Thanks for a Fantastic ’14!
W ith so many programs and projects moving forward across 80,000 acres of the Golden Gate National Parks, it’s quite a challenge to keep up with the Parks Conservancy. Our online annual report presents just a snapshot of what we accomplished
in 2014, in partnership with the National Park Service and Presidio Trust, and through your support. Learn about our community engagement around the New Presidio Parklands Project, as well as our work to:
New Presidio Parklands
W e are shaping a world-class public space that connects Crissy Field and the Main Post, welcomes people of all backgrounds to learn and play, and establishes the Presidio as a definitive 21st century national park. A rich history of public support and philanthropy has made the Presidio the gem it is today -- let's carry forward this tradition and legacy.
It's Your Place. Now's Your Time.
A coalition of local and national leaders came together to meet the challenge and opportunity of converting a former Army post into a national park.
Crissy Field was transformed from desolate rubble into a beloved shoreline park, with a lead gift from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund and contributions from people all over the Bay Area.
Another lead gift from the Haas, Jr. Fund inspired a public campaign to complete a network of trails, bikeways, and overlooks across the Presidio, and expand and improve the Rob Hill Campground.
Thanks to your contributions to vital projects and programs, the Presidio has been transformed into a national park, with the Presidio Trust attaining its financial self-sufficiency as required by Congress, and thus saving this historic place for all time.
Through extensive community input advising the early designs of James Corner Field Operations(the lead design firm for this project), and your generous support, we are creating a signature place that reaffirms the Presidio as a new kind of park, for a new diversity of visitors, for the new century and beyond.
- 13 total acres, connecting Crissy Field with the Main Post
- 10 acres of new public space, atop the tunnels of the new Presidio Parkway
- 3 acres of education and fun for youth and the families in play spaces, gardens, and the learning landscape of the Crissy Field Center
- A new Presidio Visitor Center and plaza
OUR THANKS
Many thanks to these individuals and foundations for their early leadership support of the New Presidio Parklands Project:
- S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation
- The Fisher Family
- Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation
- Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund
- Hellman Foundation
- Koret Foundation
- Mark and Mauree Jane Perry
This is an extremely significant opportunity for the people of San Francisco to create a dramatic new legacy for future generations."
— James Corner, Founder and Director, Field Operations, lead design team that also designed the High Line in New York
Thanks to the generosity of
our park supporters, we are
well on our way to raising the
philanthropic funds needed to
realize this extraordinary project.
Don’t miss this park-making,
epoch-defining moment—a
rare chance to leave a lasting
legacy across an unforgettable
new landscape.
To contribute to this project and learn about enduring recognition opportunities for your gift:
newpresidioparklands.org/donate
(415) 561-3050
kmorelli@parksconservancy.org
2014 Highlights
RESTORE & ENHANCE NATIONAL PARKS
174,000
plants grown in Conservancy native plant nurseries for 58 habitat restoration projects
30+
national park sites improved through Trails Forever and Park Stewardship projects
13
acres of public space envisioned by the community, through the New Presidio Parklands Project of the Presidio Trust
ENGAGE NEW & DIVERSE COMMUNITIES
896,000
visitors, including many first-timers on the island, inspired by @Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz, a FOR-SITE Foundation-organized exhibition
9,000+
community members engaged by BioBlitz, a citizen-science effort with National Geographic to count the species at Golden Gate
6,500
participants, including many kids on their first camping trip, served by Camping at the Presidio
EDUCATE & NURTURE FUTURE STEWARDS
60,000
children and young people served by the Park Youth Collaborative (Conservancy/National Park Service/Presidio Trust)
20,000+
kids, teens, and community members engaged by environmental education programs of the Crissy Field Center
53
teens from urban neighborhoods inspired by conservation leadership and stewardship programs I-YEL and LINC
INSPIRE ECOLOGICAL & SOCIAL CHANGE
4,000
visitors introduced to hawk migration by Golden Gate Raptor Observatory docent programs
400+
people of all ages served by Healthy Parks Healthy People: Bay Area hikes and family programs
175
San Francisco Department of Public Health providers trained to provide "park prescriptions" through an Institute at the Golden Gate program
FOSTER STRONG & VITAL PARTNERSHIPS
27,000
volunteers organized for service work, through cooperative programs of the Conservancy, National Park Service, and Presidio Trust
460
organizations--from schools to nonprofits to corporations--engaged for volunteer projects in the national parks
5
diverse organizations brought together to form the Tamalpais Lands Collaborative and launch the One Tam campaign
Volunteers
Financials
Total Aid 2014: $43,379,871*
(45%)
$19,567,595
Park Interpretation and Visitor Services
(45%)
$19,561,770
Park Enhancements, Restoration and Stewardship
(10%)
$4,250,506
Youth, Volunteer and Community Programs
Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Fiscal Year 2014 Aid to the Parks
Total Aid to the Parks, 1982-2014:
More than $362 Million
Find Your Park
Golden Gate National Parks
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area + Muir Woods National Monument + Fort Point National Historic Site
- Nearly 18 million visitors in 2014 (#1 visited unit in national park system)
- Over 80,000 acres across 3 counties
- More than 30 unique park sites
- Click the icons to find your favorite!
Alcatraz
The Rock, famous for its federal prison, is also known for its nesting seabird colonies, restored gardens, military heritage, and history as a site of American Indian protest.
Cliff House
Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the third incarnation of this legendary San Francisco landmark features a world-class restaurant with breathtaking vistas.
Crissy Field
A signature restoration project of the Conservancy, Crissy Field is home to an environmental education center, a spectacular promenade, and a marsh teeming with bird life.
Fort Baker
Elegant Colonial Revival buildings of this former Army post have taken on new life as a LEED-certified national park lodge and the offices of the Institute at the Golden Gate.
Fort Funston
At the southern edge of the San Francisco coastline, visitors enjoy beach walks and the spectacle of hang gliders taking to the sky over wind-sculpted dunes.
Fort Point
Tucked under the Golden Gate Bridge, this Civil War-era fortress is admired for its magnificent masonry—best appreciated on a candlelight tour.
Kirby Cove
Known for its astounding campsites, this hidden cove tucked into the folds of the Marin Headlands offers a one-of-a-kind perspective of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Lands End
Revitalized with enhanced trails, gorgeous overlooks, abundant native plants, and a new Lands End Lookout visitor center, this park is a gem on San Francisco’s coast.
Marin Headlands
These majestic hills are dotted with historic batteries, former military installations, astonishing trails, and lofty perches from which to spy migrating raptors.
Mount Tamalpais
The watersheds, wildlife habitats, and opportunities for recreation, education, and stewardship across this iconic Marin peak are the focus of the One Tam campaign.
Muir Woods
Saved by congressman and philanthropist William Kent and named for John Muir, this beloved grove is known for its towering coast redwoods and serene Redwood Creek.
Olema Valley
Adjacent to Point Reyes National Seashore, this valley features idyllic trails and picturesque Victorian farmhouses harkening back to the area’s dairy production heyday.
Point Bonita
Accessed by a heart-pounding trail above the surf, the Point Bonita Lighthouse—moved to its current spot in 1877—stands sentinel at the edge of the continent.
Presidio
Established by the Spanish in 1776, this post continues to evolve as a national park with new trails, overlooks, bikeways, and the forthcoming New Presidio Parklands.
Stinson Beach
One of our most popular beaches, this vast stretch of white sand at the terminus of the Dipsea Trail is a delight for swimmers, surfers, and picnickers.
Sutro Heights
The former estate of San Francisco mayor Adolph Sutro showcases a lovely garden and the nearby ruins of his massive Sutro Baths—once the world’s largest natatorium.
Sweeney Ridge
Just as Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolà did in 1769, visitors today can take in 360-degree panoramas of San Francisco Bay from this dazzling spot near Milagra Ridge.
Tennessee Valley
A meandering trail winds through a pastoral landscape of rolling hills to a pocket beach and a cove named for the shipwreck of the SS Tennessee.