Events & Announcements

Presidio Tunnel Tops Opening to All This July!

The most anticipated visitor attraction ever planned for the Presidio of San Francisco – Presidio Tunnel Tops – now has an official opening date. The new national park destination welcomes all visitors starting Sunday, July 17, 2022, revealing a spectacular San Francisco attraction for Bay Area locals and visitors from around the world.

Thoughtfully designed by James Corner Field Operations, the firm behind New York’s High Line, the 14 acres of new parkland at the heart of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area will feature scenic overlooks, trails, picnic areas, and gathering spaces with stunning bridge and city views, surrounded by gardens and meadows that include 180 varieties of plants native to the Presidio. The Transit Center and Visitor Center make the site accessible and welcoming, and new food options, a pavilion, and a campfire circle are located nearby.

A special highlight of Presidio Tunnel Tops is the Outpost—a two-acre nature play area where kids can have unforgettable adventures by swinging, crawling, and climbing on play structures that reflect elements of the Presidio and are built from fallen tree trunks, boulders, and other natural materials. The renovated Crissy Field Center and new Field Station—an indoor spot where kids explore the Presidio through art, science, or simply their imagination—will help engage people of all ages in self-guided and programmed activities.

Presidio Tunnel Tops is the result of a decade of community input and consultation with community organizations, health leaders, and park planners with the goal of making national park experiences easily accessible to all. It was made possible by generous funding from donors to the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy through a $98 million capital campaign, which was completed in 2019.

Building on the community-driven design, Partnership for the Presidio formed the Presidio Activator Council, comprised of Bay Area community leaders, activists, and artists representing communities historically underrepresented in national parks. The Council will develop innovative ways to incorporate art, culture, food, healing, wellness, and music into Presidio Tunnel Tops for opening season, so it feels like a welcoming and inclusive space.

View the full press release to learn more!

What's Happening in the Field This May & June?

National Park Service (NPS) and partner staff are conducting fieldwork in parks in a manner that's consistent with health mandates from the relevant local and state governments.

San Francisco Bay Area Network May & June Monitoring

What We're Monitoring	Golden Gate National Recreation Area	John Muir National Historic Site	Pinnacles National Park	Point Reyes National Seashore
Harbor Seals	✓			✓
Landbirds				✓
Northern Spotted Owls	✓			✓
Falcons			✓
Overwintering Snowy Plovers	✓
Breeding Snowy Plovers				✓
Coho Smolts	✓			✓
Rocky Intertidal	✓			✓
Invasive Plants	✓	✓	✓	✓
Plant Communities	✓		✓	✓
Water Quality	✓	✓	✓	✓
Streamflow	✓		✓	✓

Staff are following new safety precautions to mitigate risks of COVID-19 infections. NPS and partner staff will adjust field activities accordingly if and when local and state health mandates require.

For more information

• Contact San Francisco Bay Area Network Program Manager Jena Hickey

See more from the Bay Area Nature & Science Blog