We are very excited about the new Park that is being constructed by the City at Natoma and 11th Street, just a few feet north of the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District.
The new park will include a half-basketball court, fitness area, children’s play area, tables and seating throughout. It will offer folks a respite from the dense, urban environment, among lush plantings.
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department solicited community input into naming the park, and we proposed that the park be named after Rachele Sullivan, one of the founders of our Cultural District and a prominent figure in SOMA’s Filipino community.
Several other names were proposed, including options to honor various representatives of the Leather, Filipino, and Disabled communities.
In two rounds of community surveys, Rachele Sullivan’s name emerged as the clear favorite, garnering more votes than all other options combined.
We believe that honoring Rachele Sullivan is a profoundly good choice, as she was a woman who proudly embodied the intersection of the queer, leather, Filipino, Indigenous, and disabled communities.
The final naming decision will be made by the Recreation and Park Commission. At this time, we do not know when the hearing and vote will take place. (June 20, 2024 is one possible date.) Please watch this page and/or join our SOMA Action Network, and we will let you know when and if your presence or other advocacy is needed.