‘Sunday Streets’ event brings families to SF’s Tenderloin for community fun

(KRON) — A push to reclaim car-packed streets is gaining momentum through “Sunday Streets” — a family-friendly event hosted by the nonprofit Livable City.

This year, one of the chosen locations was right in the heart of San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. The hustle a bustle of San Francisco creates congested streets — a big reason why the San Francisco non-profit, Livable City, created “Sunday Streets.”

A family-friendly event where streets are blocked off to provide games, resources, and overall mingling for the community.

The executive director of Livable City, Darin Ow-Wing, says it’s their 17th year putting on the event.

“There’s this moment of collective joy among people, among family and people they haven’t met, but they’re all from the neighborhood,” Ow-Wing said. “So that’s to me is symbolic to what this is about.”

Sunday Streets is put on six times a year and in different locations of San Francisco. This year, it was in the Tenderloin neighborhood.

“My dad is considered the unofficial mayor of the Tenderloin,” said Regina Seymour.

Regina and her family were among those who attended the event. Her father, Del Seymour, is a man of many accomplishments. He is best known as the founder of Code Tenderloin, a nonprofit that offers vital job and housing support in the Tenderloin neighborhood.

“I don’t even consider this Father’s Day, this is Tenderloin Day,” Del said. “I’ll do Father’s Day another day; this is 100% dedicated to the tenderloin.”

Code Tenderloin and Livable City partner with the St. Anthony Foundation, a leading social services nonprofit that provides medical care, workforce training, meals, and more to the community.

Laura Flannigan, chief operating officer at St. Anthony’s, said it was heartwarming to see families come together and enjoy a day of fun — completely free of charge.

“Having days like today actually let the community come out, gather in community and really gather in the spirit of joy,” Flannigan said. “Really shows what’s possible when we all work together.”

Ow-Wing says it’s because of the hundreds of volunteers, local nonprofits, and sponsors that make days like Sunday possible.

“All the bad news in the world, all the things we’re stressed out about, if we’re not united, it’s going to be a lot harder to get through these things,” Ow-Wing said.