Embarcadero Park Renovation Project

Scope of Work

The Embarcadero Park project will transform the former Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park into a unified, approximately 5-acre waterfront park at the foot of Market Street. The project will create a more welcoming, accessible and connected public space that supports everyday recreation, neighborhood use, cultural programming and major civic gatherings.

Improvements will include a multi-use lawn, permanent performance stage, existing playground, picnic and seating areas, dog play area, outdoor fitness, new landscaping and stormwater gardens, lighting, utilities, historic interpretation and improved pedestrian circulation throughout the site. Together, these improvements will strengthen connections between downtown, the Ferry Building and the waterfront while creating a vibrant public destination for residents, workers and visitors.

Background

Embarcadero Plaza opened in 1972, when the Embarcadero Freeway still separated downtown from the waterfront. After the freeway was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, Mayor Art Agnos made the decision to remove it rather than rebuild it, helping reopen the waterfront and fundamentally reshape the relationship between downtown and the Bay.

Sue Bierman Park was later developed within the former freeway footprint and named for longtime civic leader Sue Bierman, who was closely associated with efforts to protect San Francisco’s neighborhoods and public open spaces.

Although the two spaces have stood side by side for decades, they were created at different times and have never functioned as a single cohesive park. Aging infrastructure, accessibility barriers and declining visitation created an opportunity to rethink the site as a unified waterfront destination.

The renewed park will bring the entire area together under the name Embarcadero Park, creating a single identity and a more seamless experience from Market Street to Washington Street and from downtown to the waterfront. Within that unified park, the naming plan will continue to recognize the site’s history through Art Agnos Plaza and Sue Bierman Commons.

Project Partnership and Funding

Embarcadero Park is being delivered through a public-private partnership that combines City investment with significant philanthropic and private support.

• The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department is leading the project and will ultimately oversee and steward the public park. Approximately $18 million in public funding has been identified for the project.
• The Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) is a key City partner, supporting the project as part of San Francisco’s broader strategy for downtown economic recovery and revitalization and helping coordinate the public-private partnership.
• The San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation (DDC) has committed to lead an additional $20 million private fundraising effort. That commitment includes $10 million from Crankstart, with DDC working to raise the remaining $10 million from additional philanthropic partners.
• The Downtown SF Partnership has helped spearhead community engagement and private fundraising, securing approximately $2 million in private support. It will also serve as the park’s official programming and activations partner, under the guidance of Rec and Park, helping ensure the park remains active with community events, cultural programming and other public uses after construction.
• BXP has contributed approximately $2.5 million in design and coordination services and is separately investing approximately $3 million to develop dedicated public restroom facilities at Embarcadero Center for park visitors.

Together, these partnerships allow significant private and philanthropic investment to complement public funding, expand what can be delivered within the park and support its long-term success as both a neighborhood amenity and one of San Francisco’s major civic spaces..

Estimated Project Schedule

Planning , Early 2025 - Early 2026

Design , Early 2025 - Early 2027

Construction begins , Late 2026

Open to the Public , Late 2027

Project Updates

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Contact Us

Eoanna Harrison Goodwin

Project Manager Email Phone: (628) 652-6645