Presidio Tunnel Tops, a 14-acre elevated park in San Francisco by Field Operations, has welcomed over 5 million visitors since it opened three years ago. With the recent addition of Outpost Meadow, the park has expanded another 1.5 acres. The site, with improved accessibility, environmental enhancements, and added recreational space creates even more room for travelers and families to enjoy community gatherings and sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Situated at the northwest tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, the Presidio itself is a National Historic Landmark District and former US Army military fort of 1,480-acres within the expansive Golden Gate National Recreational Area. The land is overseen by the Presidio Trust, established by Congress in 1996, along with the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
The aptly named Presidio Tunnel Tops references the underground Presidio Parkway built in 2015 to replace Doyle Drive, a viaduct created alongside the Golden Gate Bridge in the 1930s that had become incredibly unsafe. The Tunnel Tops rest upon the underground tunnels that form the resulting section of Highway 101. The above ground area has now seen a multitude of changes, first with the parkway, then the Tunnel Tops, and now again with Outpost Meadow.
Field Operations returned to the site, drawing its attention to a former asphalt parking lot and converting it into a landscape of coastal dune and bluff habitat surrounding a grassy meadow. The permeable surfaces in the new landscape will help absorb stormwater, reducing flooding and runoff into the Bay.
“The public loves Presidio Tunnel Tops, and they’ve told us they want more,” shared Jean Fraser, Presidio Trust CEO, in a statement. “So, we’re giving them more picnic tables, BBQ grills, bike parking, shade, food trucks – and especially space for parents to relax while their kids enjoy the Outpost playground. We want even more joy in the Presidio.”
At Outpost Meadow, an expansive lawn can accommodate up to 250 people, and the picnic area can seat 240. Barbecue grills, water fountains, and large umbrellas are available for visitors’ use.
The project is one of many planned under the Presidio Forward initiative, which concentrates on the restoration of green space, revitalization of historic buildings, and enhancement of access and safety for bikers and pedestrians in the park. In addition to recreational amenities, access to the site has also improved. There are 14 new accessible parking spaces and 75 bicycle parking spots. Though the picnic tables differ in location and total shade coverage, all 25 tables are wheelchair accessible. Green features of the expansion include 23,000 native plants, as well as 4,000 drought-tolerant ornamentals providing a critical coastal habitat for local wildlife.
The latest project was funded by a grant from the California Natural Resources Agency’s “Outdoors for All” initiative, and the design was informed by a public outreach process that included public workshops, online surveys, and community meetings. The construction proceeded amid threats from the Trump administration to drastically shrink the Presidio Trust.
The park celebrated its grand opening and the coinciding third anniversary of the Tunnel Tops on July 19 and 20 in a laid-back celebration including performances, lawn games, and interactive art.
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