Sunset Dunes

{{Further|Great Highway#Pedestrianization of middle section}}

File:Sunset dunes.jpg

The upper portion of the Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard was closed to motor vehicles on certain days starting in April 2020 to provide San Franciscans space to social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, the upper Great Highway would close around 27 times annually for sand and debris removal.{{Cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Meaghan |last2=Campodonico |first2=Christina |date=February 3, 2021 |title=Like it or not: The Great Highway will change |url=https://sfstandard.com/2021/02/03/great-highway-closure-climate-change-erosion/ |access-date=April 9, 2025 |website=The San Francisco Standard |language=en}} In 2024, a ballot measure known as Proposition K was proposed by San Francisco supervisors Joel Engardio and Myrna Melgar to permanently close the Upper Great Highway and repurpose the space as a new park.{{Cite web |last=Cooke |first=Riley |date=June 20, 2024 |title=San Francisco voters could turn Great Highway into permanent oceanfront park |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/san-francisco/san-francisco-reat-highway-oceanfront-park/3571361/ |access-date=April 9, 2025 |website=NBC Bay Area |language=en-US}} On November 9 2024, Proposition K passed 54% to 46% with much of the opposition being concentrated in areas of the city near the Great Highway.{{Cite news |last1=Cheang |first1=Ko Lyn |last2=Ellis |first2=Maliya |date=November 9, 2025 |title=Prop K passes: S.F.'s Upper Great Highway closes to cars |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/propk-great-highway-sf-19895246.php |access-date=April 16, 2025 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department received a $1{{nbsp}}million grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy Board to help convert the upper Great Highway into a park.{{Cite news |last=Cheang |first=Ko Lyn |title=S.F. awarded $1 million to fund future Great Highway park, approved by voters |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/sf-great-highway-park-funding-19936782.php |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250131150742/https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/sf-great-highway-park-funding-19936782.php |archive-date=2025-01-31 |access-date=2025-04-10 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en}} New transit infrastructure upgrades were conducted on the roads around the Great Highway to accommodate the additional traffic present from closing the upper Great Highway.{{Cite web |last=Salazar |first=James |date=February 24, 2025 |title=Traffic upgrades progressing along Great Highway |url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/transit/great-highway-upgrades-anticipate-sf-park-in-ocean-beach/article_e1531e4a-f2f1-11ef-9ae5-e7ec9aad04fd.html |access-date=April 9, 2025 |website=San Francisco Examiner |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Salazar |first=James |date=January 4, 2025 |title=Traffic-signal upgrades coming to Great Highway |url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/transit/sf-to-make-traffic-signal-improvements-near-great-highway/article_351663b8-ca32-11ef-8d72-af0752f6333d.html |access-date=April 9, 2025 |website=San Francisco Examiner |language=en}}

The park opened on April{{nbsp}}12, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Mauhay-Moore |first=Sam |date=April 9, 2025 |title=New name for park on San Francisco's Great Highway has been revealed |url=https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/sunset-dunes-park-sf-great-highway-20267219.php |access-date=April 9, 2025 |website=SFGATE}}{{cite web | title=How a Highway Became San Francisco’s Newest Park | website=Bloomberg.com | date=May 14, 2025 | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-05-14/san-francisco-s-newest-park-takes-shape-on-a-former-highway | access-date=May 15, 2025}} At least 13,000 people visited the park on its opening day.{{Cite news |last=Goard |first=Alyssa |date=April 13, 2025 |title=San Francisco's Sunset Dunes draws thousands of visitors amid continued controversy |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/san-franciscos-sunset-dunes-draws-thousands/3843908/ |access-date=April 16, 2025 |work=NBC Bay Area}}

The park's name was selected following community engagement. The San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department initially received 4,200 name suggestions between March{{nbsp}}1 and 16, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Whiting |first=Sam |date=April 9, 2025 |title=S.F.'s newest — and most controversial — park finally has a name |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/s-f-s-newest-park-has-a-name-sunset-dunes-20257651.php |access-date=April 9, 2025 |website=San Francisco Chronicle}} These name suggestions were narrowed down to 3,200 potential names by Recreation & Parks Department staff members to eliminate inappropriate names. After a community meeting attended by 240 participants, 15 potential names that ensured "historical significance, connection to nature and geography, and iconic placemaking" were selected from the 3,200. A citywide survey was held from March{{nbsp}}20 to April{{nbsp}}2 to choose a name from the 15 potential names. The five finalists of this survey were Sunset Dunes, Playland Park, Great Parkway, Fogline, and Plover Parkway. The San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission selected Sunset Dunes as the park's name from a group of five finalists on April{{nbsp}}9, 2025.{{Cite web |date=April 9, 2025 |title=San Francisco's Newest Coastal Park Officially Named Sunset Dunes |url=https://sfrecpark.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2181 |access-date=April 9, 2025 |website=San Francisco Recreation and Parks |language=en}}

Before receiving its name, the future park was referred to as Ocean Beach Park or Great Highway Park.

When it was open to cars, the highway itself required upkeep against erosion, and the southern extension of the road was closed as it began to fall into the ocean.{{cite news |last1=Knight |first1=Heather |title=This California Highway Is Now a Park. The Cars Are Gone, but Not the Anger. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/us/san-francisco-highway-park.html |access-date=27 May 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=2025-05-27}}

Many residents of the Sunset and Richmond District opposed closing down the Great Highway to create the park saying it worsens traffic and creates longer commutes. A study of traffic data collected before and after the closure of the upper Great Highway showed that it led to longer commutes in the Sunset District.{{Cite web |last=Leahy |first=Garrett |date=April 7, 2025 |title=Great Highway closure made Sunset traffic worse, data shows |url=https://sfstandard.com/2025/04/07/great-highway-san-francisco-traffic-worse-sunset/ |access-date=April 9, 2025 |website=The San Francisco Standard |language=en}}

Park names mocking District{{nbsp}}4 supervisor Joel Engardio were proposed in the citywide naming contest. Some residents of the Sunset District collected signatures to conduct a recall election for Joel Engardio over his support for Proposition{{nbsp}}K.{{Cite news |last=J.K. Dineen, Ko Lyn Cheang |title=Recall campaign launches against S.F. supervisor as his supporters vow to 'Stand with Joel' |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/sf-supervisor-joel-engardio-recall-20108718.php |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250314182313/https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/sf-supervisor-joel-engardio-recall-20108718.php |archive-date=2025-03-14 |access-date=2025-04-10 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en}}

City supervisor Connie Chan said she supports a ballot measure to remove the park.

Local businesses nearby saw increased sales following the opening of the park.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://sfrecpark.org/1555/Sunset-Dunes Sunset Dunes official website]
• [https://oceanbeachpark.org/ Friends of Ocean Beach Park]

{{San Francisco attractions|state=collapsed}}

Category:Parks in San Francisco

Category:2025 establishments in California

Category:Sunset District, San Francisco

Category:Linear parks