by Jaime Michaels, HANC Board

In April 2020, a month into the City’s mandatory shutdown due to COVID-19, select corridors in Golden Gate Park were closed to private vehicles while remaining open to recreational use and limited commercial traffic. The closures were intended as a temporary measure to meet the growing demand of residents seeking relief from their quarantined-like existence indoors in a manner that also allowed adequate social distance.

Included in the closures was a 1.5-mile-long section of John F. Kennedy Dr. (from Kezar Dr. to Transverse Dr.) previously closed to vehicles on weekends and holidays only. Since taking effect, the full-time closure of this section of JFK has garnered supporters (e.g., recreational visitors) and detractors (e.g., museum goers and operators) whose positions have been rooted in seemingly conflicting needs for vehicle and mobility access, street parking, and facility operations and management. People with disabilities also have spoken up about access.

Stakeholder Working Group and Action Framework

In an attempt to achieve consensus over opposing views, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority convened a group of stakeholders (“The Golden Gate Park Stakeholder Working Group and Action Framework”) who worked to develop a set of initial findings to be used in the formal planning process for JFK Dr. under the direction of the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency (SFMTA) and Recreation and Park Department (RPD).

In Summer 2021, SFMTA and RPD issued a set of possible future changes to and uses of JFK Dr. and adjoining areas that collectively would address concerns about parking, transit and shuttle access, mobility and recreational needs, park facility operations, etc. In addition to the concept of a full-time street closure to private vehicle use, one alternative proposes to establish a one-way westbound vehicle lane along the north side of JFK Dr. between 8th Avenue and Transverse Drive, and another involves a “No-Action” alternative, i.e., a return to pre-COVID conditions with JFK Dr. open to vehicle traffic except on weekends and holidays. (Detailed proposals are found at: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/c44dfec403664e0ca3d2af6bd048b2ae.)

All proposals are currently available for public review and comment with a survey also available at: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6535320/Golden-Gate-Park-Access-Safety-Program-survey. Ultimately, any permanent change(s) to JFK, adjoining areas, and Golden Gate Park will involve the review and approval of the Board of Supervisors.

On December 9, 2021, at 7:00 pm HANC will host a discussion on the issue, including a presentation by SFMTA and RPD on the formal planning process. Pi Ra will represent Senior and Disability Action's perspectives.  Please join us to hear more and voice your questions and concerns. Instructions for joining are in the accompanying article.