SAN FRANCISCO — A major phase of the Embarcadero Plaza renovation is now visible on the ground: San Francisco Recreation and Parks says 97 of the park's 113 trees are being removed as crews prepare the waterfront open space for its $40 million redesign.
Tree work was scheduled to begin on or after Sept. 14 and is expected to take about five weeks. During that period, sections of the park and connecting paths may close intermittently, with temporary sidewalk closures, pedestrian detours, construction noise and heavy equipment moving through the site.
The scale of the removal is striking, but the city says the finished park will not have fewer trees.
Why are 97 trees being removed?
Rec & Park says the removals are necessary so the park can be regraded to improve accessibility as part of the larger renovation of Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park.
Of the 97 trees being removed from their current locations, three are expected to be transplanted elsewhere within the park. The rest are to be replaced as the project proceeds.
The tree work is one phase of a broader effort to reshape roughly five acres at the foot of Market Street into a more cohesive waterfront park with lawns, gathering areas, recreation and year-round programming.
Will Embarcadero Plaza have fewer trees afterward?
According to Rec & Park, no.
The department says the number of trees before and after the renovation will remain the same. Replacement planting is expected to include coast live oak, coast redwood, Monterey cypress, southern magnolia and strawberry tree.
That distinction matters because visitors watching dozens of trees disappear over several weeks could reasonably assume the redesign is permanently reducing the tree canopy. The city's stated plan is to replace the removed trees while changing their locations and species mix to fit the new grading and landscape design.
How long will the tree work affect Embarcadero Plaza?
Rec & Park estimates about five weeks from the start of tree work.
Visitors should expect intermittent closures rather than the entire park necessarily being inaccessible throughout that period. The agency specifically warns about sections of the park and pathways closing, temporary sidewalk closures and pedestrian detours.
Construction trucks and heavy equipment will periodically enter and leave the area, although Rec & Park says it expects minimal parking or traffic impacts from this particular stage of construction.
That means the most immediate effect is likely to be felt by pedestrians and people using the plaza itself rather than by drivers on the Embarcadero.
What is changing in the $40 million rebuild?
SF News Today first reported on the renovation after new building-permit applications surfaced at 1 Clay Street and 4 Clay Street. Those records described a roughly five-acre project combining Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park, with a multi-purpose lawn, stage and overhead trellis, enclosed dog-play area, fitness area, seating and picnic areas, landscaping and other outdoor improvements.
The permit records were in triage when SF News Today reviewed them in late August. They showed the project moving deeper into design and city review; they did not by themselves mean construction on the full park had started at that moment.
The current tree-removal notice is different: it describes physical work happening in and around the park now.
Why does the city say regrading is necessary?
Rec & Park says tree removal and replanting are necessary to regrade the site so the renovated park can be more accessible. Regrading changes ground elevations and paths, which can conflict with existing root systems and tree locations.
The department's notice does not say every existing tree is unhealthy. Its stated reason for the large removal is the redesign and accessibility work, followed by replacement planting as the project moves forward.
What should pedestrians expect over the next several weeks?
People moving between Market Street, the Ferry Building area and the waterfront should be prepared for temporary detours around work zones. Rec & Park says park sections and connected pathways will close intermittently, and nearby sidewalks may also close temporarily.
The city says construction noise and heavy equipment should be expected while tree work is underway.