Presidio Tunnel Tops: A New Urban Parkland In San Francisco

While open space is difficult to find in San Francisco, it turns out it is possible to find room for new urban parkland in the Californian city. Dubbed Presidio Tunnel Tops, the park has been built right on top of a busy highway tunnel – the Presidio Parkway. This long-awaited space has recently opened to the public and can be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

Presidio Tunnel Tops in San Francisco

San Francisco is crammed over the hills and coastline of California with little space available for anything new. However, this didn’t stop urban developers from making new urban parkland in the city. This ingenious new federal parkland has been dubbed Presidio Tunnel Tops for a good reason. It spreads right on top of a busy highway tunnel, the Presidio Parkway.

The parkland has been years in the making, but finally, the 14-acre park has become an urban oasis, offering panoramic views of the city’s famous Golden Gate Bridge. James Corner Field Operations were the designers behind the new park and was also behind the popular High Line in New York City. That project also repurposed unused space in the Big Apple into an urban escape and an effective way to connect parts of the city.

In a statement made via a representative from the Partnership for the Presidio, James Corner said, “Great cities have great parks, and Presidio Tunnel Tops is a new green centerpiece in the context of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the world-class city of San Francisco.” he added:

The iconic setting is perfect for transforming highway infrastructure into a vibrant new public space.

About the new urban parkland

Meanwhile, the new Tunnel Tops will form part of the Presidio of San Francisco, which was formerly used as a military base. Meanwhile, the Presidio is part of the sprawling Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The area consists of 80,000 acres of parkland, stretching across various locations north and south of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Tunnel Top features

Besides giving spectacular Golden Gate views, the urban park has plans for other features for locals and tourists. Tunnel Tops connects two of the four main areas of the Presidio – the main post section to the Crissy Field waterfront area below. Here visitors can enjoy the beaches and a lovely 2.3-mile waterfront promenade.

Meanwhile, what was once a raised freeway has now been replaced with paths connecting the two for the first time in several decades.

Meanwhile, key areas of Presidio Tunnel Tops include the following:

1. Presidio Plaza

This serves as an arrival point and gathering place and will also be the hub for the PresidiGo Shuttle – a free service to and around the park.

2. Cliff Walk and Overlooks

The Cliff Walk heads along the edge of the bluff for around 30 feet above Crissy Field and the bay. Along the way, sculpted driftwood benches, crafted from fallen Presidio Cypress trees offer a comfortable seat. Meanwhile, the walk also features three overlooks, one offering views across to Alcatraz.

3. Presidio Steps

These are terraces to connect the Cliff Walk to the Outpost, a two-acre play area for children. Meanwhile, the steps face the Golden Gate Bridge, offering dramatic views.

4. Field Station

The Field Station allows youngsters to explore the natural and cultural environment of the Presidio via the “lens of science, art, and imagination.”

It was the generous donations to the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy that raised $98 million towards the cost of building the park. Meanwhile, overall, the park cost $118 million, with the Presidio Trust adding $20 million to the project.