Bernal Connect

Tompkins Stairway Garden Work Day
2026-05-02 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-06 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-04 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-08-01 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-05 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-10-03 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-11-07 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-12-05 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) and 7 more dates | Tompkins Stairway Garden, Tompkins and Nevada, San Francisco, 94110, United States
Tompkins Stairway Garden Work Day
Join us on the 1st Saturday of every month at the Tompkins Stairway Garden from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to engage in rewarding activities such as weeding, pruning, and litter picking, and help maintain this quaint green space in our beloved Bernal neighborhood!
If you often use these stairs to travel to or from the Alemany Farmers Market, this is the perfect opportunity to help preserve their beauty.
We will provide work gloves and the necessary tools for the tasks. Moreover, experts from the U.C. Master Gardener program will impart knowledge on plant care. For safety, we recommend wearing long-sleeved tops, long pants, and sturdy shoes. Don’t forget to bring water to keep yourself hydrated.
Location: At the junction of Tompkins Avenue and Nevada Street, right at the top of the stairs. Join us and make a difference!

Once a trash-covered hillside, San Francisco’s Tompkins Stairway Garden is a safe and welcoming street park featuring a drought-tolerant garden in year-round bloom and a colorful tiled stairway. Dedicated attention from surrounding neighbors has transformed the site into a community greenspace and pedestrian corridor serving the Alemany Farmers’ Market and nearby schools and shopping districts.
Calendar – Bernal Heights and Beyond
Upper Esmeralda Garden Stairway- Community Workdays
Bernal ConnectMike Doherty serves as Chief Experience Officer at Greening Projects, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming underutilized urban spaces into vibrant green areas

Upper Esmeralda Garden Stairway- Community Workdays
2026-05-16 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-06-16 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-07-16 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-08-16 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-09-16 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-10-16 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-11-16 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-12-16 10:30 - 12:30 and 6 more dates | Upper Esmeralda Garden Stairway, Winfield and Esmeralda Streets, San Francisco, CA, 94110, United States
Upper Esmeralda Garden Stairway – Community Workdays
The Esmeralda Stairs are three block-long stairs that people can use to climb the west side of Bernal Hill. The bottom flight of stairs starts at Coleridge St., one block east of Mission St. The middle set of stairs goes from Prospect Ave. to Winfield St. The top section of stairs ends at Winfield and Esmeralda Streets. The Esmeralda Stairs are utilitarian, but they’re also fun. Two slides are often called the Winfield Street Slides in the mid-section of the stairs. These slides are 40 feet long, making for an exhilarating return trip after you reach the summit.
The Community Workdays are held on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
Calendar – Bernal Heights and Beyond
Bernal ConnectMike Doherty serves as Chief Experience Officer at Greening Projects, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming underutilized urban spaces into vibrant green areas

Plant Swap @ Bernal Heights Library
2026-05-17 13:00 - 14:30 | Bernal Heights Library, 500 Cortland Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94110, United States
Plant Swap @ Bernal Heights Library
Bring your cuttings, seedlings, surplus harvest, or plants that need a new home to swap with other gardeners. All types of plants welcome, please label if possible.
Environment & Nature
Find out about the latest climate and environmental issues, how to adopt greener practices, and how to connect with the outdoors.
Gardening
Cultivate your green thumb.
About Bernal Heights Branch Library
The Bernal Heights Branch Library at 500 Cortland Avenue has served as a cornerstone of the neighborhood for over 80 years, with a history rooted in community advocacy and federal public works.
Early History and Construction
Before the current building existed, the library operated out of smaller “deposit stations” starting in 1920 at 303 Cortland Avenue. As the neighborhood grew, it moved to 324 Cortland in 1936, but residents quickly lobbied for a dedicated, permanent facility.
WPA Origins: The current building was a product of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and was built on the site of the original Bernal School.
Architecture: Designed by Frederick H. Meyer, a prominent San Francisco architect, the library features Spanish Colonial-style architecture with warm wooden interiors.
Dedication: The branch was officially dedicated on October 21, 1940, becoming the 21st branch in the San Francisco Public Library system.
The Mural Controversy and Renovation
One of the most defining chapters in the library’s recent history was the debate surrounding its exterior murals.
Original Murals: In 1982, muralists Arch Williams and Carlos Alcala, along with 25 local youth, painted a series of vibrant murals on the library’s exterior. These works depicted the neighborhood’s social diversity and included a memorial to Arturo Duran, a local youth killed in 1980.
2010 Renovation: The library closed for a significant renovation in the late 2000s. During this time, a contentious community debate erupted over whether to restore the original, fading murals or return the building to its 1940 architectural appearance.
Consensus and Reopening: After extensive mediation, the community reached a compromise to replace the original paint with new artwork. The library reopened on January 30, 2010, featuring updated murals that incorporated key themes and images from the 1982 originals but utilized more durable materials.
Community Legacy
The library remains a vital part of Bernal Heights’ identity, often hosting meetings for groups like the Bernal History Project to preserve the area’s rich past.
San Francisco Family Friendly Calendar
Bernal ConnectMike Doherty serves as Chief Experience Officer at Greening Projects, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming underutilized urban spaces into vibrant green areas
