PERSPECTIVES ON THE PRESIDIO TUNNEL TOPS
PRESIDIO
“T
TUNNEL
TOPS
he country is going through
a renaissance, exploring how
Perspectives on the Presidio Tunnel Tops
best to utilize urban industrial structures for park space. We have seen the High Line become a model in the park-
“A
t YMCAs throughout
San Francisco, we see the
building community, and
tremendous impact our local
we applaud the city of San
national park has on our youth,
Francisco for providing an
serving as a classroom, a lab,
innovative example of urban
a playground, and a place for
industrial re-use as highway
kids of all ages to explore. With
tunnels serve as a platform for
its innovative playscape and
“I
new parklands. The Presidio
new educational facilities, the
Tunnel Tops will add further
Presidio Tunnel Tops adds
impactful benefits of time in
value to the city, and will be a
unprecedented resources
nature, San Francisco has
destination of universal appeal.”
that will expand healthy
—Robert Hammond, Co-Founder
opportunities for all youth
n recognition of the truly
adopted a Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights—acknowledging the benefit to young people of parks and nature within our City. The Presidio Tunnel Tops project will support the goals of
& Executive Director, Friends of the High Line
“T
throughout the Bay Area to reach their full potential.” —Chuck Collins, President and
he Presidio Tunnel Tops
CEO, YMCA of San Francisco
“W
this charter by creating a safe
reflects the innovation and
and welcoming space for kids to
inclusiveness that is San Francisco.
learn, play, and grow in nature.
This is a world-class project
philanthropic partners in this
Through its innovative new
offering new 360-degree views
historic effort to create a new,
'playscape' and programming,
of the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay,
landmark public place for the
offered in partnership with
and City skyline, as well as civic
people of San Francisco and
community groups and schools
gathering spaces above what was
across the City, the Presidio
once a freeway. When complete,
Tunnel Tops will help to ensure
it will be another pride point for
that every child in San Francisco
San Francisco.”
has the opportunity to engage
—Lee Blitch, Interim President &
in healthy outdoor play and
CEO, San Francisco Chamber of
discovery.”
Commerce
—Hydra Mendoza-McDonnell, Senior Advisor on Education and
e are honored to be
visitors from near and far. We have every confidence that the Presidio Tunnel Tops will be a park destination that gives people space to recharge and reflect, and provides young people a place where they learn how to become more involved global citizens.”
Family Services to Mayor Ed Lee,
—Lauren B. Dachs, President,
and Vice-President, SFUSD Board
S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation
of Education
PRESIDIO
TUNNEL
TOPS
“T
he San Francisco Public
Library enjoyed a wonderful
partnership with the Parks Conservancy, National Park
“T
he Presidio Tunnel Tops
beautifully complements San Francisco's dynamic park and
Service, and Presidio Trust in the summer of 2016, delivering programs that celebrated the NPS Centennial while engaging
recreation system by adding one
new park visitors and library
more stellar public space to our
patrons. The partnership
constellation of parks and offering
brought together aspects of
our diverse community new ways
wellness, exploration, literacy,
to explore our iconic Golden
learning, and recreation—all
Gate.”
crucial to our children. The
—Phil Ginsburg, General
Conservancy, NPS, and Presidio
Manager, San Francisco
Trust all have a proven track
Recreation and Park Department
"W
ith groundbreaking
projects commissioned for San Francisco’s Presidio, Fort Point, and Alcatraz Island, FOR-SITE Foundation’s artistic collaborations on national park land invite the public
record of innovative outreach and programming, which will ensure that the Presidio Tunnel Tops become true parklands for all.” —Luis Herrera, City Librarian, San Francisco Public Library
“J
ust like public media offer
“T
his dramatic new parkland
and civic space will take a
proud position among our city’s iconic places, structures, and monuments—landmarks that are cherished by residents and visitors alike. Located in one of the most beautiful locations in the world, the Presidio Tunnel Tops represents our city’s spirit of creativity, innovation, and philanthropy and is sure to find a special place in the hearts of all who experience these new parklands.” —Ed Lee, Mayor of San Francisco
“T
he Presidio Tunnel Tops
is a new public space that will be free and accessible to all, ensuring that our city’s most breathtaking views belong to
to explore the natural and
a free service that enriches our
cultural resources of public
community, the Presidio Tunnel
parks and historic places, while
Tops will offer a free place that
encouraging fresh thinking
enhances our daily lives. This
and important dialogue about
spectacular, new common ground
relevant contemporary issues.
at the Presidio will offer parklands
Walking the meandering paths
opportunity to experience our
celebrating our multicultural
and taking in the breathtaking
great parks. Our democracy
heritage, offering nature at our
vistas of the Presidio Tunnel Tops
relies on the protection of
doorstep, and welcoming all to a
will stimulate the imagination,
commons such as this.”
place for all.”
and inspire people of all ages and walks of life to contemplate the meaning of—and their relationship to—place.” —Cheryl Haines, Founding Executive Director, FOR-SITE Foundation
—John Boland, President & CEO, KQED
everyone. The Tunnel Tops will also host educational programs to reach low-income children and families who may not otherwise have as much
—Daniel Lurie, CEO and Founder, Tipping Point Community
“T
he Presidio Tunnel Tops will
“I
be a remarkable place to visit and
t’s been my pleasure to work
take in the whole sweep of San
with the Presidio Trust, Parks
Francisco. With its beauty, vistas,
Conservancy, and National Park
and places to gather, it offers a
Service on our shared goals
unique opportunity to share in the experience of a truly uncommon space."
—Michael Tilson Thomas, Music Director, San Francisco Symphony
"I
“W
orking with the Parks
Conservancy in 2012, I was honored to help bring the 75th
anniversary celebration of the Golden Gate Bridge to the people of the Bay Area—and now the Presidio Tunnel Tops
think of national parks as
not just America’s best idea, but America’s best outdoor
will offer the premier public gathering space to view that iconic landmark. With the Presidio’s rich human and
classrooms. The youth programs
natural history surrounding
within the Presidio and Golden
these new contemporary
Gate National Parks have
parklands, the Tunnel Tops will
become a national model for
be a magical destination for Bay
reaching youth of all ages and
Area residents and beyond.”
backgrounds and providing transformative learning experiences. The new youth campus at the Presidio Tunnel Tops will take that track record of success to the next level of broad and sustainable impact for young people of all ages.” —Milton Chen, Senior Fellow and Executive Director Emeritus, The George Lucas Educational Foundation; Chair, Education Committee, National Park System Advisory Board; Author “Education Nation“
—Larry Baer, CEO, San Francisco Giants
“B
oys & Girls Clubs of San
of access, inclusion, fun, and stewardship of these special places. The Presidio Tunnel Tops will carry forward that legacy at Golden Gate as a place that is warm, welcoming, and delivers culturally relevant programs to a broad diversity of visitors.” —Rue Mapp, Founder and CEO, Outdoor Afro
“B
eauty is found not just
in museums and cultural institutions, but in the outdoor realm as well. SFMOMA’s partnership with the parks in 2013 brought Mark di Suvero’s powerful steel sculptures to Crissy Field—and attracted new
Francisco is pleased to support
audiences to the national park,
projects that make San Francisco
and to modern art. The Presidio
a great place to live for kids and
Tunnel Tops will also bring new
families of all backgrounds. With
communities to the park for its
efforts already in place to make
beauty, refuge, and civic energy.”
the Presidio and the Golden
—Neal Benezra, Director,
Gate National Recreation Area
SFMOMA
accessible to all youth, including partnerships with trusted youth service providers from across the city, we believe the Presidio Tunnel Tops will be a great space for all children to explore freely, discover boldly, and dream big … in a world-class setting.”
—Rob Connolly, President, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco
“O
“U
rban parks are central to
utdoor spaces—that are
available to all—are vital to the
the livability of cities across the
health of a community and our
country and around the globe.
physical and mental wellbeing.
The Presidio Tunnel Tops will be
The Presidio Tunnel Tops will ensure that people from every
“T
he Presidio Tunnel Tops
represent, in one incredibly
corner of the city can access the
beautiful location, the very
very best place in San Francisco,
essence of the San Francisco Bay
and thus reap the manifold
Area: the embrace of a daring
benefits of exercise, fresh air, and
and innovative vision—articulated
time in nature."
through world-class design and
—Sam Hawgood, Chancellor
couched in the natural beauty that
and Former Dean of the School
is synonymous with our region.
of Medicine, University of
As a new signature landmark
California San Francisco
for the entire Bay Area, this
“A
destination park is sure to delight,
a bold and dynamic addition to our country’s long heritage of urban parks. It will enliven the Bay Area with its embrace of nature and culture—and as a place to enjoy the unique character, people, and spirit of the San Francisco Bay Area.” —Douglas Blonsky, President & CEO, Central Park Conservancy
“M
ore than ever, we
guaranteed to deliver economic
need places, programs, and
about a community coming
benefit, and built to last.”
opportunities where we can
together to create a park for all.
—Jim Wunderman, President &
That same spirit of community
CEO, Bay Area Council
t its heart, Crissy Field is
engagement is leading the creation of the Presidio Tunnel Tops. We are looking forward to
“A
come together as a community— where all are welcomed, served, and truly feel they have a place to belong. The principle
project like the Presidio
of equitable and democratic
Tunnel Tops exemplifies
the many ways this new parkland
access, a cornerstone of the
why San Francisco is one of
will connect Crissy Field to the
Presidio Tunnel Tops project,
the most compelling visitor
rest of the Presidio. Enhancing
will ensure that people from
destinations in the world.
every background can enjoy the
the Crissy Field Center will open
The 360 degree views of the
benefits of this public space,
up new opportunities for young
Golden Gate Bridge, Bay, and
time outdoors, and meaningful
people and their families to make
city skyline are breathtaking
time with their family and
the most of this remarkable park.”
alongside an expanse of new
friends connecting with one
—Ira S. Hirschfield, President,
gardens and hiking trails—all
another and nature—where
minutes from downtown. These
the intention of a community
new parklands will proudly
space is truly reflected by all
support the city’s appeal to
members of the community.”
Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
visitors from across the globe and enhance the economic benefits of tourism that are so vital to our city.” —Joe D’Alessandro, President & CEO, San Francisco Travel
—José González, Founder and Director, Latino Outdoors
PRESIDIO
“L
TUNNEL
TOPS
“I
ike the Golden Gate Bridge
they look upon, the Presidio Tunnel Tops will beckon and dazzle visitors from across
have worked in close
partnership with Crissy Field
“T
he Presidio Tunnel Tops is
Center for many years and believe that expanding the
the globe just as they will for
one of the greatest San Francisco
Center's facilities and services
San Franciscans. Whether
civic projects of our time. It
would greatly support SFUSD's
our visitors come to gather,
embodies the best of community,
environmental science goals
celebrate, or recreate, they
planning, sustainability, and
and ambitions. The Center has
will experience the best that
good government, offering
proven to be a worthy partner
San Francisco has to offer—our
San Franciscans access to the
in supporting SFUSD educators
glorious vistas, our fascinating
most incredible views of our
and students."
history, our boundless horizon,
Bay and a place to escape the
—Sarah Delaney, Science
and our warm embrace of all
daily hustle and bustle of urban
Program Administrator, San
people. As a place of freedom
life. I am proud of SPUR's early
Francisco Unified School District
and welcome, grounded in our
role to create this vision and
inclusive principles, the Tunnel
congratulate the Presidio Trust,
Tops will be the new emblem
Parks Conservancy, and NPS on
for the San Francisco of the 21st century.” —Charlotte Mailliard Shultz, Chief of Protocol, City and County of San Francisco
“I
t's very clear that play
is essential to human
development, and that time outdoors is a boon to overall wellbeing. With its learning landscape for free and unstructured play, and its trails and green spaces, the Presidio Tunnel Tops perfectly fits the prescription. As an antidote to
fulfilling it.”
“T
he Tunnel Tops presents
opportunities for Bay Area youth, especially those of diverse
—Gabe Metcalf, President and
backgrounds, to see themselves
CEO, SPUR
in the staff and leadership of
"R
epresenting San Francisco
our parklands, and also to see a career path in the parks and
in Congress, I have been so
public lands fields."
proud to advance the Presidio’s
—Odette Alcazaren-Keeley,
conversion to a national park
Director, National Media
over two decades, including
Network of New America Media
bringing hundreds of millions in funding to the Presidio Parkway. Now, we have an extraordinary opportunity to complete this capstone project of the Presidio’s post-to-park
hectic urban life, it is sure to
transformation.”
Please visit
provide immeasurable physical
—Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman
PresidioTunnelTops.org
and mental benefits to our
and Democratic Leader
for additional perspectives
community.” —Nooshin Razani, Pediatrician and Nature Champion, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland
from our community.