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FAQs

What are the benefits of the Golden Gate Greenway?

Provide a public green space that gives our community more room to engage in beneficial community activities, like ongoing Play Streets

Improve mental health through plants and public art. Green space has been shown to have a positive impact on psychological well-being.

Provide shade to mitigate the "urban heat island" phenomenon, which disproportionately affects young children, the elderly, people with certain pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, and people who work and/or live outdoors.

Create a safe, traffic-free space for people to walk, sit, play, and move around.

Create a beautiful, safe gathering place for the Tenderloin community, as well as visitors to the neighborhood. A place that is safe for people to sit and rest, to talk, and be happy. A place where wonderful things can happen. 

Who are you?

A diverse coalition of nonprofits, neighbors on the 100 block of Golden Gate Avenue, believers in the power of community and human connection to make positive change. 

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You can read more about the Golden Gate Greenway Coalition by clicking here 

Where can I find out more about events and activation?

Right here! Check out the GGG Calendar to see past and upcoming activations on the Greenway.

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If you have an activation planned but don’t see it on the calendar yet, let us know at calendar@goldengategreenway.org so we can add it. Thanks for helping us highlight important happenings on the Greenway.

What vehicles are approved to enter the block during the 6a-6p closure?

We understand the importance of keeping the Golden Gate Greenway accessible to those who need it, and we’ve developed a system to ensure you can get where you’re going while keeping the space safe for the community.

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If the barricade is up, it’s always staffed by a member of the St. Anthony’s Community Safety Services (CSS) team. The green planters that form the barricade are heavy enough to keep vehicles out but can be rolled away to allow essential traffic, as defined by our SFMTA Special Events Permit. The following are the vehicles defined as essential. â€‹â€‹

Emergency vehicles. The barricade is preemptively pulled back whenever an emergency vehicle approaches with siren sounding to accommodate rapid response) and paratransit vehicles

Contractors Only when performing maintenance on Greenway buildings.

Pick-up and drop-off for residents, schools, and parishioners. This includes Mercy Housing, the Friary, Wu Yee Nursery School, De Marillac Academy, 826 Valencia, and student volunteer groups.

Sunday worshippers Limited parking allows attendance to St. Boniface's trilingual, multicultural Masses

Guests and providers of essential services. St. Anthony’s Medical Clinic, and vehicles donating clothing to the Free Clothing Program

Delivery vehicles To multiple businesses, but most frequently food delivery trucks to supply St. Anthony’s Free Dining Room and three food pantries

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Q: I have approved business on the block – how do I enter?

To enter the Greenway with a car, approach the barricade from Golden Gate and Leavenworth and roll down your window. A CSS team member will greet you and ask where you’re headed. Once confirmed, they’ll move the barricade for you. Please drive slowly—no more than 5 mph—as the roadway is often filled with pedestrians. CSS may help direct your vehicle.

Q: Barricade staff asked me to wait or circle the block before entering – why?

If CSS asks you to wait or circle the block, it’s because the roadway is temporarily full, and allowing more vehicles would create safety concerns for pedestrians or other cars. This typically happens during busy times like school pickups or church services.

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When you’re asked to wait, it’s only temporary. Staff will let you in as soon as there’s enough space to move safely. Our goal is to balance essential vehicle access with keeping the Greenway safe and enjoyable for the community.

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The CSS team carefully manages traffic to keep everyone safe. As soon as there’s enough space, they’ll let you in. Thank you for your patience and for helping us make this shared space work for everyone!

Q: What about the impact on traffic in the neighborhood?

We understand that traffic is a big concern for many people in the Tenderloin, and we’ve looked at this issue closely. During a six-month review by the SFMTA (from April to October 2023), data showed that closing the street didn’t significantly increase travel times for cars or nearby transit services. This suggests that the closure has been manageable for the broader traffic flow in our neighborhood.

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At the same time, we need to address a critical reality: every intersection in the Tenderloin is on the high-injury network, meaning our streets are among the most dangerous for pedestrians in San Francisco. Many of the cars speeding down these roads belong to people who don’t live or work here—they’re just passing through to get to the highway.

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Creating the Golden Gate Greenway is about putting our neighbors, especially our children, first. The Tenderloin has more kids per capita than any other neighborhood in the city, and they deserve a safe, welcoming place to play and grow. By reclaiming just one block, we’re building a safer, healthier, and more vibrant community space that benefits everyone who calls this neighborhood home.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

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©2025 GOLDEN GATE GREENWAY

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