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Soto serves as the acting landscape supervisor for Zone 3 in the Bureau of Urban Forestry’s Landscape Shop. A proud San Francisco native, she oversees the care and maintenance of Sunset Boulevard’s extensive greenway — a unique corridor laid out in the early 1930s to provide a north-south route through the developing Sunset District connecting Lake Merced to Golden Gate Park.
Working closely with colleagues across Public Works, Recreation and Parks, and other City departments, she coordinates projects that blend infrastructure, community stewardship, and ecological restoration.
“It’s really a team effort,” Soto said. “We’ve been working hand in hand with plumbers, arborists, cement masons — everyone — to bring Sunset back into a beautiful greenway.”
A Living Landscape
The Sunset Boulevard greenway is home to more than 30 rain gardens managed in partnership with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and it features a diverse mix of California native plants like salvias and fuchsias, along with its iconic giant Monterey pines and cypress. “This area used to be sand dunes,” Soto said. “The plants you see here are the ones that thrive in that sandy soil. It’s a place where people can walk, breathe in the ocean air, and feel connected to nature.
“There are plants and trees that have been here hundreds of years, and some just a year,” she said. “To be able to work with that amazing palette, that's what makes my job truly unique.”
But the transformation hasn’t been easy. The biggest challenge, she said, is the “ancient irrigation system.” Some valves date back to the 1940s and haven’t been operational for decades. “We’ve been taking that head-on,” Soto added. “Replacing broken heads, finding old valves, bringing water back — it’s made such a difference.”
Community Roots
Soto credits much of the boulevard’s success to the neighbors and local stewards who care for their adopted plots. “I love how much pride they take,” she said. “One neighbor told me, ‘This is my plot,’ and they’ve built benches out of old logs for everyone to enjoy. Seeing that kind of care makes it all worthwhile.
“The neighbors come out and express their gratitude for the investment Public Works is making in this space,” she added. “They say it looks beautiful and there are a lot more neighbors interested in adopting garden spaces. Our interactions have been very positive.”
A Career Built from Passion and Perseverance
Soto’s journey to her current role began in 2017 with the Human Services Agency, followed by work in Public Works’ administrative offices. Her curiosity about fieldwork led her to join clean teams — and that’s where she found her calling. “As soon as I got out there, I fell in love with the land,” she recalled. “It was just natural to me.”
She later completed the City and County of San Francisco’s landscape apprenticeship program, a rigorous two-year course through City College that combines classroom learning with 3,000 hours of hands-on training. “Out of 500 applicants, only 13 were accepted,” she said proudly. “It wasn’t easy — but if you want it, you don’t give up.”
When asked what drives her, Soto doesn’t hesitate: “My daughter. I was told once that I couldn’t be a gardener — because I was a woman. But I did it. And now my daughter can see that she can do anything.”
Beyond the Work
Outside of her role, Soto recharges through her love of plants, dancing, hiking, chasing waterfalls, and spending time with her dogs. “I have a jungle of plants at home,” she laughed. “And I dance — Afro-Brazilian, samba, a little reggaeton. It keeps me happy.”
She’s also back at City College, pursuing a degree in Business Management and Operations, continuing her commitment to growth — both personal and professional.
As she looked up Sunset Boulevard, Soto reflected on how far it’s come — and what’s still ahead. “I’m really looking forward to what Sunset will become,” she said. “It’s becoming something beautiful — and it’s only the beginning.”
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