in their neighborhood. The Elm Alley School Street was one of their top choices. With seed money and lots of support from great partners, we’re transforming Elm Alley into a colorful, vibrant, safe space for Tenderloin kids and families. The kind of space all kids need!
