Committee backs $204,000 KaBOOM grant for Heron's Head nature play space

Chair Matt Haney and the Budget and Finance Committee on the morning called for the Board of Supervisors to accept and expend an in‑kind grant from KaBOOM valued at $204,000 to design and build a nature play space at Heron's Head Park.

Delia Curry of the Recreation and Parks Department, partnerships division, told the committee the project would be the department's third "nature exploration area" and the first in District 10. Curry said the design emphasizes natural elements—tree trunks, boulders, loose natural parts and native planting—to encourage unstructured, child‑led play and sensory exploration. The proposed site lies at the edge of a 1.7‑mile network of green space being developed as part of the India Basin project.

Curry described three distinct zones within the proposal—a seating area for gatherings, a loose‑parts activity area, and a movement/climbing area with stumps and boulders—and said Recreation and Parks will engage local families, youth and community programming partners in a participatory design process beginning in April, with construction targeted for fall 2021.

The clerk reported there was no public comment on the item. Chair Haney moved to forward the measure to the full Board with a positive recommendation; a roll call vote recorded Vice Chair Asha Safaie, Supervisor Gordon Mar and Chair Haney voting "Aye," and the clerk announced the item will proceed to the Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation.

The committee did not identify any outstanding budgetary or legal impediments in committee; the clerk noted items acted on by the committee are expected to appear on the Board agenda on April 6 unless otherwise stated.