New possible designs unveiled for San Francisco’s Embarcadero Plaza redevelopment

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — San Francisco officials have unveiled five possible designs for a sweeping redevelopment of Embarcadero Plaza, part of a broader effort to remake the downtown waterfront.

The proposal would merge Embarcadero Plaza with South Embarcadero and Sue Bierman Park, replacing the plaza’s longtime centerpiece – the controversial Vaillancourt Fountain – with new green space and recreational features. The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department released the concepts during a community meeting Tuesday night.

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For some residents, the vision of a new park centers on relaxation, space for pets, or areas where children can play. City officials say those ideas came directly from public feedback.

“Everything you see today, we’ve gathered that community input and we put on paper,” said Tamara Barak Aparton, spokesperson for San Francisco Recreation and Parks.
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The project is estimated at $40 million and is funded through a private-public partnership. Barak Aparton said the goal is to help reinvigorate downtown while better connecting the plaza to the waterfront.

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“We want to make downtown come alive again. We have such a beautiful waterfront. This should be part of it,” she said.

Plans under consideration include grassy areas, walking paths and recreation zones, along with sculpture gardens, food trucks, volleyball courts, picnic areas and a bandshell stage for live music and performances.

A key element of the redevelopment is removal of the Vaillancourt Fountain, which has stood in the plaza for decades.

VIDEO: San Francisco starts $4M removal of controversial Vaillancourt Fountain

“It’s structurally unsound, at risk of failure in an earthquake,” Aparton said.

Not everyone is sold on the proposed designs. Kurt Altvater, who works in commercial real estate in San Francisco, criticized one of the concepts for how it fits into the surrounding cityscape.

“It seems to be very inward-looking and doesn’t seem to relate to the larger urban fabric of Market Street,” he said.

Others who attended Tuesday night’s meeting supported specific elements of the plans. Rilka Li said she appreciated the emphasis on native plants but wants to see more protection from the sun.

“I like what they have up there about native planting, great seeding,” Li said. “The one thing I added was shade. I want shady spots where you can sit and enjoy the outside. I have a nine-month-old here. He’s very sensitive to the sun.”

Cynthia Waulfsberg, who has lived near the park for 46 years, said she questions the need for the redevelopment at all.

“It’s a waste of money. Why are you fixing something that isn’t broken. Go fix something that is really in need,” Waulfsberg said.

The Recreation and Parks Department plans to continue gathering public feedback before presenting a final proposal to a commission for approval. City officials hope to begin construction by the end of this year or early next year, with work expected to last about a year and a half.