To the west of the Outer Mission region of San Francisco lies a hilly neighborhood known to locals as Excelsior. There aren’t many greenspaces in this part of town aside from a rather large golf course, which is why neighbors have been fighting so hard for the Athens Avalon Greenspace.

Per Curbed SF, work has finally been completed on a green space on Athens Street and Valmar Terrace that has been in the works for nine years.

The Excelsior Hillside During Construction / Photo Courtesy of Athens Avalon Greenspace

The plan to change the barren walkway was proposed in 2008 and now, after almost a decade, the Athens Avalon Greenspace is complete and open to the public. 

According to the nonprofit San Francisco Parks Alliance, the barren hillside had long been a dumping ground and graffiti location. Vegetation ranged from scotch broom, invasive weed, and non-native grasses. When residents realized the lot belonged to the city, they sprang into action to turn it into something useful for the neighborhood.

 After garage sales to help fund the project and weekend cleanups every Saturday over the years, the once-gray concrete steps are now a rainbow-hued tile masterpiece and the dirt hillside is now full of sprawling vegetation. Instead of discarded furniture and garbage, pedestrians traveling to and from Athens Street will have an artistic stairway and succulent garden to enjoy.