San Francisco voters are on track to reject Proposition G, the ballot measure that would have allowed vehicles back onto the Upper Great Highway on weekdays. Early returns indicate that 63% of those who have voted so far are saying no, meaning the Sunset Dunes park is likely to remain open for pedestrians, cyclists and families throughout the week.
Why the measure was proposed
Supporters of Prop G gathered more than 15,000 signatures to place the initiative on the November ballot. Their argument centered on the belief that the road should be shared among drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, and that a weekday opening would ease traffic that has been diverted onto nearby residential streets since the highway’s closure.
Opposition and fundraising
The campaign against the measure is being led by the nonprofit Friends of Sunset Dunes. In 2026 the group raised over $821,000, roughly five times the $157,000 collected by Prop G supporters. Major donors to the pro‑park side include tech executives such as Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman, who contributed $400,000, and Laura Yakovenko, wife of cryptocurrency entrepreneur Anatoly Yakovenko, who gave $200,000.
Community voices
Long‑time Westside resident Elizabeth Boyarsky, who has lived in the area for 25 years, expressed relief at the prospect of keeping the dunes open. “I’m just so sick of it. Let’s just put this to rest, people. We have bigger fish to fry,” she said as she left a polling place on Tuesday morning.
Prop G’s spokesperson Jamie Hughes warned that closing the park to weekday traffic would push drivers onto smaller, quieter streets, creating safety concerns for neighbors. He also framed the issue as a class concern, noting that many supporters of the measure are working‑class residents who rely on driving to get to work and school.
Recent history of the Great Highway
The Great Highway was first closed to the public in April 2020 as the city created a safe outdoor space during the pandemic. In 2021 the closure was limited to weekends and holidays as the city began to reopen. Voters rejected a 2022 attempt (Prop I) to reopen the highway to cars, and in 2024 they approved a permanent closure (Prop K) by a 55‑45 margin citywide, though the Westside voted 64% against it.
Prop K’s passage led to the creation of the Sunset Dunes oceanfront park, which opened five months after the vote. The new park has become a focal point for community recreation and a symbol of the city’s commitment to preserving public space.
Political backdrop
The highway debate has resurfaced in recent local elections. In the District 4 race to replace the recalled Supervisor Joel Engardio, candidates were repeatedly questioned about the Great Highway’s future. Although Supervisor Alan Wong attempted to place a measure on the ballot, it did not succeed. The issue has also been referenced in the city’s congressional race and has prompted multiple lawsuits.
With the current trajectory of the vote, Sunset Dunes is expected to stay open on weekdays, preserving a valuable recreational asset for families and neighbors across the city.
Original reporting: Mission Local — read the source article.
