The California Coastal Commission voted unanimously on Dec. 12 to grant permit approval for the City of San Francisco to convert the Upper Great Highway from Lincoln Way to Sloat Boulevard to a full-time park that will prioritize pedestrian and bicycle access, enhance public safety and restore vital coastal dunes.
What we saw in the fight over Prop. K was a clash between affluent, self-interested, ideological activists and everyday San Franciscans – working families, small business owners, seniors and people with disabilities – whose lives will be negatively impacted by the longer commutes, more traffic headaches, quiet streets becoming cut-through zones and decreased access to business corridors.
Despite being shot down by approximately 60% of Sunset District and 70% of Richmond District voters, the measure passed citywide by 54.7%, with support coming mostly from the City’s eastside residents.
Now, the City is quickly working to fully activate the space as a “car-free promenade” by early next year. On Nov. 21, the City was awarded a $1 million grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy to fund art projects, water fountains, trash bins, event programming and dune restoration.
So, Proposition K won. I didn’t vote for it, nor did most westside residents apparently, but it passed. The ballot measure promised to replace the stretch of the Upper Great Highway from Fulton Street to Lincoln Way with a park. But it didn’t say what kind of park. So, let’s think about this!
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.
All of this is to say that the proponents of Prop. K (and similar measures) are putting the cart before the horse. If they want people to get out of their cars and onto public transit, the way to do that is not to inconvenience drivers by closing roads and hoping they get the hint.
I hope, in the future, when all concerned make decisions such as JFK Drive and the Upper Great Highway, more consideration is given to the majority of people who are busy with their lives on Mondays through Fridays and who can only “recreate” on the weekends.
If, in the near future, we can tear out the old road on the Upper Great Highway and replace it with a tunnel for cars, trucks, vans, jeeps, motorcycles, etc., then a new path could be built on top of the tunnel and dirt and grass put there for people to enjoy safely on top.
Photos from the 2024 “Great Hauntway” Halloween event on the Upper Great Highway on Oct. 27.
The Great Highway Park pilot has been a transformative experience for our community and Ocean Beach Park will make it better. For years, the Upper Great Highway cut our neighborhood off from the beach, acting as both a mental and physical barrier that discourages daily enjoyment of the coast.
Prop. K doesn’t serve San Francisco’s needs; it disregards essential access and creates unnecessary obstacles for residents, commuters and families. By voting “no” on Prop. K, we’re preserving vital access for drivers, maintaining trust in community-based decisions and keeping the Great Highway open for the benefit of all.
Prop. K will be closely watched since it will determine the future of the Great Highway. If you’re reading this before Nov. 5, below are some points to consider as you decide how to vote.
While losing our common sense in San Francisco is not a new phenomenon, it’s definitely at a fever pitch over Prop, K, closing the Upper Great Highway (UGH) to cars. I refuse to call it a park because that’s a lie; it’s not going to be a park at all, it’s just closing the road to vehicles. By the way, not all vehicles, since a road is still legally required for emergency vehicles.
I learned that if Prop. K doesn’t pass, the pilot program that allowed it to be a park on the weekends will expire, meaning it would go back to just being a road. That made me realize the stakes, because losing the Great Highway Park would be a massive loss for the community.
Voting Yes on Prop K will NOT create a park on the Upper Great Highway between Lincoln and Sloat. It will not be good for the environment, give people of all ages better access to the coast or bring new customers to our small businesses.
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 