In October 2026, we brought a Pop-Up Town Square to the Excelsior Night Market, transforming a stretch of Ocean Avenue into a temporary neighborhood gathering space just steps from Persia Triangle.
Persia Triangle sits at the heart of the Excelsior at the intersection of Mission, Ocean, and Persia. It has long been envisioned as a neighborhood gathering space, but is currently an auto repair shop and gated parking lot. There have been several efforts over the years to reimagine the space, including a pop up park in the parking lot, and efforts to add a ground mural, seating and planters to the surrounding sidewalk. Excelsior Action Group (EAG) has explored purchasing the space, but never been able to, keeping a larger, more permanent transformation out of reach.
So, what if Persia Triangle’s long envisioned neighborhood gathering space didn't have to be confined to the triangle itself? What if it could take shape right in the street, on Ocean Avenue?
The Pop-Up Town Square brought that idea to life, with abundant greenery and seating that gave residents a chance to experience what a more welcoming, people-centered public space could look and feel like. It also offered an opportunity to explore how the surrounding streets might better serve the community.
Pop-up Town Squares are designed as pilot projects. This iterative approach helps create community buy-in and foster local stewardship. By creating opportunities to test, refine, and improve these new public spaces, we can experience a greener public realm, and a more connected community.
A Green Streets Project
Green Streets is an emerging initiative of the Civic Joy Fund that reimagines underutilized public spaces. This growing network of experimental green spaces connects San Franciscans to their neighborhood villages, and to each other.
