The JFK Promenade turned three on April 28 – photos from our party

So many voters, volunteers, and people from partner organizations came out to celebrate the third birthday of the car-free space in Golden Gate Park now known as ‘JFK Promenade.’

On April 28, 2020, Mayor London Breed officially closed a 1.5-mile segment of JFK Drive as an open space for exercising with social distancing during the pandemic. Walk SF was the leading voice in asking Mayor Breed to take this bold action, and are forever grateful that she did! The car-free space quickly became a popular destination, with hundreds of thousands of people using it each month.

It also opened so many people’s eyes to what was possible – and needed – not just during the pandemic, but always. In a city where an average of three people are hit every day while walking, we need street spaces where all ages and abilities can be truly safe.

So with the help of so many volunteers and the support of our members, Walk SF jumped right into winning a permanent JFK Promenade. Amazing partners, activists, and city leaders jumped right in, too, making possible two victories for JFK: first, on April 26, 2022 when the Board of Supervisors passed legislation from Mayor London Breed, and then on the November 2023 ballot when voters passed Measure J and reaffirmed the legislation by more than 63%.

This was such a historic victory for our city, and we’re forever grateful to everyone who played a part, big and small. That’s why we held a third birthday party for JFK Promenade on April 28, and plan to celebrate every year! Check out photos from the party by talented photographer Emily Huston.

The JFK Promenade is one of the few significant car-free spaces nationwide to still be in place post-pandemic. It is a silver lining for our health, safety, and climate from this dark time, like the City’s now-permanent Slow Streets program.

Walk SF continues our work to win car-free and car-lite spaces in all corners of the city, including in McLaren Park.

Special thanks to the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department for partnering on this event. A big shout out as well to amazing JFK campaign partners the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, KidSafe SF, and Church of 8 Wheels for co-hosting the celebration.

Be sure to save the date for the Promenade’s fourth anniversary bash on April 28, 2024!