Public realm Action Plan

Public realm improvements and placemaking initiatives are vital tools for economic development, transforming spaces into welcoming areas that foster community gathering, cultural exchange, and social connections—all of which contribute to local commerce.

In 2022, DSFP partnered with SITELAB urban design studio, Fehr + Peers, and John Bela to create the Public Realm Action Plan (PRAP). This comprehensive plan outlines physical, programmatic, and organizational strategies to reshape our district’s streets and open spaces.

Public Realm Concepts + Strategies

Pedestrian Paradise

Let's Green

Downtown as a Stage

Rediscover Public Open Spaces

Continue Downtown’s Story

Re-energize from the Ground Up

“This is a moment to reimagine the future of Downtown SF. This is a time to be bold.”

Emerging Pedestrian Corridors + Action Areas

Connected opportunities are the convergence of opportunity zones brought together by strategies within each concept.

Downtown Gateway

At the end of the celebrated California Cable Car line, the historic Robert Frost Plaza was rich with generations of stories and untapped potential. The Downtown SF Partnership invested in a bold new vision to transform this bustling crossroads into a dynamic public space that invites to experience the spirit of San Francisco.

Explore the Gateway

Front Street Entertainment Zone

Front Street is now home to California's inaugural Entertainment Zone. This new designation allows Front Street bars to serve drinks for outdoor consumption during special events, creating a lively and engaging street-level experience for everyone to enjoy.

Explore Front St

Mechanics Monument Plaza

Located on Market Street in central Downtown San Francisco, this once underutilized historic plaza is now a hub for community and culture.

Explore Mechanics

Landing at Leidesdorff

Nestled on Commercial Street between Sansome and Montgomery Streets, this historic alleyway is a reimagined downtown experience for San Franciscans - activated with pop-up vendors, cultural programming, food and beverage options, and local art installations.

Explore the Landing

Originally closed to vehicles during the pandemic, the Battery Bridge plaza is now a vibrant passageway featuring a 1,900-square-foot mural, “Estero en Movimeiento,” that brings the natural beauty of Drake’s Bay to downtown’s urban core.

Explore Battery Bridge

Public Realm Action Plan

Together with stakeholders and community, this Public Realm Action Plan is a roadmap for the next iteration of Downtown SF’s streets and open spaces, through a set of physical, programmatic, and organizational recommendations.

Download the Full Plan

Get in Touch

Claude Imbault
VP of Planning & Economic Development

claude@downtownsf.org

Franco Ferraro
Urban Design & Placemaking Manager

franco@downtownsf.org