San Francisco drivers will get one last chance to use the Upper Great Highway as the Recreation and Park Department announced over the weekend that they will permanently close the segment on March 14.
The Upper Great Highway from Sloat Boulevard to Lincoln Way will eventually be closed to private vehicles, making way for an oceanfront park after voters last November passed Proposition K (54.73 percent) to close that segment of the Upper Great Highway for outdoor recreational space. Rec and Park officials said the park will open on April 12.
Additionally, the southbound lanes of the Great Highway Extension from Sloat to Skyline boulevards will close on March 14.
“This park belongs to the people of San Francisco,” said Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg in a press statement. “It’s a place where the City meets the sea, where art and nature come together, and where San Franciscans will leave their mark — not just by enjoying the park, but by giving it its name.”
Rec and Park is holding a naming contest until March 16. The public can submit potential names online. Then, a virtual community meeting will review nominations and gather feedback, followed by another public online vote to determine the park’s name. The public will have until April 2 to vote on the final name.
City leaders gathered at the Great Highway Saturday to preview amenities that will grace the park, including murals, lounge spaces with chairs, elevated seating to enjoy ocean views, and outdoor fitness equipment. The city is also planning for art installations, a skating area, and event seating for live performances.
When the Upper Great Highway closes, officials said the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) will work on traffic signal timing and adjusting travel lanes at the Lincoln Way and Great Highway and Sloat Boulevard and Great Highway intersections.
Crews from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission will also be doing its annual sand back pass operation ahead of the park’s grand opening, Rec and Park officials said.
The SFMTA said on its website that they’ve begun activating new traffic signals at two intersections, one at 41st Avenue and Lincoln Way and the other at Sloat Boulevard and Skyline Boulevard.
Despite the measure passing in November and the celebration on Saturday, the closure of the Upper Great Highway has been controversial, especially among residents living on the west side of the city. Critics are worried about the traffic moving elsewhere to other parts of the city, including on the already busy 19th Avenue and Sunset Boulevard. The SFMTA said they will monitor traffic conditions, gather data, and listen to community feedback as they arise.
An effort to recall District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio, who represents the Sunset District and supported Proposition K, is already in motion by some residents in his district who did not support the measure. Engardio has also launched his campaign against the recall.