Welcome to the NEW Southview Park!
Southview Park, one of Sausalito’s four major parks, has been under refurbishment since August 2020 and is now virtually complete. A grand opening was held on September 25, 2022.
Sausalito Beautiful has been involved in several aspects of the park renovation namely providing a landscape plan and helping raise money to fund the landscape installation. We want to thank SWA, who developed this habitat-centered landscape plan and shared in its cost with us. Of course, a big thank you goes out to the citizens who helped the Friends of Southview Park raise over $75,000 needed to execute this landscape plan. We are proud to help ensure a beautiful park for generations to come.
Southview Park Fund and Matching Grant
It is critical that after so much time, effort and funding Southview Park be well maintained. Considering the City’s budget constraints, Mary Foust, a Park and Recreation Commissioner, announced at last Sunday’s opening that she will provide a $5,000 challenge grant to set up a Southview Park Fund (SVPF) for augmented maintenance and park amenities. The intention is to use these funds as needed for Southview until they are all disbursed. All contributions to the Southview Park Fund (SVPF) will be doubled, matched dollar for dollar up to $5,000. The fund will be administered by Sausalito Beautiful. To contribute, either send a check to Sausalito Beautiful, P.O. Box 222, Sausalito, CA 94966 (subject line: Southview Park Fund or SVPF) or go through the organization’s website, sausalitobeautiful.
The Planting & Landscape Design
The planting design concept for Southview Park is a habitat garden on the terraced hillside, creating a connection with the hills and surrounding natural landscape. The design preserves the two large coast live oaks at the center of the park and features evergreen shrubs, along with grasses and succulents chosen for their flowers that attract birds, bees and butterflies, as well as for their low maintenance and suitability for the local microclimate. Picnic tables and benches will also offer residents and visitors comfortable spaces to enjoy the park amenities while soaking in the spectacular vistas of the bay and city skyline. Shown above is a draft of the plan
The impetus for refurbishing Southview Park included crumbling retaining walls, dilapidated tennis and basketball courts, out-of-date equipment, and accessibility challenges. The City of Sausalito funded these hardscape improvements through grants and Measures O and F.
The hardscape improvements were completed in 202l and include new retaining walls, stairs, railing and fencing, resurfaced basketball and tennis courts, and new playground equipment with a fall protection surface. The landscape plan has been implemented in fall 2022, including benches and picnic tables, trees, and most of the specified plants.
We look forward to Southview once again serving as a beloved community gathering place.
Thoughts of Southview Park
Did you know that Southview Park was once home to the Southview School?
If you have a memory, story, or photo of Southview Park that you’d like to share, let us know!
“I have lived at 400 North Street for 27 years, just above the playground of the park. In the early days, I enjoyed looking at the tranquil and elegant setting. I saw people of all ages taking advantage of it. Juli and I are very happy with the plan to renovate the park. We look forward to seeing a beautiful park again from our deck and to playing tennis there.”
– Dave Brezner (and Juli Betwee)
“I am pleased that kids will still be able enjoy a public park on the site. And I applaud the thoughtful choice of plants suited to climate change.”
– Alice Merrill (who attended K-2nd grade at Southview School)
“I met my best friend and maid of honor in Southview Park when we were both two, now we are raising our own children here in Sausalito! I am so lucky to have Southview just up the street from us; our two year old loves seeing the big construction trucks and we can’t wait to play tennis so close to home!”
– Julie Scripps
“As a founding member of the Sausalito Beautiful Board and neighbor of Southview Park, I am delighted that Sausalito Beautiful will continue our mission to enhance our community’s public green spaces.”
– Carolyn Revelle
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