Should the Great Highway be permanently closed to build a coastal park?

(SAN FRANCISCO) While the opponents of the Great Highway ballot measure threatened a recall petition, District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio confirmed that he would not withdraw the measure and insisted that the future of the Great Highway should be decided by all voters in San Francisco.

In the latest move, Engardio announced legislation being presently drafted on traffic management and park planning related to the ballot measure which is proposed to create a brand new oceanside park along the Great Highway.

"We need to make the city more responsive to westside transportation concerns, wants, and needs. I’m doing this work in collaboration with Supervisor Myrna Melgar. Her westside district borders the Sunset," Engardio stated. “My goal through this companion legislation is to better represent and listen to the diverse views and opinions on both sides of the Great Highway ballot initiative.”

Besides Engardio, Mayor London Breed and four Supervisors, Myrna Melgar, Dean Preston, Rafael Mandelman, Matt Dorsey, joined in support of the proposed measure to be put on the November 5 ballot.

The measure suggests to restrict private vehicles at all times on the Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Blvd. in order to establish new recreation and open space.

The measure has angered a large number of the westside residents. Rallies and protests were held to urge Engardio to withdraw the measure. Some opponents threatened a recall petition against Engardio who was elected in the November 2022 election.

Some opponents also said they would boycott Engardio's upcoming three night markets in the Sunset District in August and September until the Great Highway issue has been resolved.

Engardio issued a statement on July 22 to stand firm on his position on the measure. "San Franciscans should be able to decide whether the Great Highway becomes an oceanside park or remains a road for cars. I will not remove a ballot measure under threat of recall," Engardio stated.

"A ballot measure lets residents who oppose a park organize against it. And it gives supporters a chance to make their case for why we need it. Every voter deserves to have their voice heard," said Engardio.

Engardio said the pending closure of the highway South of Sloat Blvd. due to coastal erosion would create the opportunity for a permanent oceanside park to be transformed.

"Creating this space will help the environment, boost local merchants, and bring people joy. I also believe it’s a once-in-a-century opportunity to create a catalyst for a renaissance in the Sunset and San Francisco," Engardio stated.

Mayor Breed, who is seeking re-election in November, did not respond to a request for comment on the Great Highway measure before press time.

District 7 Supervisor Melgar who is also running for re-election in November said the future of the Great Highway would be directly related to her constituencies as well.

Melgar said she was the co-sponsor of the Great Highway measure. A similar proposal was first introduced by former D4 Supervisor Gordon Mar two years ago. Melgar said she did not vote for it at that time because some issues related to traffic planning were not resolved.

"The California’s Coastal Commission will not let the city rebuild this road," Melgar said due to the coastal erosion. She believed a coastal park would also bring in more visitors and businesses to the westside and raise the property values in surrounding areas.

Sherry Lau, a Sunset resident for over 20 years, has participated in rallies to oppose the Great Highway measure. "I would support the petition to recall him although I voted and campaigned for Joel Engardio in 2022," said Lau.

Lau said Engardio failed to do his job to listen to the Sunset residents on the matter before he proposed the measure to the Board of Supervisors. It has been a controversial issue to the westside businesses and residents for years. "The Sunset community needs to be informed first," said Lau.

In regular school days, Lau drives her granddaughter from Sunset to go to Washington High School in the Richmond District. "The closure of the Great Highway on all weekdays would be a nightmare for all of us, parents, students, workers, businesses and many others," Lau said the Great Highway could also provide some relief to the congested 19th Avenue.

By looking at the future, Lau also worried that the proposed coastal park would bring in more homeless people into the Sunset District.

Lau said the Great Highway impacts the westside residents and businesses the most. The issue should not be decided by all voters in the city.

Derek Tam, a resident of Daly City, said he was not able to vote on the measure, however the Great Highway has been his routine route to come to the City for his business.

"We can look at China and other Asian countries, all governments have made efforts to build more infrastructure and roads to elevate the transportation system to be more efficient for people and businesses. But the City of San Francisco has gone backward," Tam said.

John Trasvina, a lifelong resident of San Francisco and an alumni of Lowell High School which is located in District 4, also joined in the opposition against the Great Highway measure.

"City officials assured us closing the Great Highway was temporary because of COVID. Then they said it would continue but only as a pilot. Making it permanent reminds me of the same strategy used by the School Board to temporarily, and then permanently, have an admission lottery at Lowell High School because that's what they wanted in the first place. It was wrong then and wrong now," said Trasvina, who does not support a recall attempt against Engardio.

Friends of Great Highway Park is behind the proposal to create a coastal park which will replace the Great Highway. "We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to open the coast up for San Franciscans to enjoy in new ways. People in wheelchairs, parents pushing strollers, kids learning to ride a bicycle - all can safely enjoy the coast if we transform the Great Highway into a coastal park promenade," said Lucas Lux, President of the Friends of Great Highway park.

"We can create San Francisco's next iconic open space - and now is the time to do it, because the southern part of the Great Highway is already permanently closing because of coastal erosion, so commutes will be the same distance with or without a park. The coast is for everybody, and we have a chance to open it up to everybody to enjoy in ways not possible on the beach," Lux added.