San Francisco Beautiful
A Green Project Years Ahead of It’s Time

Sep 24 | archive | subscribe

San Francisco Beautiful is celebrating 60 years of Creating, Enhancing and Protecting the Unique Beautify and Livability of San Francisco. From restoring landmarks to saving parks, San Francisco Beautiful acts for the benefit of all who live, work and play in San Francisco. San Francisco Beautiful is the only organization in San Francisco whose sole purpose is to protect and enhance the city´s urban environment.

Did you know that we can eat at outdoor cafes because San Francisco Beautiful initiated the legislation that legalized sidewalk tables and chairs? Or, that the City’s Community Challenge Grant Program exists because the group crafted the ballot measure enabling businesses to give a portion of their taxes back for beautification grants? Or, that SFB launched the rehabilitation of Murphy’s Windmill in Golden Gate Park by paying for an engineer to travel to San Francisco from The Netherlands to assess its condition?

In 1947 San Francisco’s cable car tracks were being taken up to make way for diesel buses. Telegraph Hill resident Friedel Klussmann, the quintessential citizen activist at the time, waged a well-known battle to rescue the beloved cable cars. In the course of her successful campaign to save The City’s signature asset, she produced a historical treasure of her own: San Francisco Beautiful.

2007 marks the 60th anniversary of this venerable institution that carries on Mrs. Klussmann’s legacy to create, enhance and protect the unique beauty and livability of San Francisco. New street trees and public landscaping, colorful murals, restored historic landmarks, rebuilt parks and playgrounds, flourishing community gardens and graffiti-removal efforts have been made possible with San Francisco Beautiful’s generous financial support, technical expertise and effective public advocacy.

Recently they’ve gain recognition for their anti-billboard vigilance, green schoolyard advocacy and leadership in restoring Lake Merced, among many other projects. However, the impact of their work over more than half a century is evident in each neighborhood across the City.

Their 2007 annual Beautification Awards Dinner takes Thursday, October 18th at San Francisco City Hall. sfbeautiful.org