Surfers in San Francisco are concerned about a city plan to transform part of the Outer Sunset’s Great Highway, fearing that it could negatively impact the world-famous waves at Ocean Beach. The Outer Sunset neighborhood is a popular spot for surfers who brave the city’s cold, shark-infested waters to catch waves that can reach over 20 feet in the winter. The area is home to several surf shops and the newly renovated Pitt’s Pub, a dive bar owned by surfers known as the “Outerlands.”
The approved plan includes the installation of bike lanes, an art exhibit, and a beach access ramp at the beach’s southern end. However, one controversial aspect of the plan is the construction of a 3,200-foot underground wall to protect a nearby wastewater plant from coastal erosion. This wall has raised concerns among experts and surfers, who believe it could displace sand and potentially ruin some of the beach’s waves. Additionally, the plan involves permanently closing the Great Highway to cars between Sloat and Skyline Boulevards.
Matt Lopez, co-owner of Pitt’s Pub and a lifelong Ocean Beach surfer, expressed worry about how the proposed changes could impact the Sloat surf break. He noted that the spot has already seen a decline in quality due to the city’s periodic sand dumping for erosion control, and he fears that more drastic changes could permanently damage
