A bitter conflict is unfolding in San Francisco between city officials and the global skateboarding community over the fate of a once-despised concrete fountain. The 710-ton Vaillancourt Fountain, a brutalist artwork in Embarcadero Plaza, is set for a public vote on January 13, 2026, which will decide whether it is dismantled or preserved.
A Concrete Mecca for Skateboarders
While many residents have long considered the fountain an eyesore, skateboarders have transformed it into hallowed ground. They argue the structure, known worldwide in skate circles as EMB, is irreplaceable, having helped shape modern street skating in the 1990s. Iconic skate videos were filmed there, cementing its status in the sport's culture.
"That's Mecca," said Ted Barrow, a skateboarder and architectural preservationist who has defended the fountain at public hearings. "People come here just to see it because they feel like they're on hallowed ground." The artist behind the work, Armand Vaillancourt, now in his mid-90s, has also personally appealed for its preservation, insisting it was built to last for generations.
The City's Case for Demolition
City planners, however, see a serious liability. The fountain's water pumps have failed, and the structure has been fenced off due to safety concerns. Engineers report significant corrosion, crumbling concrete, and hazardous materials. Officials estimate repairs would cost around $29 million, a figure nearly matching the budget for renovating the entire Embarcadero Plaza and its parkland.
The Recreation and Park Department is therefore moving towards dismantling the artwork, potentially placing it in storage during a redevelopment of the plaza. Concept images for the redesign have alarmed skaters, showing wide lawns and landscaping that replace the hard, skate-friendly surfaces that made EMB famous.
A Vote to Decide History
The impending vote culminates months of debate between officials, developers, preservationists, and skaters. For the skating community, the threat is not just to concrete but to their history. Filmmaker Jacob Rosenberg, who documented EMB's legacy in his book Epicenter, criticised the proposed grassy areas as "terrible."
A city spokeswoman told The Wall Street Journal that redesign plans are not final and that feedback from stakeholders, including skateboarders, will guide the next phase. The fate of this controversial piece of brutalist architecture and its place in San Francisco skateboarding history now rests in the hands of the city's voters.
