SF’s Great Highway Park to Get Art Makeover
Thanks to SF Chronicle for sharing that new artwork is planned for San Francisco’s Great Highway Park.
New Art Installations Planned for Great Highway Park
San Francisco is moving forward with plans to transform the Upper Great Highway into a permanent recreational space, and a key component of this transformation is the installation of a series of temporary public artworks. San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (RPD) has outlined a plan for murals and sculptures to enliven the new park once it is fully closed to vehicle traffic, which is anticipated in early 2025.
The art program aims to create a dynamic and engaging space, with installations intended to rotate and change over time. The plan includes street murals at eight major intersections along the Great Highway: Lincoln, Judah, Lawton, Noriega, Pacheco, Rivera, Taraval, and Vicente. Additionally, there will be larger, more elaborate “placemaking” murals at intersections with higher activity levels such as Sloat, Judah, and Taraval. Bathroom wall murals are also planned for the Judah and Taraval locations.
Sculptural elements are also part of the proposal, with four pieces envisioned for various locations along the dunes and former roadway. These include works with the working titles “Wave Heart,” “Rock Spinner,” “Ocean Calling,” and “Giraffes,” the latter to be located near the San Francisco Zoo.
The selection of specific artwork is ongoing, but RPD is working closely with community members and local artists. Concept examples being considered include a large rock sculpture designed to be spun by two people, a heart-shaped sculpture in the sand, and two roadway murals featuring depictions of wildlife and sea life.
The art installations are intended to be temporary, lasting for approximately one year, and are part of a larger effort to establish the Great Highway as a vibrant public space. The program is being funded through a combination of private sources, including Friends of Ocean Beach Park and Building 180. Initial budget projections include $186,000 for murals and up to $448,000 for sculptures.
This art program builds on the pilot program that has previously closed the Great Highway to traffic on weekends. As the City transitions to the permanent closure, ongoing programming such as community events and musical performances are expected to continue into 2025. The transformation of the roadway is the result of Proposition K, which passed in November of 2024, mandating the conversion of the Upper Great Highway into a recreational promenade.
In addition to the art installations, RPD is working to activate the space with other amenities, including infrastructure improvements, benches, garbage cans, signage, and dune revegetation projects. Active programming will include exercise classes, mobile recreation, and guided walking tours.
