Rec and Park Commission names new Upper Great Highway park 'Sunset Dunes' after tight vote

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission voted 4–2 on April 9 to name the newly converted Upper Great Highway park "Sunset Dunes," concluding a public naming process that drew thousands of submissions and nearly 4,000 survey responses.

Commission President Anderson announced the result after a roll-call vote: Commissioners Clark Herrera, Louie, Zwart and Anderson voted yes; Commissioners Halsey and Mazzola voted no. The commission approved the name as "Sunset Dunes" (the body clarified it will not formally add the word "Park" to the approved name).

Staff presented the naming process to the commission, describing a public outreach effort that began March 1 with a naming contest and included an online community meeting on March 18 and a survey of 15 finalist names from March 20 to April 2. "We received over 4,200 naming submissions," Jack Avery, a policy and public affairs manager with Rec and Park, told commissioners, and the department reported nearly 4,000 survey responses and weekend visitor counts of about 8,000 to the conversion area during the pilot program.

The department recommended five names for commission consideration: Fog Line, Great Parkway, Playland Parkway (discussed and amended by commissioners as Playland Park), Plover Parkway and Sunset Dunes. Staff said different names performed best on different evaluation criteria: Fog Line and Plover Parkway tied for highest average survey score, Playland Parkway scored highest for historical and iconic placemaking, and Sunset Dunes led in clarity and appropriateness.

Public commenters and volunteers urged a range of outcomes. "The name Sunset Dunes will create a sense of identity because it embodies the ethos of the area physically, naturally, and culturally," said Matt, a local resident who supported Sunset Dunes. Paula, another in-person commenter, asked the commission to "add the word Park so everyone will know it's a park," while Ben Davis of the arts nonprofit Illuminate said he was "a little worried about the name Fog Line" because fog might deter visitors.

Remote commenters highlighted conservation and history. Alyssa Wynn, co-leader of Queer Birders Bay Area, urged a name tied to the snowy plover and conservation awareness. Volunteer site workers asked commissioners to choose names that would both honor the area's history and attract visitors; Zach Clifton and Lucas Luxe both described volunteering on site ahead of the park opening.

Commissioner Mazzola used his remarks to criticize the process that led to the conversion and said many West Side residents feel the change was unfair. "Prop K should never have been a citywide vote," he said, framing his vote against the chosen name as tied to that objection. Commissioner Clark Herrera and other commissioners urged moving forward with the naming while acknowledging concerns and recommended interpretive signage and exhibits to honor both natural and historic themes, including the Playland history and snowy plover habitat.

The department told the commission it plans to celebrate the opening of the new park on Saturday, April 12, with a free public event centered at Noriega and the Great Highway from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Commissioners said staff will incorporate interpretive signage and programming to reflect the themes raised during outreach.

The commission adjourned at 2:05 p.m.