One Of San Francisco's Newest Coastal Parks Is A Scenic Gem Shrouded In Controversy

It's no longer news that San Francisco has added a new coastal park called Sunset Dunes, a 55-acre expanse of oceanfront paths and dune landscapes sitting on what used to be a busy two-mile section of the Upper Great Highway. And just like that, it's become one of the city's most scenic places worth checking out.

When it officially opened in April 2025, the park was designed to be one of San Francisco's most iconic, emphasizing the city's commitment to sustainability and outdoor recreation, as the once car-clogged route has been permanently converted into a place where people stroll, cycle, jog, and linger to enjoy art or savor views of the Pacific. And the environment also benefits from reduced emissions.

However, controversies have since followed Sunset Dunes Park. What some saw as a new coastal park to be applauded was nothing but a new problem that turned out to be costly to others. In the eyes of supporters, it was a welcome move that would reduce coastal erosion, mitigate rising sea levels, provide a safe space for pedestrians, and promote accessibility. But to detractors, closing the Great Highway only meant more traffic inconvenience in residential streets. There has even been a political tussle surrounding District 4 supervisor Joel Engardio for being in support of the creation of the park. For this reason, disgruntled residents, feeling unheard, saw to his eventual removal from office through a recall election in September 2025.

In November 2024, a citywide vote on Proposition K recorded about 54% in favor of the highway's closure, which crossed the 50%+1 requirement for it to pass. Still, several residents in the Outer Sunset and Parkside neighborhoods only found frustration in the entire development, feeling sidelined and strongly believing the situation has worsened traffic.

As Vin Budhai, founder of the Open the Great Highway/No on K Campaign told The Guardian, "Many of us on the west side feel unheard and overlooked." Then he added that "Families, seniors and workers who rely on this road will now have to spend more time in traffic." Others raise concerns over safety issues, as one resident, Jared Lozano, told CBS News: "I was almost run over at that intersection today. This is just going to create so many safety problems for the city."

Yet, supporters on Reddit have expressed their joy. "I live across from this park (such an upgrade from living across from the highway) and the use on the weekends has been huge," Redditor MoscowRamada said. As Unhappy_Cranberry587 put it, "Sunset Dunes is an awesome park that provides benefits that greatly outweigh the highway. Reverting back would be foolish." Supporters further argue that the local economy enjoys a boost too — with some businesses seeing up to 50% in increased sales (per a report on SFGate). Apart from that, Redditor JeloMuffin refutes the traffic congestion claims, saying "there are little to no change to traffic. The boomers saying this don't live anywhere near the beach."

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has announced ongoing traffic studies and adjustments to signal timing and public transit routes. Moreover, the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department together with SFMTA already confirmed plans to redesign the park with distinct areas: "Park Zone" for families and walkers, and "Multi-Use Zone" for faster cyclists and scooters, in a bid to minimize safety issues and conflicts among the park's users.

While these moves are meant to ease pressure around the neighborhood, it also seemingly means the park has indeed come to stay. Perhaps every resident will gradually adapt, as was the case with the permanent closure of Golden Gate Park's JFK Drive, which met similar resistance.

At the end of the day, Sunset Dunes is a spectacular coastal park with breathtaking sunset views over Ocean Beach, endowed with wild and open dunes, native wildflowers, and no engines to interrupt the moment. The space gives a sense of breathing room in an otherwise dense city. If you're planning a visit, it may be best to go early in the morning if you're introverted or would prefer a quieter experience. You can walk or bike in from the nearest Muni stops — the L and N lines serve the area. Be sure not to climb the dunes or disturb the fragile environment.