San Francisco Voters Lean Towards Transforming Upper Great Highway into Public Park Amidst Traffic and Community Concerns

With a majority of votes counted, Proposition K, the controversial ballot measure that would close a two-mile stretch of San Francisco’s Upper Great Highway to vehicles, is poised to reshape the city’s westernmost shoreline. At the latest tally, approximately 54% of voters backed the initiative to convert the roadway into a public recreation space, as reported by the

San Francisco Chronicle

. Spearheaded by District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio and backed by Mayor London Breed and other city supervisors, the measure has garnered support for its promise of a new oceanfront park while stirring discontent among residents concerned about traffic congestion and community division.

The results released by the

San Francisco Department of Elections

put the “Yes on K” votes at 162,593 against 138,191 “No” votes. Despite the approval majority, younger and progressive demographics particularly favored the proposal, found an October poll commissioned by the San Francisco Chronicle, with opposition more likely among older, moderate, and Asian residents. Moreover, with voters from the city’s west side primarily against the measure in contrast to supporters from the east side, the city seems split not only by views but geographically.

Proponents see transforming the Upper Great Highway into an urban park as a response to worsening coastal erosion, with plans for the permanent closure of the highway’s southern section, per the

San Francisco Examiner

. Prop K has been pitched as a “once-in-a-generational” opportunity by Engardio, who sees this as a renaissance for the area. He argues that the highway’s utility has diminished, particularly as the southern end is slated for closure due to erosion risks.

On the other hand, opponents, including West Side residents and the Chinese American Democratic Club, have expressed their disappointment with the decision, feeling overlooked in a city-wide vote. “I think that our families that live near Great Highway have totally shown that they did not want Prop K to pass, but people that are far away, that have hardly used the Great Highway, they have no problem listening to the mouthpieces and voted for a park that does not have funding and does not have plans,” Josephine Zhao, president of the club,

told the San Francisco Chronicle

.

Some hope a community-led design process for the proposed park space could foster unity amid the discord. Heidi Moseson, a volunteer for the Friends of Great Highway Park, believes discussing what the space could become might bring people together,

according to the Chronicle

.

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