Update: Greenbelt Alliance is thrilled that San Francisco residents voted YES on Proposition K, which will turn a 2-mile highway stretch into a permanent oceanside park, transforming an unreliable road into an open, accessible destination for everyone. The measure passed with almost 54% of the votes.
We’re excited that this highway stretch will become a great destination for communities to enjoy for generations to come and expand open space access in the city. Learn more about Proposition K.
Why It Matters
When the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020, a portion of the Upper Great Highway along Ocean Beach closed to cars and welcomed residents to enjoy the highway as a recreational and social public space. But this arrangement is set to expire in 2025.
Climate change is currently causing parts of Ocean Beach to erode and making the highway unreliable and threatening its longevity and safety. The highway is already closed up to 65 days per year due to sand removal, costing the City nearly $2 million annually.
A study of the pilot park’s impact by the SFMTA reported that traffic on the Great Highway and all nearby streets remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels. The most impacted trip would be from the Outer Richmond to south of San Francisco, which may take three more minutes during rush hour.” The oceanside park will enhance enjoyment of our region’s natural lands and allow community members to enjoy playgrounds, dog parks, and community events.
The permanent park will also better enable dune restoration work to protect them from rising sea levels, while removing invasive ice plants and planting native species. Closing the highway to cars will encourage non-car based transportation such as bicycles and pedestrian access to the city’s Sunset neighborhoods, while reducing automobile pollution from San Francisco’s sensitive coastal habitat.
Greenbelt Alliance is excited thatProp K will improve public access to our region’s urban and natural spaces, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to enjoy our public lands.
Originally published on September 23, 2024.
Photo courtesy of Yes on Prop K campaign website.
