SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A new vision for Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park is moving forward, transforming a key gateway between downtown and the waterfront.
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission today unanimously approved the final concept design for the Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Improvement Project, advancing a $40 million public-private effort to transform 5 acres at the foot of Market Street into a cohesive waterfront park with expansive lawns, gathering spaces, recreation opportunities, and year-round community programming.
“We are reimagining Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park, turning it into a true front door to downtown and a destination in its own right,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “This new and ambitious waterfront park is part of our vision for a downtown where people live, work, play, and learn and will help us build on our momentum downtown—because when downtown succeeds, our entire city succeeds.”
With the concept design now approved, the project moves into detailed design and engineering. On Tuesday, Supervisor Danny Sauter introduced legislation to authorize the City to accept up to $20 million in private funding for the renovation and formalize the partnership helping deliver the project, which is expected to break ground in late 2026.
"San Francisco is one step closer to having a beautiful new waterfront park for all to enjoy. The reimagined Embarcadero Plaza will serve as a gateway from San Francisco's downtown to our Bay and will delight countless visitors and locals for generations to come,” said District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter. “I applaud the creative partnerships that have pushed this forward and the many neighbors who have crafted this proposal to include more open space, recreation, and access to arts and culture."
"We envision a waterfront park that is alive from morning to night, where office workers eat lunch in the sun, families play after visiting the Ferry Building, residents attend fitness classes and visitors experience the beauty and energy of San Francisco for the first time,” said Sarah Madland, General Manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. "This design transforms the space into a beautiful and welcoming introduction to San Francisco, creating room for concerts and festivals, culture and recreation, community gatherings, and everyday fun."
Once designed around the Embarcadero Freeway, the plaza will be transformed into a waterfront park that embraces its connection to the Bay, with new spaces for recreation, dining, arts, and community events.
Key features of the approved concept design include:
- A large central lawn and performance space for recreation, festivals, cultural events, and civic gatherings
- Spaces for outdoor dining, shopping, and socializing along the edge of Embarcadero Center.
- Comfortable seating and gathering areas throughout the park;
- Areas for exercise, dog play, and other recreational activities;
- Spaces designed to support markets, festivals, public art, and year-round programming.
- Places for children and families to play and spend time together, including picnic areas outside the existing playground, renovated in 2023;
- Wide, smooth pathways and durable public spaces that support everyday recreation, including skateboarding; and
- Gardens woven throughout the edges of the park, improved lighting, accessibility, and connections between downtown and the waterfront.
The project integrates historic interpretation elements that will reflect the site's evolution over time, including the Embarcadero Freeway era, the original plaza and Vaillancourt Fountain, the working waterfront, skateboarding culture, public events, and community traditions associated with Embarcadero Plaza.
The concept design, initiated by BXP and created by HOK and project partners, reflects more than a year of community engagement that included three major public meetings and thousands of survey responses and comments from residents, workers, visitors, neighborhood groups, and other stakeholders. Community feedback consistently emphasized the need for improved flexibility, seating, programming, and stronger connections to the waterfront.
The partnership brings together a broad coalition of public agencies, civic organizations, and private partners:
- San Francisco Rec and Park will oversee the public park project and steward the long-term operation of the space.
- The Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) is supporting the project as part of the city’s broader economic recovery and downtown revitalization strategy.
- The Downtown Development Corporation will lead fundraising efforts to secure up to $20 million in private support to complement approximately $18 million in identified public funding sources. Crankstart is providing $10 million and the DDC will raise a matching $10 million from additional donors.
- BXP has committed to spend a $2.5 million in-kind donation to support the park’s design and is investing approximately $3 million to develop dedicated restroom facilities for park visitors at Embarcadero Center.
- The Downtown SF Partnership has helped spearhead community engagement and fundraising efforts, already securing approximately $2 million in private support. DSFP is the official programming and activations partner for the park under the guidance of Rec and Park.
"Embarcadero Plaza is downtown San Francisco's front door, and this project represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine this iconic gateway as a vibrant destination for residents, workers and visitors from across the region and the world that will continue to drive economic growth and opportunity for our city," said Anne Taupier, Office of Economic and Workforce Development Executive Director. "This effort represents a true public-private partnership and I am so grateful for all our partners and community supporters who have come together to make this vision a reality."
“The transformation of Embarcadero Plaza into a new waterfront park will create a vibrant destination that strengthens the connection between downtown San Francisco and its iconic waterfront,” said Aaron Fenton, SVP of Development at BXP. “The park will be a hub for the neighborhood, complementing Embarcadero Center’s dynamic mix of shops, restaurants, and premier workplaces. BXP is proud to partner with the City of San Francisco and community stakeholders on a project that demonstrates the power of public-private collaboration to create exceptional public spaces.”
“As the official programming and activations partner for Embarcadero Park, we are one step closer to bringing to life a new public park and gathering space, unlike anything in the city’s recent history,” said Robbie Silver, President and CEO of the Downtown SF Partnership. “We are in the process of ensuring the long-term viability of Downtown through the renewal and expansion of our district, and we look forward to partnering with the City and BXP to build a front door to Downtown that leads to a hub where business, creativity, and community converge."
"Great cities are defined by their public spaces," said Shola Olatoye, CEO of the San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation. "The Embarcadero was once shaped by a freeway. Now it will be shaped by the people who use it, five acres connecting downtown to the Bay with room for concerts, markets, and kids having fun on the playground. The DDC is proud to work with Mayor Lurie, the Recreation and Park Department, Downtown SF Partnership, Crankstart, and many other partners to get this park built.”
"Crankstart believes that when cities thrive, people thrive. Embarcadero Park embodies that belief: a vibrant, welcoming space that helps revitalize downtown and creates new opportunities for families, residents, and visitors to connect with the heart of San Francisco,” said Missy Narula, CEO of Crankstart.
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