Latest news with #PhilGinsburg
CBS News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Golden Gate Park concerts planned to celebrate 60 years of Grateful Dead
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie announced Monday that that city is planning to welcome Dead & Company for a series of concerts at Golden Gate Park this summer to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead. "From Haight-Ashbury and the Grateful Dead house to Ingleside, where Jerry Garcia grew up, the Grateful Dead is embedded in San Francisco's history," Lurie said in a statement. "The weekend will celebrate our city's creative spirit, boost our local economy, and bring generations of fans together. This is more than just a concert—it's a San Francisco homecoming." Three shows would take place at the Polo Fields on Aug. 1, 2 and 3, one week before the annual Outside Lands music festival, according to city officials. The shows would be presented by Another Planet Entertainment and co-produced with Live Nation, in partnership with the city's Recreation and Park Department. Lurie said the concerts would draw up to 60,000 people per day. "Celebrating their 60th anniversary with a Dead & Company performance in the very place where the Summer of Love took root is a powerful tribute to their legacy," said Phil Ginsburg, general manager of the city's Recreation and Park Department. The proposal for the shows is expected to go before the Recreation and Park Commission on Thursday. In a video posted on social media, the mayor said, "Right here, in the city that is the home of the Grateful Dead. What better way to celebrate? We'll see you out here in August." San Francisco is planning to welcome @deadandcompany to Golden Gate Park for three days in August, to mark the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead. Stay tuned for more details from the band coming soon! — Daniel Lurie 丹尼爾·羅偉 (@DanielLurie) May 12, 2025 The planned concerts come 10 years after surviving members of the Grateful Dead staged "Fare Thee Well", a series of shows featuring surviving members of the band that marked 50 years. The shows were held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara and Soldier Field in Chicago. Dead and Company, who are in the midst of a residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas, have not commented on the San Francisco shows.
CBS News
13-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
San Francisco officials celebrate opening of Sunset Dunes as controversy remains
On Saturday, San Francisco officials celebrated the opening of the newest city park on what used to be the Great Highway next to Ocean Beach. However, the controversy surrounding it remains as the city hurries to establish the park as quickly as possible. In November, voters approved Measure K, closing the Great Highway to traffic, but at the time there was no money or even a real plan for the park they wanted to replace it. Now, just five months later, they proclaimed it to be "opening day." "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to Sunset Dunes," announced Rec and Park General Manager, Phil Ginsburg. That's the new name of the park-- Sunset Dunes --chosen from suggestions sent in by the public. But that's not the only input the public had in turning what was, for about a century, a major vehicle corridor, into a place to walk and ride bicycles. "That's what I voted for," said Measure K supporter Lidia Eng. "I voted for a place that can be open. Because we just need more space for the kids to just roam around, play around, stuff like that." "No matter how you voted at the ballot five months ago, come on out and enjoy the park," said Ginsburg. "You know, the election happened. Now it's a park. And we want this park to work for this community." But it doesn't work for many living in the area. As a compromise, the highway had been closed on weekends for recreation since the pandemic. But neighbors complained that shutting down the road completely would make getting to their homes more difficult and divert weekday commute traffic onto their streets. Stephen Gorski, whose home overlooks the Great Highway, has been a vocal critic of the plan to close the road permanently. "The Park people basically put out a statement saying, 'I know everybody's had their differences about this, but now you have to come together and celebrate this with us.' I'm not in the mood to celebrate this," he said. There is still a lot of anger over the city-wide vote and, during Saturday's ceremony, a small car caravan circled the block promoting a recall attempt against the area's supervisor, Joel Engardio, who came out in support of Measure K. But Sasha Pixlee, who lives just a few blocks away, disagreed with the protestors in the caravan. "They complain that traffic's a problem and what are they doing?" he said. "I mean, I think it's just very selfish. Adding a little time to your commute versus this (park)? It seems a very easy tradeoff." But despite Saturday's large, festive turnout, the neighbors aren't giving up. They've filed a lawsuit over the way Measure K was put on the ballot and a court hearing is scheduled for June 3. Which may be why "opening day" was rushed into place by the city even though Sunset Dunes still has no funding and, except for one new piece of art, plans for the park are simply concepts. "And that's what's so silly," said Gorski. "They'll have a decision in less than two months. If the judge says Prop K was illegal, then it has to be reverted to the compromise. I think they're trying to think we're stupid, that they're going to say, 'Well, we spent all this money and put art and did everything' No!" But despite the objections, the voters have spoken. And as the city scrambles to create a park as quickly as possible, a judge will have to decide whether putting a halt to it is worth overturning an election.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
San Francisco's Great Highway park gets its official name
The Brief SF officials announced the new name for the new park at the Great Highway on Wednesday. Last month a lawsuit was filed to block the park. The park is set to debut to the public on Saturday, April 12 with a community celebration. SAN FRANCISCO - Sunset Dunes it is. San Francisco's Recreation and Park Department announced the official new name for the park along the Great Highway on Wednesday. What we know The name was announced after a Rec and Park special meeting where commissioners chose between five finalists where the public had input on naming the new park. The naming contest garnered 3,900 responses, which were whittled down to 3,200 potential names. Officials said this response was overwhelming. The finalists were Playland Parkway, Sunset Dunes, Great Parkway, Fog line and Plover Parkway. The chosen name emerged after an hour of deliberation and public comment. The final vote came down to four who said yes, and two who said no to Sunset Dunes. "Sunset Dunes beautifully reflects both the natural beauty and the iconic spirit of San Francisco," said Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. "We are thrilled to officially welcome Sunset Dunes as a new, vibrant addition to our city's treasured parks, offering an unforgettable coastal experience for generations to come." The criteria for the name had to consider connection to nature, historical significance, community resonance, iconic placemaking and overall clarity, city officials said. "Sunset Dunes will provide stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, lush coastal ecosystems, and attractions and programming to keep visitors engaged," officials with Rec and Park said in a news release. The park will include areas for skateboarding, hammocks to relax on and other seating areas, public art installations, a bike pump track, fitness classes, and live music. The backstory The concept of the park has hit some roadblocks. Not everyone likes the idea of closing the Great Highway to traffic permanently, but Prop. K, which proposed this exact plan, won at the ballot box in November. The 2-mile stretch of Great Highway officially closed to traffic on March 14. Last month, a lawsuit was filed to block the park. Opponents of the newly-named Sunset Dunes argue plans were rushed through and did not follow the law. The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, said backers of the plans didn't do their due diligence on environmental concerns and said the state has final say on how roads are ultimately used, not cities. Residents and businesses in the area are concerned with how traffic will be impacted. One local hardware store owner we spoke with previously said the park's creation will jam up 19th Avenue, making it unsafe for children, the elderly and will impact businesses. Supervisor Joel Engardio, who oversees the area, has borne the brunt of the blame. Residents have begun an effort to have him recalled because the idea for the park was pitched by him. Signs both for and against the recall effort can be seen in the Sunset neighborhood. With the community divided over the park, some have gone to the extreme by vandalizing artwork for the new park. Last month we reported on two instances of vandalism, including a mural that was defaced and graffiti that was spray painted on the closed highway itself. What's next Sunset Dunes will be the largest pedestrian conversion project in California. The park officially debuts on Saturday, April 12, during a community celebration held on Noriega Street from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Controversial Great Highway park in SF officially named
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The controversial park opening in San Francisco's Great Highway now has a name. After a park-naming contest was open to the public for about two weeks, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced on Wednesday the name of the two-mile park. Out of more than 3,900 responses and suggestions, 'Sunset Dunes' was proclaimed the winner. The park will officially open on Saturday, April 12. Ballot measure to potentially reopen Great Highway to cars floated by SF supervisor The park-naming contest was conducted between March 20 and April 2. The five finalists were named earlier this week; they were Parkland Parkway, Sunset Dunes, Great Parkway, Fog Line and Plover Parkway. However, the naming contest did not come without residents using it as an opportunity to vent or come up with outlandish names. 'Sunset Dunes beautifully reflects both the natural beauty and the iconic spirit of San Francisco,' SF Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg said in a news release. 'We are thrilled to officially welcome Sunset Dunes as a new, vibrant addition to our city's treasured parks, offering an unforgettable coastal experience for generations to come.' VIDEO: Bus engulfed in flames in San Francisco The park was able to come to fruition after November's election in which 54% of San Francisco voters approved Proposition K. The ordinance permanently shut down that segment of the Great Highway to open 'Sunset Dunes.' Despite the road currently being closed to cars, one San Francisco supervisor hinted at the possibility of introducing a ballot measure to reopen a segment of the Great Highway to cars. District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan addressed the issue over the weekend. Here is the extended list of submissions in the park-naming contest. This story will be updated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mural ‘heavily vandalized' on Great Highway after road closure: ‘It just doesn't make sense'
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A Bay Area artist who created a mural on San Francisco's Great Highway is getting support by community leaders after her artwork was 'heavily vandalized' — one day after the road was closed to cars to make way for a new oceanfront park. Thursday is last day to drive along SF's Great Highway The mural by Emily Fromm that is located at the Judah bathroom on the Great Highway was targeted by vandals Friday night (see photo below). In November, 55 percent of San Franciscans voted yes on Proposition K to permanently ban vehicles from a two-mile stretch of the coastal highway and convert it into a park. On Thursday, the road was closed to vehicles so that the area could be transformed and readied for its opening on April 12. 'It's painful to see something meant to uplift the community and celebrate our history be treated with disrespect,' said muralist Emily Fromm in a news release. 'Public art is vulnerable by nature, because it exists out in the open for everyone to enjoy. But vandalism like this doesn't just damage a mural, it undermines the spirit of community that this project is all about.' Officials with the park said a report was filed with park rangers on Saturday to investigate the incident. Anyone who witnessed the event or has information on the vandalism is urged to contact their nearest law enforcement agency. 'Vandalizing a beautiful mural to protest a park is a bit like slashing your own tires to complain about traffic. It just doesn't make sense,' said Phil Ginsburg, the general manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. 'The new oceanfront park belongs to all San Franciscans, regardless of how they voted on Prop K. These murals are beautifying public restrooms and celebrating the history and natural beauty of Ocean Beach,' added Lucas Lux, president of Friends of Ocean Beach Park. It is not clear what led to the incident. Fromm has said that she and other artists had previously faced verbal harassment several times from opponents of the park. 'This kind of vandalism and harassment has no place in San Francisco,' said Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). 'Turning the Great Highway into a public park is a visionary project that reflects our city's values: access to open space, community, and imagination. Attacking artists and volunteers who are bringing this vision to life is shameful.' KRON4 reached out to the San Francisco Police Department for comment but did not hear back in time for this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
