Moving to Hayes Valley earlier in the year I found myself blessed with a fine view of Patricia’s Green from my new place. I say blessed because normally a working boy like myself (I’m a rehab counselor for a State agency) couldn’t afford to move into a Hayes Valley apartment, let alone one with a seductive view.

Not surprisingly, I, and others, see Patricia’s Green as the showpiece of Octavia Boulevard’s redevelopment. So even if I don’t have “jingle in my pocket” to fully appreciate every smart cafe and boutique on Hayes Street, Patricia’s Green will always offer me a great seat and free dog and pony show (sans the pony and replace with an Aussie with a Cockatoo) most any day of the week.

Soon after I began to frequent Patricia’s Green, I began to wonder who was “in charge” of the park. I’ve reached out to my neighbors and the many stakeholders of the Green. This includes Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association; Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Group; SF Neighborhood Parks Council; SF Recreation and Parks Department; staff at the SF Planning Department including the landscape architect, John Thomas, who designed the park; Barbara Wenger of Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Group who played an important role in the development of the Green as well as the restoration of our Neighborhood’s sister parks (Koshland, Page Rose Mini Park & Page Street Garden); and Madeline Behrens-Bringham and Russell Prichard of Zonal who are credited with bringing public art to the Green. Madeline and Russell are Park Stewards and liaisons with the city.

No matter what role one has in Patricia’s Green, all agree that it is a very well used park. Of course “well used” can mean “popular” or it can mean “in need of care.”

Not long ago Patricia’s Green had an assigned gardener, Mary Ann, who truly loved and tended Patricia’s Green five days a week. Sometime last year she was injured and assigned to duties within Rec and Park. Now Patricia’s Green has no assigned gardener. Most weekdays at eight in the morning we’re lucky to have a custodian pass through to clean graffiti and the most obvious litter. Unfortunately gardening issues, such as tending the plants and even mowing the lawn, are only done by the city on a “rotating” and “as staffing allows” basis. While Patricia’s Green needs more care than is currently budgeted, Rec and Park does what it can to support community efforts in the parks with a volunteer coordinator, Kristen Bowman, to coordinate work day projects.

On July 19th, Patricia’s Green saw twenty volunteers participate in a Clean Up with the guidance of a Rec and Park gardener - complete with tools and supplies, mulch and replacement plants. By mid-afternoon the beds were weeded, the plants were planted, new friends were made, and we all had our daily dose of fresh air and exercise. Our work efforts were further rewarded when additional city staffers showed up to trim palm fronds and give the pavement and seating area a much needed deep pressure wash. The park looked great; but of course it takes daily efforts to keep it looking its best. Here’s how you can help: