With the Upper Great Highway soon to be turned into park space, the City of San Francisco is blazing new trails. The California State Coastal Conservancy Board has designated a $1 million award to transform this 2-mile road into a recreational and sustainable area. The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department stated the monies would support environmental restoration to strengthen the beach’s defenses against sea level rise and enhance beach and dune systems, according to the SF Chronicle.
The project was made possible by Proposition K, which was approved by voters on November 5 to bar cars from using the region between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard. However, this decision was not without its critics. According to Hoodline, some locals anticipate that the closure will force traffic down residential streets, causing congestion and changing the atmosphere of their communities. Nevertheless, most people supported the plan, especially those from the east side of the city.
The project is a concrete reaction to the problems brought on by a changing climate, with discussions about sustainability and urban planning at its center. Amy Hutzel, executive officer at the State Coastal Conservancy, stated in a news release that “the California coast will be drastically affected by rising sea levels.” With additional plans to repave Sunset Boulevard and install new traffic signals to lessen any congestion issues in the nearby areas, the park is expected to restore a large area of nature to the western fringe of the city.
According to SF Chronicle, “This grant funds the type of work that we know is the best path to creating great park spaces in our city, which is starting with community engagement and discovering community needs.” Lucas Lux, board president of Friends of Great Highway Park, highlighted the group vision that guided the park’s design. The project is anticipated to move forward with a targeted reopening as a car-free promenade in early 2025, though there are still a few steps that must be completed before the roadway can be turned into a park, including obtaining a Coastal Commission permit. The southern portion of the roadway is scheduled to be permanently closed by early 2026 due to coastal erosion.
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