More than 700 linear metres of sidewalks, curbs and public space have been recovered in San Francisco as part of an effort to make one of Panama City’s busiest districts safer and more accessible for pedestrians.
San Francisco representative Serena Vamvas said the work includes sections where parked vehicles and other obstructions had reduced or eliminated space for people walking through the neighbourhood.
One of the completed interventions is on Calle 75, where pedestrian space was widened and parking was reorganized parallel to the road. The approach is intended to preserve some parking while preventing vehicles from occupying sidewalks.
Vamvas said the same design cannot be applied throughout San Francisco because street widths, curves, loading areas and traffic patterns differ between sectors. Parallel parking will remain in locations where sufficient space is available, while narrower streets may require different arrangements.
Parking continues to be a contentious issue in the densely developed district, which contains apartment buildings, restaurants, shops and offices. Vamvas said additional public parking will be needed but argued that individual businesses are also responsible for providing spaces for their customers.
The Community Board is now discussing a larger sidewalk-recovery programme with Panama City Hall. Vamvas said a broader proposal has already been presented and that further information could be announced next year.
No budget, construction timetable or precise number of streets covered by that proposed expansion has been disclosed.
Another area under consideration is near the San Francisco Casa de Paz and local police station, where officials want to remove obstacles and restore pedestrian access.
Although the completed interventions cover only a small portion of San Francisco, they address a longstanding problem in a district where sidewalks are frequently interrupted, deteriorated or occupied by vehicles.
The work also illustrates the difficult balance between pedestrian accessibility and parking in Panama City’s high-density neighbourhoods. Expanding the programme will depend on coordination between the Community Board, the municipal government, property owners and businesses.
Sources: TVN
