In 2026, BXP, the organization responsible for the Embarcadero Center, in collaboration with San Francisco Parks & Recreation, will commence the construction of a new plaza at the foot of Market Street. This public/private partnership is projected to require an investment of up to $50 million to create a world-class park that commemorates the historical significance of San Francisco’s waterfront.
For the past fifty years, Embarcadero Plaza, formerly known as Justin Herman Plaza, has served as a pivotal location for the skateboarding culture. To redesign this space without consideration of its status as a prominent skateboarding site would result in the erasure of a critical aspect of skateboarding history, both in San Francisco and globally.
By signing this petition, individuals will convey to the City of San Francisco and BXP that any new designs for the plaza must recognize its heritage as a renowned skate spot that has significantly influenced the global skateboarding community. Furthermore, skateboarding must be permitted and preserved in the new Embarcadero Plaza. – Ted Barrow
