One of Bay Area Women's and Children's Center's two major program areas involves community development, including advocacy, planning and policy work, community education, and coalition-building on issues of low-income children and families living in the Tenderloin.

• Facilities and Playground Development
• Planning, Advocacy, and Coalition Building

Tenderloin Children's Playground and Rec Center Campaign BAWCC's first long-term community project was to initiate (along with Tenderloin Youth Advocates) the effort to have a children's playground and recreation center built in the heart of the Tenderloin. BAWCC & TYA led the 10 year effort for this award-winning facility. Opened in 1995, the Children's Playground has up to 250 children a day who use the Center.
Civic Center "Tiny Tot" Playground BAWCC's second multi-year community effort was to get a "tot lot" built in San Francisco's Civic Center area, located on the edge of the Tenderloin community. This idea was originated by BAWCC staff, approved by the mayor, and the 5-year community effort was led by BAWCC. It opened in 1994.
Macaulay Park Playground In 1995, BAWCC director was approached by both police officers who worked the Macaulay Park "beat", and by members of the surrounding community to ask if BAWCC would lead the effort to have Macaulay Park redesigned and re-built. For many years, Macaulay Park, in the northwest Tenderloin, had been a haven for crime and drug activity. BAWCC brought together members of the community, staff of local organizations, police representative, and members of the Macaulay family (including Sergeant Macaulay's mother and brother), to work with the Rec & Park Dept. to redesign the park as a playground. It re-opened in late 2000.
Civic Center School Age Playground After BAWCC's successful work on getting the pre-school playground built in the SF Civic Center, BAWCC was approached by both the Mayor's Office and Recreation & Park Department and asked to lead the city-wide effort for a second playground within Civic Center. This playground is for older children (ages five and above). BAWCC began the Civic Center Playground Initiative in 1994, and the playground was completed and opened in 1998.
Turk/Hyde Pre-School Playground In 1992, at the request of the local childcare centers and Tenderloin families with young children, BAWCC initiated the community effort to get a playground for preschool children built in the heart of the Tenderloin. This 8-year effort was completed in 2001 when the playground opened.
Tenderloin Community School & Tenderloin Family Center In 1990, to address the results of our extensive community survey, BAWCC initiated the Tenderloin Gradeschool Campaign. For the next eight years, BAWCC staffed this community effort, and worked with the school district to ensure that an elementary school with on-site family services was built. The 375-student school and family center opened in late 1998 with kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms, an on-site child development center, a library, learning garden, adult education center, health center with dental and mental health services, family room, kitchen, and computer center. BAWCC provides staffing and programming for on-site services.