Dear Friend of the Parks,

What a year to start as only the second CEO in the history of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. Throughout this Report to the Community, we shine a light on our major accomplishments of 2019. We had no idea what was just around the corner.

I came into this job believing strongly in the power of national parks to inspire and heal. The Bay Area shelter-in-place orders somehow strengthened that conviction. When we lose something, we miss it more than ever. And, we learn a powerful lesson in not taking it for granted. The silence of a redwood grove. The spark of imagination from a historical fact shared by a park ranger. Hopefully you’ve been able to tap into park moments like this in new and creative ways.

Throughout my first months as CEO, starting in April 2019, I saw the strong bonds in our community of park support. So it’s no surprise what’s happening now: You and others are stepping up to secure the future of the parks. Thank you for that support in making sure these places stay timeless—as America’s precious treasures.

With the resilience of our park community and the inventiveness of our Parks Conservancy staff, I know we’ll come back from this. We’ll reach thousands more local children when the Crissy Field Center moves into new space at the Tunnel Tops in 2021. We’ll improve those trails we missed so much. We’ll welcome back our volunteers and visitors with open arms—or maybe a friendly wave. With our partners, our focus on making parks accessible for all—so that everyone feels welcome in parks and can enjoy the many health benefits of nature—is more important now than ever.

That’s why I’m so grateful for my first year at the helm of the Parks Conservancy. I’ve gotten to see the park spirit shine bright under the toughest conditions. The snapshot of 2019 you’ll get in this report shows us what’s possible for our long-term future, and I can’t wait to get there. It may take some time to recover, but with your help, our parks will spring back stronger than ever before.

With heartfelt gratitude,
CHRIS LEHNERTZ
President & CEO

Crissy Field Center

Empowering Youth Voice

Here’s how we equip young people to have agency, cultivating curiosity and lifelong park bonds. Read Story

Watch: Meet the youth and see a climate change art project come to life
Michele Gee

A Career in Park Service

She left her mark at the Parks Conservancy before moving into a key role with the NPS. This is her story. Read Story

Watch: Meet Michele and hear her park philosophy
Evolving Shorelines

Rising Tide of Innovation

How the Parks Conservancy is supporting the community to meet the challenge of our rising seas together. Read Story

Watch: Take a kayak tour of Bothin Marsh.
Enya Pan

Refashioning Sustainable Community

Meet Enya and see some of her fashion up close

How one high school senior has made taking care of the parks her business. Read Story
Judy Doi

Leaving An Outdoor Legacy

Judy Doi

Her generous legacy gift is helping make a direct impact on the parklands she loved dearly. Read Story

Meet. Relax. Play. Learn. Explore.

Presidio Tunnel Tops

Dylan Nepomuceno, center, with his mom Louise Nepomuceno, left, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the ‘Groundmaking.’

Coming in fall 2021: The Presidio Tunnel Tops! In November 2019, civic leaders, philanthropic community supporters, and public officials including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi celebrated the kickoff of construction for this 14-acre parkland that will become a national park destination at a “Groundmaking” event.

Watch: See special moments unfold at the Tunnel Tops ‘Groundmaking’

The new parkland will sit atop the Presidio Parkway and reconnect the Main Post to Crissy Field, offering a central destination for visitors and locals alike. It will be a park for all, dedicated to serving communities through open spaces to grow, play, thrive, and connect more deeply with nature and one another.

Youth starred at the November event. Dylan Nepomuceno, a student with our Inspiring Young Emerging Leaders program at the Crissy Field Center, gave a speech and got a shout-out from Speaker Pelosi. The Tunnel Tops will sport a brand-new Youth Campus with a three-acre interactive play area. Learn more at presidiotunneltops.org

Many Parks, One Parks Conservancy

From Large Projects to Small Moments, Your Impact Was Felt in 2019.

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is more than what you can see at a handful of beautiful parks. Far more. In 2019 and throughout our nearly four decades of community science, programming, engagement and stewardship, the Parks Conservancy has been dedicated to improving these parks we all love. With your help and in conjunction with our partners, we help care for the land, protect endangered species, build trails, and connect people to nature. In this graphic, you can see a sampling of our broad impact in 2019. Thank you for making an immeasurable difference for these Bay Area national parks.

Many Parks, One Parks Conservancy (PDF)

  • Point Reyes
  • Olema Valley
  • Alamere Falls
  • Bolinas
  • Mount Tamalpais
  • Muir Woods
  • Marin Headlands
  • Presidio
  • Lands End
  • Fort Funston
  • Milagra Ridge
  • Mori Point
  • Sweeney Ridge
  • Alcatraz
  • Rancho Corral de Tierra
  • Phleger Estate

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It's All Thanks to You

Thank you to our generous donors for their support in 2019! We are very grateful for your impact through giving. To ensure privacy, a list of donors is not included in this online report. A full donor list will be printed in the August issue of Gateways, our membership newsletter.

The Golden Gate National Parks

Find Your Park

Stretching across nearly 84,000 acres and three counties, the Golden Gate National Parks include the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Muir Woods National Monument, and Fort Point National Historic Site. Together, they were the most-visited national park units in the country in 2019.

The Presidio

The Presidio Established by the Spanish in 1776, this post continues to evolve as a national park with new trails, overlooks, bikeways, and a recently opened visitor center.

Fort Point

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.

Fort Baker

Fort Baker Former Army buildings have taken on new life as a LEED Gold-certified national park lodge featuring restored landscapes.

Olema Valley

Olema Valley Picturesque Victorian farmhouses and idyllic trails grace this valley adjacent to Point Reyes National Seashore.

Cliff House

Cliff House The third incarnation of this legendary San Francisco landmark features a world-class restaurant with breathtaking ocean vistas.

Point Bonita

Point Bonita The Point Bonita Lighthouse — moved to its current spot in 1877 — stands sentinel at the edge of the continent.

Crissy Field

Crissy Field Home to an environmental education center, a vast meadow, and a marsh teeming with bird life, the transformed Crissy Field is one of the most spectacular parks in America.

Muir Woods

Muir Woods Saved by William Kent and Elizabeth Thacher Kent and named for John Muir, this National Monument is beloved by all for its tall redwoods and serenity.

Fort Mason

Fort Mason A key port of embarkation during World War II, this site now hosts the nonprofit Fort Mason Center, a popular hostel, Golden Gate National Recreation Area headquarters, and Parks Conservancy offices.

Sutro Heights

Sutro Heights The former lands of San Francisco mayor Adolph Sutro showcase a charming garden and the nearby ruins of his gargantuan Sutro Baths.

Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach A 3.5-mile stretch of white beach with few tourists and no highrises. Great for strolling and flying kites, but the water is frigid and the currents hazardous for all but the most experienced surfers.

Alcatraz

Alcatraz The Rock, famous for its notorious federal prison, is also known for its seabird colonies and restored gardens once tended by residents.

Marin Headlands

Marin Headlands These majestic hills are dotted with historic batteries and old military installations — and lofty perches from which to spy migrating raptors.

Stinson Beach

Stinson Beach One of northern California’s most popular beaches, this vast stretch of white sand is a delight for swimmers, surfers, and picnickers.

Fort Funston

Fort Funston Visitors enjoy beach walks and the spectacle of hang gliders taking to the sky over windsculpted dunes.

Lands End

Lands End This park has been revitalized in recent years with enhanced trails, gorgeous overlooks, native plants, and an acclaimed visitor center.

Learn more about your parks

Financials

Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Fiscal Year 2019 Support to the Parks

Total Support 2019: $46,883,437*

  • Park Enhancements, Restoration, and Stewardship $23,311,880 (50%)
  • Park Interpretation and Visitor Services $16,972,481 (36%)
  • Youth, Volunteer, and Community Programs $6,599,076 (14%)

Total support to the parks, 1982–2019: $577 MILLION

2019 Financial Statements (PDF)

Financial statements of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy are audited on an annual basis.

Copies of the complete audited financial statements are available upon request by calling the Parks Conservancy’s Chief Operating Officer at (415) 561-3000.

* Support to the parks includes all program service expenses, excluding cost of goods sold and donated services.

The Golden Gate National Parks would not be the same without the dedication and passion of our volunteers. From October 1, 2018– September 30, 2019, more than 308 unique community groups — park programs, corporate teams, nonprofits, schools, civic and faith-based organizations, and more — generously contributed their time. On behalf of the Parks Conservancy, National Park Service, and Presidio Trust, WE THANK YOU!

Volunteers (pdf)
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