Presidio Earns Prestigious Green Flag Award for Fifth Year

San Francisco, CA (January 24, 2024) – The Presidio has today been honored with the prestigious Green Flag Award for the fifth year running. The award is the most universally recognized international standard of quality for parks and green spaces.

The iconic national park site within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area remains the only park in the United States to be granted this status, along with over 2,500 winners across 17 countries around the globe. Applicants in Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Scandinavia, and the United Arab Emirates all work towards the same extensive criteria to demonstrate their parks and green spaces are meeting the highest possible standards of management and maintenance for the benefit of people and planet.

“We are so honored to maintain this recognition from our international community of park makers,” said Michael Boland, chief park officer for the Presidio Trust. “We are grateful to share the values of providing access to nature for all and striving to create a healthier planet.”

The Presidio first earned the Green Flag Award in 2019 and has since maintained its status. In January 2023, it received its annual assessment by a professional judge who inspected the park’s facilities for quality, condition, and ongoing maintenance. They also reviewed community engagement practices and the ongoing progress towards biodiversity, environmental sustainability, and preservation of historical resources.

In recent years, the Presidio has seen major improvements completed such as the Presidio Tunnel Tops, Quartermaster Reach Marsh, and Battery Bluff, inclusive outreach to underrepresented communities, and operational projects which ensure the Presidio’s preservation as a national park site in perpetuity.

Carl McClean, international development manager for the Green Flag Award said, “The Presidio continues to lead the way in the parks sector in the United States by adopting this internationally recognized standard and has now inspired others in the U.S. to apply in 2024. From the volunteer stewards to the Presidio GO Shuttle drivers – all of you make this park a fantastic place to visit, work and live!”

Founded in 1996 in the United Kingdom, the aim of the Green Flag Award is to ensure that everyone has access to a quality green space to enable healthy lifestyles and stronger communities. To see a full list of Green Flag Award winning parks, visit www.greenflagaward.org/award-winners/

About the Presidio and the Presidio Trust

The Presidio is one of America’s most visited national park sites, located within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2022. Spanning 1,500 acres next to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, the Presidio is among the most biologically diverse parks in America. Historically a home to native peoples and a military post under three flags, its facilities have been reinvented as museums, restaurants, hotels, homes, and offices. The Presidio Trust is the federal agency that stewards the Presidio, in partnership with the National Park Service and with support from the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. The Trust sustains the Presidio by leasing homes and workplaces and offering visitor amenities. Learn more at presidio.gov.

About the Green Flag Award

The Green Flag Award is a non-profit international accreditation program that recognizes and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces. The Green Flag Award is managed by the UK environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under license from the UK Government Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and delivered in partnership with our network of national operators around the world.

To find out more, or apply for an Award, in whichever country you are based, explore the Green Flag Award website: www.greenflagaward.org or alternatively click here for a contact form.

About “Keep Britain Tidy”

Keep Britain Tidy is a leading UK environmental charity that cares for the environment on your doorstep. They work to improve public space, eliminate littering, and reduce waste. They run programs including Eco-Schools, Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces and the Blue Flag/Seaside Awards for beaches. To find out more about Keep Britain Tidy, our programs and campaigns visit www.keepbritaintidy.org.