San Francisco's biggest park project in years is nearing its grand entrance, and you, dear city dwellers, could forever etch your name in its sands—by actually naming the park yourself. That's right, the Great Park Naming Contest is upon us and not a moment too soon. The soon-to-be 43-acre recreational haven along the city's western frontier doesn't just want to provide you with an artsy and scenic escape; it wants you to christen it, too. According to SF Rec and Park, the people's verdict will go down in the annals on April 12, complemented by live music, murals, and skating.
For those tracking the transformation of the Great Highway to a promenade, it's a bit of a culminating moment. And let's just say it's been a minute since 2020's trial as a weekend-only, car-free oasis. "This park belongs to the people of San Francisco,” Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle. Since its inception, it has racked up an impressive visitor count, pulling in around 7,000 folks on a good weekend, taking the third spot in the city's go-to places leaderboard after Golden Gate Park and Marina Green.
The naming juice starts flowing online from now until March 16, and opinions will be bandied about in a virtual gathering on March 18. Here's where it gets interesting: post-debate, a shortlist will make its way to the internet populace, with final votes locking in the chosen moniker by April 2.
