From the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department:

California State Coastal Conservancy Awards $1 Million Resiliency Grant

to Great Highway Project

City announces transportation changes in anticipation of conversion to full-time park

The California State Coastal Conservancy Board today approved a $1 million grant to address sea level rise along the Great Highway from Lincoln Way to Sloat Boulevard – funding the City of San Francisco will use to support its broader plan to transform the oceanside stretch into a permanent park.

The grant will help plan for the future of the coastline including:

• Community Input on Long-term Design: San Francisco residents will help shape the look, feel, and uses of the future park to ensure it serves everyone’s needs, from family outings to quiet reflection by the shore.
• Environmental Restoration: Experts will evaluate measures to protect the coast from sea level rise and erosion, restoring natural dunes, and improving habitats for plants and animals.
• Access and Recreation: Planners will explore ways to make the park easier to use for people with a variety of abilities, such as adding new paths, beach access points, and features for fun and relaxation that fit the sandy, coastal environment.
• Safer Transportation: A study will look at how to improve walking, biking and transit access while managing traffic in the surrounding neighborhood.

The Great Highway will re-open as a car-free promenade in early 2025, giving people a safe and scenic place to walk, bike, skate and enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean.

Inspired by the success of the JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park, the initial phase of the project will include temporary art, murals, seating, enhanced trash receptacles, water fountains, signage, and year-round programming. Dune restoration projects will also be a key component, improving natural conditions to mitigate future sand displacement and erosion while enhancing the coast’s resilience to sea level rise.

“Rising sea levels will have a dramatic impact on the California coast. The Coastal Conservancy is excited to work on projects like this that explore how we can adapt to this reality while expanding recreational, ecological, and climate resilience benefits. With this funding, Rec. and Park will work with the community and with technical experts to understand the resilience requirements, restoration potential, and public access needs at this beloved stretch of the coast.” said Amy Hutzel, executive officer, State Coastal Conservancy.

“I am so grateful that the Coastal Conservancy has joined the voters of San Francisco in supporting this once-in-a-generation upgrade to our coastline,” said San Francisco Supervisor Myrna Melgar, who represents District 7. “These funds will allow San Franciscans to have a greater voice in what elements of infrastructure, traffic mitigation, and joy we want to welcome to the new Ocean Beach Park.”

The $1 million grant was secured before voters passed Proposition K earlier this month, setting the stage for transforming the Upper Great Highway into a car-free promenade.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity to create a park that not only enhances our coastline but also prepares us for the realities of a changing climate,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Sea-level rise is coming, no matter what, and we’re grateful to the Coastal Conservancy for helping us plan proactively for a resilient future.”

In the meantime, City agencies are working together to secure approvals and ensure key transportation projects are in place to ensure a smooth transition from highway to promenade. These projects will be completed in advance of the conversion to a promenade and include:

• Repaving Sunset Boulevard
• Activating a new signal at Sloat Boulevard and Skyline Boulevard
• Activating a new signal at Skyline Boulevard and Great Highway
• Traffic changes to the promenade intersections of Great Highway at Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard.

These projects are bolstered by prior traffic calming efforts. In 2022, the SFMTA installed 25 speed humps and 12 stop signs on directly adjacent streets to Great Highway to reduce cut-through traffic behavior and ensure safe traffic speeds on neighborhood streets. 

In addition to the immediate transportation improvements, the City is planning to install new traffic signals along the Lincoln Way corridor at La Playa Street, 41^st Avenue, and 45^th Avenue and upgrade the existing signal at Great Highway and Lincoln to support safety and mobility. These improvements will be implemented after the stretch reopens as a fulltime promenade.

In Spring 2025, facilitated community discussions will begin to gather feedback on near-term, additional park design and understand any new or emerging concerns on residential traffic. Meetings will include transportation professionals, park designers and community members.

“After years of study, community engagement, and two ballot initiatives, San Franciscans have spoken that the coast is a place that should be open to all,” said Lucas Lux, board president of Friends of Great Highway Park. “We look forward to working with our neighbors and the Recreation and Park Department to make Ocean Beach Park the new model for coastal access by putting people and stewardship first.”