portrait: Chris Lehnertz, President & CEOportrait: Staci Slaughter, Chair, Board of Trustees

Presidio Tunnel Tops A promise delivered

We can’t wait to stand next to you at Presidio Tunnel Tops and marvel at more than just the spectacular views. In this year of milestones, including our 40th anniversary, Presidio Tunnel Tops builds on our history towards a bright future for people in parks.

Soon we can walk from Crissy Field, a true gem 20 years after its transformation, up to the Main Post of the Presidio. Young people are already gathering at the revamped Crissy Field Center and jumping off to park connections across the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Community groups are making Presidio Tunnel Tops their own through programs like Presidio Activators and special site tours.

These park connections are all thanks to you, and that’s why we’re filled with immense gratitude for your support in this moment and across the years. Presidio Tunnel Tops and our parks are beacons for people across the region and the world, 50 years after the GGNRA was designated public land thanks to the work of Amy Meyer and others.

Thanks to park heroes like you, we have these open spaces, free and open to all, for people to create forever memories. We’ll celebrate all we’ve accomplished together at Presidio Tunnel Tops!

Chris Lehnertz
President & CEO

Staci Slaughter
Chair, Board of Trustees

The outdoors accept everyone. Mother nature has always had our back. Parks represent clean air, being around trees, making sure my daughter is safe. Parks can be painful reminders of inequities but they can also be beautiful reminders of our connection to the land and to each other.” Khafre Jay

Khafre Jay

Khafre is the founder of Hip Hop for Change, which addresses socio-economic injustices and solutions through hip hop culture. We’ve been honored to work with Khafre and the entire Presidio Activator Council, a group of Bay Area community leaders, activists, and artists. They’re developing innovative ways to incorporate art, culture, food, healing, wellness, and music at Presidio Tunnel Tops, so it feels like a welcoming and inclusive space. The council was formed by the Partnership for the Presidio.

Hear more from Khafre in our Q&A:
Khafre Jay of Hip Hop for Change Speaks on Parks, Nature, and Inclusion

Welcome to the new Crissy Field Center

In this video, get a sneak peek inside the renovated Crissy Field Center at Presidio Tunnel Tops with Frankly Jeronimo and Gilder Ramirez. See the inviting spaces that will allow us to reach thousands more young people from around the Bay Area.

Frankly is an Adventure Guide, ready to show people around the Presidio Tunnel Tops. Gilder is leading the Adventure Guide program, which will provide real-world job experience for young people. Both Frankly and Gilder are alumni of the Parks Conservancy’s Inspiring Young Emerging Leaders (I-YEL) program, which helps young people become bold leaders for parks and their communities. While the new Crissy Field Center isn’t open to the public, you can find more info on how to register for programs on our website

Parks

Join the Parks Conservancy today! parksconservancy.org

Presidio Tunnel Tops: Thanks to Our Donors

Thank You

Presidio Tunnel Tops is a gift to people and the City of San Francisco from generous donors and members of our community. Your vision helped deliver one of the largest fundraising campaigns for public open space in San Francisco history at $98 million, building on the legacy of park access started in the GGNRA 50 years ago. Thank you!

2021 Accomplishments Connecting the Past to the Future of Parks

Crissy Field is a landmark of what people can accomplish together for open space. What was once a concrete and derelict airfield “has become central to San Francisco’s identity,” according to Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House. Throughout 2021, we celebrated 20 years of Crissy Field and how it’s become a destination for all.

We welcomed Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who visited park sites across the GGNRA. At Alcatraz, Secretary Haaland marked the anniversary of the Occupation of Alcatraz Island by the Indians of All Tribes.

We were thrilled to unveil the revitalized Warming Hut in 2021, restoring a beloved destination for all who visit Crissy Field. The “Crissy Mocha” became an instant hit!

Throughout 2021, we kept our eyes on the future. After a strategic review process that included input from across our parks community, we’re excited to bring the parks to life in these key areas in 2022 and beyond:

A visitor views charts in The Big Lockup exhibit about Alcatraz and incarceration

Access to parks and community engagement

  • The Big Lockup: New, award-winning Alcatraz exhibit places the prison within the context of incarceration in the U.S., where 2.3 million people are behind bars.
  • Public library partnerships: Programs like StoryWalks and Nature Boost Fridays have helped the San Francisco Public Library increase summer program numbers from 8,000 participants to 30,000.
  • Looking ahead: Presidio Activators are co-creating programs and community opportunities at Presidio Tunnel Tops.
A smiling adventure guide points to a leaf

Youth leadership and career pathways

  • Back to the parks: We welcomed nearly 3,000 young people for a variety of in-person and virtual programs in 2021.
  • Inspiring Young Emerging Leaders (I-YEL): For the Crissy Field Center’s 20th anniversary, we surveyed more than 70 I-YEL alumni. More than 90% said I-YEL helped them gain interest in national parks and led to their further participation in social and environmental justice movements.
  • Looking ahead: We’ve been hiring Adventure Guides, who will help people navigate Presidio Tunnel Tops when it opens.

Community science and stewardship

  • Black Point historic gardens: We celebrated the reopening of this park site at Fort Mason in 2021 thanks to years of dedication from our volunteers, who removed 65 years’ worth of vegetation.
  • Protecting monarchs: With monarch butterfly numbers in decline, the One Tam partners received a $400,000 grant to invest in protection of monarch habitat.
  • Looking ahead: New phases of the Tamalpais Bee Lab and Marin Wildlife Watch projects will require more people power.
A monarch butterfly hangs on a branch of flower/fruit buds
Trees, yellow grass and buildings surrounding and relfected in Bothin Marsh

Designing for climate resilience

  • Bothin Marsh: In 2021, working with Marin County Parks, we presented a community-favored design to help this space and the Mill Valley-Sausalito Multi-use Pathway adapt to rising seas.
  • Looking ahead: Initiatives like One Tam Peak Health studies allow us to monitor, restore, and protect our local ecosystems into the future.

Meet two of our favorite park champions

Amy Meyer

Check out our Q&A with the 'Mother of the GGNRA'

Amy Meyer was crucial to the formation of the GGNRA 50 years ago. Read her words of wisdom on parks and people here

Laura Yin

She pulled off an incredible feat to support our parks

Laura Yin took it upon herself to raise money for the Parks Conservancy by running 12 half-marathons. Why? Find out

Find Out What’s Next

blue and dark orange stylized illustration of the Golden Gate Bridge, water and land, the setting sun and a flying long-necked bird illustration of a child jumping into the air illustration of a child jumping into the air with arms up illustration of a child jumping into the air with arms and legs outstretched

Help deepen the impact of connecting people, parks, and partners across the Golden Gate through our People in Parks Fund.

Contact Sarah Charukesnant for more information.

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 among the most-visited national park units in the country in 2021.

  • 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.

  • Smiling male and female volunteers in the 20's prune plants in a mesh-covered growing area
  • A smiling group of men and women of many ages pose for a group photo among moist green ferns and trees in a forest
  • A female volunteer smiles as she sweeps a deck near redwood trees as other volunteers pause to sit on nearby benches
  • Standing behind a GGNPC table on the grass at Crissy Field, a smiling female volunteer in straw hat and sunglasses holds a clipboard and speaks to a couple and their dog

Big thanks to our volunteers!

We have deep gratitude for our dedicated volunteers, especially those of you who stuck with our modified programs through a global pandemic. In 2021, we welcomed 1,790 volunteers who served a total of 47,049 hours in the parks. We're continuing to ramp up volunteer programs in 2022 and look forward to seeing you out there in the parks.

Financials

Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Fiscal Year 2021 Support to the Parks

Total Support 2021: $62,577,260*

  • Park Interpretation and Visitor Services
    $12,432,644 (20%)
  • Park Enhancements, Restoration, and Stewardship
    $46,395,109 (74%)
  • Youth, Volunteer, and Community Programs
    $3,749,507 (6%)

Total support to the Parks, 1982–2021 $686 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.

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