The San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission on Oct. 16 approved a conceptual design to renovate Koshland Park and expand its community garden, including a new ADA path, added garden beds and security improvements, while prompting heated public comment over a proposed lockable fence around the garden.

The commission voted to accept the conceptual design and associated grant framework after staff detailed a $1,625,000 project budget that includes $1,140,000 for community garden improvements and $480,000 for wider park upgrades. The Trust for Public Land is contributing an in‑kind grant of about $332,000, staff said.

Supporters – including descendants of the Koshland family and nonprofit partners who run youth programs at the garden – urged commissioners to approve the plan, saying theft, vandalism, drug paraphernalia and confrontations in the garden have disrupted classes and endangered volunteers. "When the garden is vandalized or misused, we don't just lose supplies, we lose instructional hours," said Clarabet Del Rosario, executive director of CommunityGrows, which runs school programs at the site.

Opponents and some nearby residents said a locked gate would effectively privatize part of a public park and block casual neighborhood access. "Public space is a shared right, not a reward for labor," said a neighbor who organized opposing petition signatures. Several speakers said they want alternatives such as limited locking during classes, clearer signage, coordinated workdays or associate gardener programs rather than a full after‑hours lock.

Staff and garden representatives said the intent of the locked gate is limited: the park itself remains fenced and observes standard park hours, while the garden gate would be locked only outside those hours and opened for public workdays and community events. "The community garden observes our normal park hours. The garden will remain locked except for workdays and scheduled events," said Sarah Madeline, director of policy and public affairs for the Recreation and Park Department.

Project renderings presented to the commission show a new ADA‑compliant circulation path, roughly 625 square feet of additional garden area (about 500 square feet of which would be accessible beds), replacement playground surfacing, upgraded perimeter fencing, refurbished furniture, new drinking fountains and a multifunctional decking area for classroom and harvest activities. Construction and final design are scheduled through 2026 pending Board of Supervisors action on the grant.

Commissioners on the capital committee said the design aims to reduce blind spots and improve safety without eliminating public access; the final details and operating rules for the garden will be addressed during permitting and the grant acceptance process.

The commission approved the conceptual design by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The item was described as an "approval action" under the San Francisco Administrative Code, chapter 31, during staff remarks.