Crews began work Monday to dismantle the decades-old Vaillancourt Fountain at San Francisco’s Embarcadero Plaza. Workers started around 7 a.m., using equipment including boom lifts to begin disassembling parts of the 710-ton concrete structure. The work follows days of preparation, including in stalling fencing and labeling sections of the fountain. The project is being overseen by multiple city agencies, including Public Works, the Recreation and Park Department and the San Francisco Arts Commission. The fountain, which opened 54 years ago, is set to be removed in phases. The current work is part of a pilot phase, with more extensive dismantling expected to begin in May. At that point, cranes will be used to remove sections of the structure, which will be transported to a secure location. The removal is expected to cost the Recreation and Park Department millions of dollars. City officials have said the project is necessary for public safety. The decision to remove the fountain has faced opposition, however. A preservationist group sued the city after officials approved the plan in 2024, but a judge denied the group’s request to halt the removal. An appeal and request for an immediate stay are still pending. NBC Bay Area has reached out to the city attorney’s office and the attorney representing the preservation group but has not received a response. The fountain’s removal is part of a broader plan to renovate Embarcadero Plaza. ...read more read less