Sunset Dunes and the Recall That Followed: Change on San Francisco’s Coast

San Francisco’s landscape—both geographical and political—shifted dramatically this spring with the opening of Sunset Dunes Park on the city’s west side. The park’s debut on April 12, 2025, marked the culmination of a five-year debate over the future of the Upper Great Highway, a two-mile roadway once devoted to cars and now transformed into one of the city’s most visited public spaces. 

The change began with the passage of Proposition K on November 5, 2024, when voters approved the permanent closure of the Upper Great Highway to private vehicles. What started as a temporary pandemic measure in 2020 evolved into one of the most contentious civic discussions in recent memory, one that reshaped not only the city’s coast but also its politics. 

The highway’s closure during the pandemic had revealed its potential as something new: a car-free promenade running from Lincoln Way to Sloat Boulevard. The space quickly became a haven for walkers, cyclists, and families seeking open air and ocean views. Its popularity led city leaders to extend the closure through a 2022 pilot program, allowing vehicle access only on limited weekdays. 

Behind the scenes, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and the Recreation and Parks Department (RPD) studied the program’s effects. Their 2024 report was decisive: Sunset Dunes ranked as the third most visited park in the RPD system, with minimal traffic disruptions in surrounding neighborhoods. The report also noted that the highway required frequent closures—on average 32 times per year—for sand removal, reinforcing the argument that the corridor was better suited for recreation than commuting. 

Citing both data and environmental concerns, five members of the Board of Supervisors proposed the initiative that would become Proposition K. Their ordinance referenced the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project, which aims to protect coastal infrastructure from erosion and rising seas. Therefore the proposal to close the highway permanently was presented not just as a lifestyle change, but as a climate resilience measure aligned with the city’s long-term sustainability goals. 

When the measure qualified for the November 2024 ballot, San Francisco was divided into two spirited camps. The YES on K campaign envisioned a greener, more accessible waterfront—a public space that would draw residents and visitors alike while cutting emissions and boosting local business. It attracted high-profile endorsements from Representative Nancy Pelosi, State Senator Scott Wiener, and then Mayor London Breed. 

The NO on K campaign warned that the park would burden the city financially, worsen traffic for westside commuters, and replace an already open coastline with an unnecessary new park. Their resistance was concentrated in the Sunset and Richmond districts, where the impact of the closure was most direct. By late summer, yard signs for both sides dotted neighborhoods from the Outer Sunset to downtown. But the organizational advantage, and political backing, of the YES campaign proved decisive. Proposition K passed with 54.7% of the vote. A closer look at the results revealed a deep east-west divide: eastern neighborhoods supported the closure, while the west, especially District 4, rejected it by nearly two-thirds. 

That divide soon became personal. District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio, who had endorsed Proposition K despite his constituents’ opposition, faced mounting criticism from residents who felt unheard. The sense of betrayal evolved into a grassroots recall campaign that would later make San Francisco history. 

Even as the political fallout brewed, city agencies moved ahead with implementation. RPD prepared to manage the new park, SFMTA redesigned intersections to accommodate the permanent closure, and the former YES on K campaign rebranded as Friends of Sunset Dunes, the nonprofit now supporting the park’s operations.

In another burst of community engagement, residents submitted more than 3,200 suggestions for the park’s name. The RPD Commission ultimately chose “Sunset Dunes” to honor both the surrounding district and the sand dunes that define its landscape. 

When Sunset Dunes officially opened on April 12, 2025, thousands gathered for a day of music, art, and coastal celebration. Yet even amid the festivities, a small caravan of private motor vehicles circled nearby, honking in protest and waving “Recall Engardio” signs. The moment captured the duality of San Francisco’s civic life: joy and discontent unfolding side by side. 

In the months that followed, Sunset Dunes quickly established itself as a staple of city life. Local businesses reported increased foot traffic, public transit made the park easily reachable from across the city, and traffic data contradicted predictions of gridlock. High early attendance numbers placed Sunset Dunes among the top parks in the RPD system. 

But political satisfaction did not follow civic success. By midsummer, recall organizers had gathered enough signatures to qualify their effort for the ballot. The special recall election—restricted to District 4 voters—of Engardio was scheduled for September 16, 2025. 

The NO on A campaign urged residents to reject the recall, emphasizing Engardio’s accomplishments and the measurable success of the park. The opposing YES on A campaign relied less on data and more on emotional appeals, framing the recall as an act of accountability for the supervisor’s perceived disregard of his constituents. Engardio warned that removing him would not reopen the Great Highway, but his message failed to resonate. 

With 42.8% voter turnout, District 4 made history: 62.7% voted to recall Supervisor Engardio—the first recall of a city supervisor in San Francisco’s history. Despite the outcome, Engardio accepted the result gracefully, reiterating his support for Sunset Dunes and its environmental promise. 

The election results left Mayor Daniel Lurie with the task of appointing an interim supervisor until the June 2026 election. Speculation turned to whether the mayor would select someone aligned with his housing and zoning priorities rather than the district’s preferences. As of October 2025, Lurie has promised community consultation but has yet to make an official announcement, leaving the future political balance of the westside uncertain. 

Through it all, Sunset Dunes remains a reflection of San Francisco’s character—a place shaped by strong opinions, civic action, and a shared love for the coast. The debates and elections surrounding it remind us that progress in this city rarely comes without disagreement. 

This political struggle over the past few years reflects the broader spirit of San Francisco. With such a diverse community, it’s natural for there to be diversity in opinion and thought. Yet being a coastal city in California, it also reflects our shared desire to protect the environment and preserve public spaces for everyone. While that may not have been the only goal of this new park, it has become one of its greatest outcomes. 

Sunset Dunes, Proposition K, and Supervisor Engardio will all go down in local history as examples of how environmental change and civic engagement are deeply connected. Only time will tell what the long-term impact of Sunset Dunes will be, but for now it stands as a symbol of community effort, adaptation, and the ever-changing story of San Francisco’s coastline.