The Presidio Tunnel Tops Project in San Francisco
The Presidio Tunnel Tops project is a new James Corner Field Operations attraction built on top of the Presidio Parkways Tunnels in their national park site in San Francisco. It offers amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge and features 180 varieties of plants native to the Presidio .
In 1993, San Francisco Bay Area leaders replaced the seismically unsafe highway to the Golden Gate Bridge by bringing the road to ground level and covering it with tunnels. This new 5.5 hectare attraction connects the historic centre of the Presidio to the park’s Crissy Field waterfront, with gathering and picnic areas, lookouts, play spaces, a campfire circle, and spaces to walk in nature.
The Presidio Tunnel Tops project is a new James Corner Field Operations attraction built in San Francisco.
The project represents hundreds of hours of community engagement, with more than 10,000 participants shaping the final design of the site, and will open to all on 17 July.
Jean Fraser, CEO of the Presidio Trust, says the project, “will provide greater access to fresh air, beautiful views, gardens, and gathering spaces where people can come to relax, play and connect with each other. Having a national park so close to downtown is part of what makes San Francisco great, and we hope it will inspire new visitors to discover the many things the Presidio, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and other national parks have to offer.”
The new 5.5 hectare attraction connects the historic centre of the Presidio to the park’s Crissy Field waterfront.
Presidio Plaza acts as an arrival point and gathering space. Next to both the visitor and transit centres, it boasts bay views and adjacent gardens, acting as the social and connective centre of the park.
The Campfire Circle offers a traditional national park experience. Next to the plaza, it features a central gas fire pit and seating for up to 75 people, all in a garden setting with large boulders, trees and shrubs for wind protection.
Grasses and perennials frame the Golden Gate Meadow, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay and Marin Headlands.
The Cliff Walk follows the sinuous edge of the bluff, with sculpted driftwood benches made from fallen Presidio Cypress trees. It runs along the upper edge of the embankment offering 360-degree panoramic views, and connecting the major overlooks and gathering areas across the site from east to west.
The Cliff Walk is connected to the Outpost below through a series of lawn viewing terraces that step down the steep hillside facing the Golden Gate Bridge, known as the Presidio Steps. These terraces are set amongst native bluff planting that offers wind-protection.
Inspired by the Presidio’s natural and cultural history, a two-acre outdoor play area named the Outpost is immersed in native habitat. The playscape is based on ‘beneficial risk’, designed to help children with independence and self-confidence. Its features are made of natural elements such as wood, stone and water, and cater for toddlers all the way to 13-year-olds.
The project represents hundreds of hours of community engagement, with more than 10,000 participants shaping the final design.
The Courtyard outdoor gathering space for events is bordered by the Field Station, the Learning Labs and the Crissy Field Centre. It’s flexible, featuring an outdoor BBQ area with picnic tables and planters.
Laura Joss, Golden Gate National Recreation Area General Superintendent, says the Presidio Tunnel Tops, “will connect the Presidio’s Main Post and Crissy Field for a unique experience with amazing views of the Golden Gate, bay, and downtown skyline. This re-purposed 14-acre site will provide many interactive educational and recreational opportunities to millions of local and international visitors.”
