The Coalition for Park Access and Conservation (CPAC) has recommended an earth barrier berm, but the idea has met very strong opposition from Citizens for the Eastshore State park (CESP) Board members. The stated reason for opposing the berm is that it will block the view from the freeway.
Is preserving the view of the park from the freeway more important than blocking the sights and sounds of the freeway from the park? This is a value judgment that does not need to be resolved, because there is no view of any consequence that would be blocked by the proposed berm.
As one of the photos in this series shows, the view from a typical car window in the area of the proposed berm is nothing worth fighting for. There is no sight line to the Bay or the North Sailing Basin, and only a sliver of Cesar Chavez Park appears over the existing safety wall.
The view from the Gilman overpass is important, and this will not be affected. The proposed berm is entirely south of the park boundary, which is well south of the northern end of Cesar Chavez Park. Even from a bus window, there is no possibiity of blocking a view of the Bay or the Golden Gate, These views are only available from locations north of the park boundary.
The view from a bicycle on Frontage Road is not relevant, because a bike trails would run to the west of the berm, or possibly along the top of the berm. With either of these options, the view offered to a hiker or cyclist would be much improved over that provided by the existing segment of the Bay Trail.
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