Part 2: Great Highway Park
In 2020, two miles of San Francisco’s Great Highway was transformed into a one-of-a-kind community space, quickly gaining in popularity and adding 37 acres of new, ocean-front park space to the Sunset District. Today, this park is open Friday - Sunday, providing accessible, flat space lovingly called Great Highway Park. Like JFK Promenade, Great Highway Park is under threat.
Proposition I was written to take away these unique places, sending San Franciscans seeking recreation back to the past, requiring the beach to be a 24/7 highway, destroying the Great Highway Park. In addition, the Proposition I requires the Great Highway be rebuilt between Sloat and Skyline, despite the warning from scientists and staff, at a cost of at least $80 million and grave ecological costs for the shoreline. Proposition I chooses car convenience for a few over the safety of all.
In part two of this photo series, Jason Corning brings us a selection of portraits of people who enjoy and depend upon Great Highway Park. Be sure to vote Yes on J, No on I to protect our shoreline while continuing to open park space to the thousands of people who enjoy the Great Highway Park weekends.
It’s a lot safer. We tried going to Lake Merced but there was a lot of car traffic on the sides, so it didn’t really feel safe…this is the best option for us with the family.
Raymond
Brooks loves the freedom to ride his bike in a safe and beautiful environment. Given his physical challenges, it's difficult for us to find a place for him to have the opportunity to ride safely and comfortably.
These activities are important for our physical and mental health. This kind of space is rare, and extremely important to our family.
Brooks and his Parents
I live in the Inner Richmond. I try to come (to the Great Walkway) once a week. I usually bike, sometimes I walk. I really love being so close to the water, I think it’s great, and I really like coming from the park to my house… I really enjoy it being park-only… I love it, I like how it’s such an open space, I saw some people doing yoga back there!
(If the Great Walkway returned to cars) I would miss the safe commute for me, and just having a safe place to bike so close to water. I know some people who have gotten hit on a bike on the road, so I try to avoid the road as much as possible.
Julia
I live in Miraloma Park. During surf season I come here 3 or 4 times a week.
I use GHwy recreationally… biking or running… on the weekends, I think it’s excellent that it’s open.
Joe
We live in Church & Duboce… we’ve been in a facility, in lockdown, it’s a hospice respite, and this is the first time we’ve been able to come out here.
It’s beautiful and amazing, she made it all the way down to the beach while she and I sat up because we couldn’t make it.
We enjoyed sitting on the beach because we couldn’t make it all the way down. So thank God this road was here for us to get down. We’re going right to that light and taking the bus back to the place…
We are so happy to be down here. It made our weekend so much more beautiful… we’re grateful.
Kim & Friends
I hang out with my friends and skate or bike… it’s straight and, sometimes there’s sand, but there’s no cars…
It’s nice, wind in your face and all that.
Jack & Friends
We come as often as we can. We usually make it twice every weekend, sometimes three times…
We get coffee at Andytown and we walk up from Taraval to Lincoln, then all the way back, then drive home.
Being able to walk without cars. The footing is really good… we tried the little (multi-use) path but it’s narrow and it’s rocky under foot. This is wide and smooth and plenty of room for everyone to enjoy in all different ways.
It’s been two years that we’ve been coming every weekend… it’s just beautiful, and the walking is good, the footing is better than on the beach or on the little path, and there’s more room to spread out.
Everyone smiles out here. And you get to see all the happy dogs.
Close it to cars forever… we would come more often if we could… We used to like it when we had to drive somewhere and it made sense at all to use it because it was direct, and convenient, and also beautiful! But it’s way better for people than for cars.
John & Karalee
I live in the Sunset. (I come to Great Highway Park) whenever I can. I go on my skateboard…it’s like a peaceful way to get me out. I go to school and I get a bunch of stress from what’s happening over there, and this just takes me out of it.
Rich & Marylou
(I come to Great Highway Park) mostly every day. I just walk…I like the view, and the weather, and the beach. And we love to go to the beach every day.
Suman
We live in South San Francisco.
We came because it’s wide, flat, and straight. And being by the ocean.
I’m doing physical therapy right now, and this is good because there’s a lot of space between people.
For me I love this now. Right now we haven’t been on our scooters in months, so it feels wonderful… to see everyone out here.
I’m more for (car-free).
Rich & Marylou
I’m in Nob Hill. I rode the motorcycle over here. During the pandemic…I was here every other day.
I just ride, I just skate. Weekends are clutch out here, it’s super nice… the pavement is good, it’s a dedicated spot where you don’t have to worry about dodging people… the ocean doesn’t hurt either.
Isaac
(We live in) Parkside. My husband is back with my two five year old boys. We took the bus with them here and we’re going to Java Beach to get a sandwich then we’re going to go back home… We just sold our minivan, so we’re biking and using public transit all around.
We try to come whenever it is open, like once a weekend at least if not more…
It’s just fantastic to have something like this. It’s a safe place.
It’s a way to enjoy the beach, to get the kids out here, it’s a good bike back and forth. It’s quiet, it feels like a totally different part of the city. It’s wonderful.
We have five kids, it’s great to be able to bring them down here and show them a different way.
I would hate to see us slide back after this progress.
Erin & Daughter
I live in the Richmond. This is the first time (I’ve been to Great Highway Park)... I’ve never biked here with cars.
Wayne
(We live in) Parkside… We visit the beach, sometimes have picnics on the beach. And we do walks, and try to make it from one end to the other. I feel like I get to know the faces a little bit more… a good amount of the folks who walk up and down this Great Highway live in the neighborhood, so it’s a good way to see who your neighbors are.”
“The continuous walking… you don’t have to worry about the traffic, and whatnot in the Sunset. A lot of the corners here have blindspots so it’s easy for drivers to miss pedestrians.”
“I would prefer it to be 100% just walkway, closed to traffic entirely. There’s less and less opportunities to see who your neighbors are and get to know a little more of the community… we’ve met quite a few different folks (here).
Frank & Melissa
Eric and his friends visit the Great Highway Park
(I live in the) Sunset. (I come to the Great Highway Park) every day…It’s bumpy over there (on the multi-use trail).
(If cars came back full time), I would hate to see that happen… I would miss running on the Great Highway. Any time you’re running on a road with cars there’s a different feel to it.
Sam
We live in Little Hollywood near Candlestick Park.
We come here once a week. She practices her bike and scooter. It’s a nice flat surface. Plus we can take the baby in the stroller. It’s just nice being out by the beach.
I go fishing, too.
Especially if you’re biking, with her on her training wheels, it’s level and flat. It’s safe… we don’t have to worry about the cars. There’s enough space for everyone where it’s not crowded.
Fresh air is good for the soul.
There is a way for cars to get down, so I don’t know that they need this route anymore.
April & Sean
I live in the Sunset. I come three or four times a week.
I use it with the kids, up and down on scooters, or with the dog to tire him out.
I would like it to be (car-free) all the time.
There’s nowhere else for my kids to ride their bikes that's flat and protected.
Sebastian
I live here in the Outer Sunset. I come here every day.
I like to run it, I like to skate it.
The last two years, I didn’t have any qualms with it being closed… It brings a lot more people to the Outer Sunset and puts it on the map.
It feels more neighborly right now, a sense of community.
If it goes back to cars full time, you’ll almost get run over more often. I’ve been flipped off, honked at…
Clint
We are lifelong San Francisco residents. Some of my fondest memories are driving my car on the great highway, watching the waves and timing the lights... but I've grown to love the space for its recreation opportunities, and we love coming here as a family.
He loves the ocean and the sand. We love that it is a safe, long stretch of road without threats from cars. There aren't many other spaces like this for him to learn to ride his scooter and bike.
Xander and his Parents
Two people enjoy a visit to Great Highway Park, both for skating and for biking.