Sun and good vibes at JFK Promenade’s 4th birthday party and picnic

It’s hard to believe we have enjoyed four years of 1.5 miles of car-free space on what’s now known as ‘JFK Promenade’ in Golden Gate Park.

Maybe because about half that time Walk SF and so many others were working to make this people-first, joyful, safe space permanent, with not one but two campaigns (learn more at walksf.org/carfreejfk).

As I said on Sunday, ‘J’ is for ‘Joy.’ And it’s also for ‘Journey.’

It’s always wonderful to be with people who were part of the journey to the JFK Promenade’s permanence – and with those who simply love it. I think JFK Promenade is the happiest place in San Francisco.

Musician John Elliott clearly agrees. If you want to put a smile on your face, check out his brand-new song called The Golden Mile: City of Awe. He captures the beauty, magic, and importance of the JFK Promenade in our city.

Speaking of positive, it was fun to have Mayor London Breed roll up to Sunday’s picnic on a bicycle – and see her kick off her shoes on a picnic blanket, something she probably doesn’t get to do too often.

Early in the pandemic, Mayor Breed closed JFK Drive to vehicle traffic 24-7 to be a safe space for people to socially distance and still be active. Mayor Breed later introduced the legislation to make JFK Promenade permanent, which Walk SF and our partners then built support for leading up to a vote by the Board of Supervisors. She also vocally supported Measure J in 2022, which Supervisors Mandelman, Melgar, Ronen, and Dorsey put on the ballot so voters could vote Yes for a permanent car-free JFK.

JFK Promenade is a reminder of what’s possible together! At Sunday’s picnic, we joined the SF Bicycle Coalition, KidSafe, and Church of 8 Wheels in celebrating historic wins for JFK Promenade together with city leaders and staff, JFK campaign volunteers, Walk SF members, voters, and many more.

Special thanks to Mayor London Breed, Assemblymember Phil Ting, District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston, District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar, District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, SF Recreation and Parks General Manager Phil Ginsburg, and SFMTA Director of Transportation Jeffrey Tumlin for attending and for your leadership on JFK Promenade.

You can mark your calendar for Sunday, April 27, 2025 for the fifth anniversary picnic. Does JFK Promenade mean a lot to you? Make a gift to Walk SF today.