In Chan Kaajal Park

History & Background

In Chan Kaajal Park was inaugurated in June 2017 as San Francisco's first new park in over 10 years. Prior to development, the site was a former parking lot in the Mission District.

The park's name, chosen by community vote, means "My Little Town" in the Yucatec Maya language. This name honors San Francisco's significant Mayan American minority, consisting of immigrants who arrived from Mexico's Yucatán region since the 1990s and settled mainly in the northern Mission and the Tenderloin.

Development Process

Planning for the park began in 2008 as part of the Eastern Neighborhoods Rezoning and Area Plan. The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department partnered with local grassroots organizations, including PODER (People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Justice), to develop the park's concept plan.

The park's construction had a budget of $5.2 million and was completed after a 10-month construction period that began in April 2016. On the remaining area adjacent to the park, a 127-unit affordable housing project broke ground in 2019.

Design Features

In Chan Kaajal Park features drought-resistant landscaping, including plants and trees that are well-suited to the local climate. The park's design incorporates elements that commemorate the area's natural history, such as an interactive water installation that pays tribute to Mission Creek, which once flowed through the site.

Artwork

Artist Carmen Lomas Garza contributed to the park's aesthetic appeal by creating renderings of a California condor and a great blue heron, which adorn the perimeter fence. These artworks were commissioned by the San Francisco Arts Commission.