Embarcadero Plaza and Vaillancourt Fountain:
Written Public Comment Template

Use this email template to submit public comment to San Francisco. By using this template, you will submit comment to the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC), the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission (SFRPC), and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (SFBOS).

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

To: charles.collins1@sfgov.org, manraj.dhaliwal@sfgov.org, art-info@sfgov.org, sarah.madland@sfgov.org, phil.ginsburg@sfgov.org, recpark.commission@sfgov.org, sauterstaff@sfgov.org, bos@sfgov.org, eoanna.goodwin@sfgov.org, ashley.summers@sfgov.org

BCC: info@docomomo-noca.org

Subject: Public Comment for SFAC, SFRPD, SFBOS meetings + Immediate Disclosure Request

Body: (Add your own stories about why the fountain is important to you)

To SF Recreation & Parks, SF Arts Commission, SF Board of Supervisors,

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department approach to this project echoes our era of urban renewal.

Embarcadero Plaza has been a contributor to the Market Street Cultural Landscape District since 2016, which is a historic resource listed in the California Register of Historical Resources. This Lawrence Halprin-designed public space symbolizes our city's diverse history and has been the site of civic engagement and freedom of expression for decades, including this year.

The Vaillancourt Fountain is an international landmark, symbolizing our city's diverse history, our relationship with Canada and Quebec, and countless gatherings and activist events.

I oppose blank-slate urban redevelopment. Instead, I request that you:

• (1) Rightsize the project: In an era of economic uncertainty, you have a responsibility to better spend $15-30+ million in public and private funds. This could include a more modest park refresh with a sustainable maintenance plan that would more effectively reflect the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors, and support downtown’s economic recovery, while retaining our history and culture.
• (2) Engage in bona fide conceptual exploration: Require a bona fide exploration of designs that go beyond what was proposed by private interests in 2024. This could include adaptive reuse of Embarcadero Plaza to address accessibility issues while retaining the existing Lawrence Halprin design that is in the spirit of flexible, multi-use, world-renowned Spanish plazas and Italian piazzas.
• (3) Begin proactive engagement with experts: You proactively grant stakeholders other than project sponsors—such as the architects, artists, or recognized art and preservation organizations—the opportunity to present at official proceedings.
• (4) Commit to full disclosure and transparency: You require project sponsors to publicly communicate the full scope of the project. This includes Embarcadero Plaza South, Sue Bierman Park West, Phase 2, and plans for site features like bocce courts, padel courts, and the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Monument.

Please include this as a public comment—either as general public comment or associated with a more specific agenda item—for the next occurrence of these meetings:

• (1) SF Arts Commission - Civic Design Review Committee meeting
• (2) SF Arts Commission - Full Commission meeting
• (3) SF Recreation and Park Commission meeting
• (4) SF Board of Supervisors


**Recreation & Parks**: Please complete an **Immediate Disclosure Request** by supplying to me via email the following simple and routine public records by the close of the next business day:
• 2025 Embarcadero Plaza HRR
• 2025 Sue Bierman Park HRR
• 2025 Vaillancourt Fountain HRR
• 2025 Vaillancourt Fountain Conditions Assessment
• 2024-05-10 BxP Presentation BXP version
• MAP Embarcadero Plaza Maintenance Responsibilities
• Justin Herman Embarcadero Plaza - Maintenance Agreement Docs, 1998-2000 (not in order)
• Embarcadero Donor Presentation
• Prospect List for Mayor and DDC
• 20250729 PDT Meeting slides.pdf
• The most recent Embarcadero Plaza project delivery meeting notes


Thank you.