Thousands of people turned out on a sunny Saturday to celebrate the opening of San Francisco’s newest park, the 2-mile stretch of the Great Highway now dubbed Sunset Dunes.
Runners, bicyclists with kids in tow, friends with coffees in hand and children on scooters all convened on the stretch of highway now permanently closed to cars. Near Noriega Street, several booths offered activities such as games, yoga and raffles, plus free library books. There were bouncy houses and music, and the sky was dotted with bright green Rec and Park kites.
To kick off the day, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie posted a video to social media adorning the park with an official green Recreation and Park Department sign with its new name. The new park features sculptures, murals on the asphalt, a rotating, climbable boulder, pianos, a skateboarding track and wooden bike ramps. Wooden signs every few blocks directed people to nearby local businesses where they could eat, drink and shop…