A member of the public urged the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission on Oct. 15 to preserve Ruth Asawa’s block-long public art installation known as Osaka Way and to restore its fountain elements rather than replace walkways and remove the original design.

The comment, delivered during the meeting’s general public comment period, said the current repairs risk “obliterating” Ruth Asawa’s flowing-river design by installing large concrete planter-benches and changing the planting palette to ginkgo trees. The commenter said ginkgo trees’ deciduous leaves would create prolonged cleanup demands and that there was no plan presented for maintenance.

Preservation matters are within the commission’s jurisdiction but the public comment did not request a specific agenda item or motion. The speaker said the commission should require the project team to reinstall the fountain components when plumbing work is done and to retain the Asawa design and Rai Okamoto’s original plan.

Commissioners did not take immediate action on the comment; it was recorded as public testimony for the record.

The public comment came before several scheduled agenda items, including continuances and landmark and policy matters. No staff response or motion on Osaka Way was made during the hearing.

The comment highlights a neighborhood concern about how routine repairs and streetscape work can affect historic public art and the need for clearer maintenance and planting plans when public artworks are in public right-of-way or on city property.

No formal action was taken on the item during the Oct. 15 meeting; the remark was entered into the record for future consideration.