Back in 2009, Streetsblog informed readers about neighborhood efforts to calm traffic at San Jose Avenue at Guerrero and 28th Streets. There’s little that aligns more closely with the mission of Streetsblog than the creation of small inviting parks that can transform a dangerous traffic sewer into an enlivened public asset. And, thanks to the hard work of advocates, that’s exactly what’s happening–and with more permanent infrastructure in each phase of the project. From the “Pavement to Parks” website:

Vehicle speeding on Guerrero Street, and the area around the intersection with San Jose Avenue, prompted a series of improvements to the neighborhood to increase safety for pedestrians and cyclists. San Jose Avenue was closed at its intersection with Guerrero Street and is now a two-way “cue street,” providing local access to residents along the block.

The design of the resulting space was developed by Jane Martin of Shift Design Studio who provided services free of charge to the City. Raised planters, made of reclaimed logs from Golden Gate Park and featuring native and drought tolerant plants, are placed along the edge of the plaza facing Guerrero Street, creating a comfortable place for relaxation, contemplation, and more active uses.

It’s almost hard to imagine, but just a few years ago the intersection looked like this:

And now, after phased improvements that started back in 2009, it looks like this:

Just yesterday, Streetsblog reported on the horrible crash at Sutter and Market. Whenever there’s a crash that puts a car on a sidewalk or another pedestrian space, wouldn’t it be great if the City responded to it by protecting the space with attractive and robust infrastructure like they did with Guerrero Park? Inexpensive, off-the-shelf materials could be fairly quickly put in place to keep people safe.