The election results are in and SF voters have decided to keep Golden Gate Park’s John F. Kennedy Drive permanently car-free. The popular thoroughfare was closed to cars at the beginning of the pandemic to promote social distancing and quickly became a popular spot for locals. In April 2022 when the Board of Supervisors approved Mayor London Breed’s proposal to keep JFK Drive dar-free, a move that many saw as permanent. Prop I attempted to reopen JFK Drive and the Great Highway to cars but was rejected by SF voters on Tuesday. Instead, the majority of voters supported Prop J, which sought to maintain the road’s car-free status.
The SF Recreation and Parks Department celebrated the results on Instagram Wednesday, writing ” voters have affirmed what our extensive outreach has shown—San Franciscans want a safe, permanent Promenade in Golden Gate Park. What was once a dangerous street has been transformed into a place for recreation, art, music, and human connection.”
The post went on to point to initiatives that have been accomplished around JFK Drive’s closure including additional blue zone parking, more frequent shuttle service, improved connection to public transit, more pickup and drop-off options, and a new adaptive bike program.
JFK Drive is playing host to Promenade Play Days, Illuminate SF Festival of Light, and other exciting events throughout the year.
Featured image: @sfrecpark via Instagram