Docomomo Us Northern California Chapter

For over fifty years, Embarcadero Plaza and the Vaillancourt Fountain have served as a vital gathering space for San Francisco's art, culture, and civic movements. Now, the city is proposing to replace this historic site with a generic green space, citing maintenance challenges rather than committing to the responsible stewardship of our cultural landmarks and public art. We believe public spaces should be designed through a transparent, equitable process that encourages community participation rather than sidestepping it. Docomomo US/Northern California is raising essential funds to advocate for the rehabilitation of the plaza, ensuring our city's heritage is preserved for future generations.

Please make a tax-deductible donation to Docomomo US/Northern California today. Stand with us to preserve the soul, the history, and the voice of San Francisco.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

San Francisco's true spirit has always been found in its streets. For over fifty years, the beating heart of that spirit—home to historic protests, vibrant art, and legendary skate culture—has been Embarcadero Plaza and the Vaillancourt Fountain.

Now, that legacy is under immediate threat.

The City of San Francisco plans to demolish the plaza and remove the fountain, replacing this site of profound cultural heritage with a generic, "non-controversial" lawn. Why? Because instead of committing to the responsible stewardship of our landmarks, the city is using its own deferred maintenance as an excuse to get rid of them. Even worse, they are trying to push this through behind closed doors, treating community input like an obstacle to be avoided rather than embracing a transparent, equitable public process.

We cannot accept a policy of throwing away our history when it becomes inconvenient.

Docomomo US/Northern California is launching an urgent campaign to require that the public gets a voice in the future and potential rehabilitation of Embarcadero Plaza and Vaillancourt Fountain. We are pursuing a better way forward that requires that the city engage in its required, transparent public review process that gives everyday San Franciscans a seat at the table.

San Francisco's history is written in Embarcadero Plaza. It’s where we gather to mourn, to celebrate, and to demand change. It belongs to all of us—not to developers, and not to city officials looking for an easy out.

When city officials bypass the public, we lose the essence of what makes our city unique. To win this fight and hold the city accountable, please consider donating $25, $50, or whatever you can give today, and share this link with your network. Together, we can ensure our public spaces truly belong to the public!

Stand with us to preserve the soul, the history, and the voice of San Francisco.