Residents from neighborhoods impacted by the potential closure of the Upper Great Highway are exploring options to prevent its permanent shutdown, as stated by the official opponent of Proposition K.
Proposition K, which aims to replace the Upper Great Highway with a park, narrowly passed in the recent election with 54.7 percent of the vote. A map of the election results illustrates a divided city, with significant opposition to Prop K from areas such as the Sunset District and Richmond District.
Residents in these neighborhoods are considering various actions, including legal challenges to block the implementation of the proposition or delay the closure. Richie Greenberg, a vocal opponent of Prop K, mentioned the possibility of a recall of Sunset District Supervisor Joel Engardio, who supported the measure.
The Upper Great Highway, stretching two miles from Lincoln Way to Sloat Boulevard, is set to transform into a car-free promenade by early 2025, according to a statement from the Recreation and Parks Department. The department, responsible for the Great Highway, received a $1 million grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy on Nov. 21.
The grant will fund experts to assess strategies for protecting the coast from sea level rise and erosion, restoring natural dunes, and enhancing habitats for local flora and fauna. Recreation and Parks Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to create a park that not only enhances the coastline but also prepares for climate change.
Prop K’s ballot measure emphasizes the reduction of automobile pollution in a sensitive coastal habitat by restricting private vehicles on the Upper Great Highway. The legal text of Prop K mandates that the road remain open for emergency and authorized vehicles only.
Greenberg disputed the notion that the closed Great Highway would serve as a park, stating that it would see minimal use. He emphasized that the roadway cannot be eliminated or obstructed with structures or amenities.
The debate over Prop K reflects a clash between residents advocating for the reality of the Great Highway and those envisioning it as a park. San Francisco has a history of safeguarding its waterfront, as exemplified by the removal of the partially constructed Embarcadero Freeway following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
Despite efforts by Chinatown residents and businesses to preserve the freeway, it was ultimately demolished in 1991. The removal led to the development of the Central Subway line, connecting South of Market to Chinatown to compensate for lost traffic.
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