Committee approves Heron’s Head Park living‑classroom lease amendment after environmental review and public concerns

The committee considered a resolution to amend Lease No. 13816 with Literacy for Environmental Justice to allow construction, maintenance and operation of a living‑classroom building at Heron’s Head Park. The item drew substantial public comment from local residents and advocacy groups: some speakers urged caution given historic landfill and industrial uses at shoreline sites, while project supporters and the leaseholder emphasized the project’s educational and stewardship benefits for Bayview‑Hunters Point youth.

Environmental staff summarized years of soil characterization and a human‑health risk assessment conducted for the site. The technical conclusion presented to the committee was that although constituents such as arsenic and lead exist in the soil (and are naturally occurring in some cases), those constituents are not present at concentrations that would pose a risk to park users under the planned uses. Project staff and advocates said they have testing and monitoring data available and would make them available to the committee.

Public speakers who live near the site urged the committee and the Board to use Proposition 65 standards for toxins and asked for continued testing and safeguards before the facility is used for regular youth programs. Literacy for Environmental Justice and other supporters argued that the living classroom would provide hands‑on environmental education and that soil testing and mitigation plans are in place.

After hearing testimony and staff assessment, the committee forwarded the lease amendment to the full Board with recommendation.