2025 Theses Master's

Engaging the Bayview: A Proof-of-Concept Walking Tour For Community-Centered Planning in Islais Creek

Chan, Riley

How can vulnerable waterfront neighborhoods remain resilient, accessible, and inclusive as climate change accelerates sea level rise and heightens flood risks? As coastlines around the world face unprecedented environmental pressures, the need for comprehensive and community-driven engagement has never been more urgent.

Working in partnership with the Port of San Francisco’s Waterfront Resilience Program (WRP), this capstone project explores the transformative potential of community-centered engagement in coastal adaptation. Using the Bayview-Islais Creek neighborhood as a case study, it develops a framework for public engagement rooted in placebased learning and experiential storytelling. This capstone serves as a proof of concept for how interactive, community-led narratives can deepen understanding of climate risks, highlight infrastructural vulnerabilities, and empower residents to participate meaningfully in resilience planning.

As San Francisco prepares for the challenges posed by sea level rise, seismic risks, and environmental inequities, ensuring that local communities are not only informed but actively engaged in the planning process is critical. This project emphasizes the importance of integrating community voices, local histories, and lived experiences into waterfront adaptation strategies. Through on-the-ground storytelling, digital platforms, and interactive workshops, Engaging the Bayview positions community knowledge as a vital component of sustainable resilience planning.

The capstone assesses current public engagement practices within the WRP, identifying gaps and opportunities for greater community involvement. By collaborating with city agencies, community organizations, and local stakeholders, the project aims to create an accessible engagement tool that connects urban planning concepts to the everyday realities of Bayview residents. In doing so, it seeks to model a more inclusive and equitable approach to resilience that empowers communities to lead in shaping their own adaptive futures.