Over the past year, we’ve seen people form deeper connections to Bay Area national parks. In the face of a global health pandemic, people found refuge in our national parks to experience the expansiveness of Ocean Beach or the wonder of towering redwoods in Muir Woods.
Our vision for the future is deeply informed by what we saw, heard and experienced in 2020. As we celebrate our 40th year and consider our next 40 years, the Parks Conservancy recognizes now is the time to place the spotlight on the “for all” part of our Parks For All Forever vision, with a greater emphasis on park connections. While COVID-19 impacts accelerated our evolution into a more streamlined and focused organization, this next chapter remains grounded in our longstanding commitment to people and parks.
“When you see it, you can be it.” Our role going forward is to help all people see themselves in parks, by ensuring our parks are relevant, accessible, diverse, and inclusive. Our hope is that everyone feels an authentic sense of belonging and welcome in these national parks.
We’re grateful that you are joining us on this journey.
Chris Lehnertz
President & CEO
Colin Lind
Chair, Board of Trustees
The parks inspire me to stretch, be present in the moment, and remind me that there’s hope for our generation.
Faith R. De Leon
Faith has participated in our I-YEL (Inspiring Young Emerging Leaders) youth program at the
Crissy Field Center for several years.
The Parks Conservancy connects people with some of the most postcard-worthy park sites on earth. “Flip” each of these images, many from our park community on Instagram, to hear why people love our parks.
Join the Parks Conservancy today! parksconservancy.org
Park postcard video from:
Ocean Beach
Park postcard video from:
Mori Point
Park postcard video from:
Muir Woods + Marin Headlands
En Español
Come together at Presidio Tunnel Tops, our newest public green space in San Francisco, 14 acres within the Presidio for our community to embrace as their own. As a free and accessible space, Presidio Tunnel Tops will be an essential resource through the recovery, healing, and wellness after the pandemic. It will be a place for learning and play with new educational facilities for youth, families, and communities to utilize.
Every part of Presidio Tunnel Tops, from its pathways to its picnic grounds, has been designed with the input of over 10,000 community members.
This new destination represents our parks at their best: as places for community, for connection to nature, for renewal, and ultimately for the public good.
Throughout our programs, there was a common resilience in 2020. The Crissy Field Center focused on youth wellness, inspiring young people to find the beauty around them, and modified programs like Migratory Story. We hosted “Nature Boost” programs with the San Francisco Public Library and took healing virtual trips to the parks with community groups. The partners of One Tam hosted the Virtual Summit on Climate: Change and Resilience, and sent “Watershed Ambassadors” out to engage with the community—from a distance.
In 2020, the GGNRA’s status as an International Site of Conscience came to the forefront. We examined the complicated history of these lands and released a statement committing to antiracism in parks. We will build on that work to ensure parks remain powerful spaces to explore change.
Your support makes park moments like these possible for people across the Bay Area. This year more than ever, we have seen your broad impact. Thank you for helping bring people to parks today and for generations to come.
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 among the most-visited national park units in the country in 2020.
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 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 Former Army buildings have taken on new life as a LEED Gold-certified national park lodge featuring restored landscapes.
Olema Valley Picturesque Victorian farmhouses and idyllic trails grace this valley adjacent to Point Reyes National Seashore.
Cliff House The third incarnation of this legendary San Francisco landmark features a world-class restaurant with breathtaking ocean vistas.
Point Bonita The Point Bonita Lighthouse — moved to its current spot in 1877 — stands sentinel at the edge of the continent.
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 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 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 The former lands of San Francisco mayor Adolph Sutro showcase a charming garden and the nearby ruins of his gargantuan Sutro Baths.
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 The Rock, famous for its notorious federal prison, is also known for its seabird colonies and restored gardens once tended by residents.
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 One of northern California’s most popular beaches, this vast stretch of white sand is a delight for swimmers, surfers, and picnickers.
Fort Funston Visitors enjoy beach walks and the spectacle of hang gliders taking to the sky over windsculpted dunes.
Lands End This park has been revitalized in recent years with enhanced trails, gorgeous overlooks, native plants, and an acclaimed visitor center.
The Parks Conservancy’s board of trustees have been dedicated advocates for our parks. Here are their thoughts on why parks are so vital to our lives.
The pandemic has reinforced that being outdoors is food for the soul. Being outdoors has literally saved lives during the pandemic and provided the air and space people needed to simply breathe, find some joy, and remain hopeful about the future.
Charmaine Curtis
Real Estate Developer, Curtis Development
I love that parks allow us to explore the various aspects of mind and body. And I love parks because they offer the aesthetic—to appreciate nature and the beauty that surrounds us, especially in a place as special as the Bay Area.
Luis Herrera
Former San Francisco City Librarian
Being in nature feels like coming home to me, whether I’m revisiting a favorite park like Crissy Field, or discovering the magic of a place for the first time. I want all people to come home to our parks and feel like they belong.
Jennie Lehua Watson
Civic Leader
Meet all our trustees. We are deeply appreciative of your love for parks and strength through the past year.
Total Support 2020: $47,682,605*
Total support to the parks, 1982–2020: $624 MILLION
Financial statements of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy are audited on an annual basis.
Copies of the complete audited financial statements are available at parksconservancy.org.
* 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, 2019–September 30, 2020, more than 6,450 volunteers and 117 unique community groups—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!