The people/entities/forces responsible for creating public space in San Francisco have done another mediocre job – this time with Sue Bierman Park on the Embarcadero across from the Ferry Building.
After a couple of years of work and almost two million dollars in renovations, the park looks like the “before” image in some kind of open space competition – a blank slate just waiting for benches, trees, paths, recreational spaces, and other amenities.
There’s no shelter from wind (in windy San Francisco), no shade or shelter from sun or rain (ditto), and there are very few benches for sitting.
There are these strange items – either an art piece or someone’s idea of clever seating, or both. All they’re good for is collecting rainwater.
There has been an ongoing discussion of installing a children’s playground at the park — in a neighborhood with none — but apparently not everyone with a say in the issue is in favor. Why there is even a controversy about this is beyond me – what’s not to like about a playground?
