After a successful first few months, JFK Drive’s massively popular Golden Mile Project has been extended until Leap Day 2024! What began as a fall activation is now here for the long run with even more exciting additions on the horizon. The gathering places along this 1.5-mile stretch of Golden Gate Park’s main promenade are meant to celebrate the newly car-free street.
SF nonprofit Illuminate has worked closely with SF Rec & Parks to transform the promenade since fall of 2022. Here are a few elements to look out for.
Public art
- Ground murals and sculptures: Local artists from Paint the Void created over a dozen vibrant ground murals on JFK Promenade in collaboration with community groups. There are also several large-scale sculptures throughout the 1.5-mile stretch.
- Doggie Diner Heads: Discover a series of Doggie Diner head sculptures installed throughout the promenade in an ode to the famous fast food chain that operated in San Francisco from 1948-1986. The last such diner head is still up in San Francisco at the corner of Sloat Blvd and 45th Ave, but this temporary display is visible along JFK Drive between Conservatory Drive West and 6th Ave.
- Flower Pianos: SF Botanical Garden’s September Flower Piano series inspired the installation of two public pianos along JFK Drive at Conservatory Drive West and between Stow Lake Drive and East 14th Ave. They’re free for anyone to play.
Food, drink, and seating
- 100 Golden Chairs: Over 100 Adirondack and Fanback chairs are scattered around for lounging and relaxing along the promenade.
- Beer garden: A collection of chairs and picnic tables where adults can order beer and wine while listening to live music. Open on weekends from 12-5pm at JFK and Pioneer Drive.
- Coffee Caravan: California Kahve pours up small-batch coffees, donuts, and baked goods out of a refurbished vintage caravan.
Entertainment
- BC & The Howlers: A costumed cast of characters puts on a show at 6th Ave Skate Park and throughout the Golden Mile.
- StoryWalk: A children’s story adventure with 28 storyboards across 14 stops based on Marta Lindsey’s book Golden Gate Park, an A to Z Adventure.
- Music and performance stages: Catch free, live musical performances at the Garden Stage (JFK and 14th), the Golden Stage (JFK and Nancy Pelosi Drive) and the Bandshell (Music Concourse)
“Previously one of San Francisco’s most dangerous roads for pedestrians and bikers, the 1.5 mile stretch has now been transformed into an urban oasis bursting with art, music and joy,” writes the Golden Mile Project on their website. “It is credited with motivating San Francisco voters to overwhelmingly pass Proposition J in November 2022, which permanently closed a section of the road (JFK Drive) to vehicles.”
Be sure to take a stroll down JFK Drive for a great day in Golden Gate Park!