Presidio Open House Offers Sneak Peak of Upcoming Projects

Presidio of San Francisco (June 15, 2009) — More than two dozen Presidio sites will be transformed over the next year as restoration, maintenance and other projects get underway. Scattered across the park landscape, the projects will further enhance the 1,000 acres of wildflower meadows, gardens, and forest groves that comprise the Presidio’s natural areas.

The Presidio Trust is offering the park’s outdoor enthusiasts a glimpse of the array of projects at an open house this Wednesday, June 17, at 6:30 pm at the Golden Gate Club, 135 Fisher Loop in the Presidio.

“We want to let people know what they can expect to see on their walks and bike rides around the park — not only so they won’t be taken by surprise by the work, but also to get them excited about the changes and improvements they’ll see throughout the Presidio,” says Damien Raffa education and volunteer program manager with the Presidio Trust.

Among the projects to be undertaken:

Trails, Bikeways, and Overlooks: Construction of the National Cemetery Overlook will begin this summer. The Presidio’s 4th major scenic overlook will offer sweeping views across the cemetery to the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, and San Francisco Bay. Work will begin in the fall on the next major section of the Park Trail, a major north-south trail that connects Mountain Lake to Crissy Field. The final leg of the Presidio Promenade, which links the Lombard Gate to the Golden Gate Bridge, will be completed this July. Work will begin on the Lobos Creek Valley Overlook, located on the western edge of the Public Health Service Hospital site, and on a section of the Juan Bautista de Anza Trail that passes through the site.

Natural Resources: Staff and volunteers with the Presidio Nursery will plant more than 67,000 plants this year, the largest concentration of which will be in El Polin Springs where more than 19,000 seeds will be planted as part of the larger Tennessee Hollow Watershed restoration project. With seeds for over 100 species collected, the project is the most biologically diverse restoration project undertaken so far in the Presidio. Following similar surveys of bees and spiders, a year-long bat inventory will be completed this summer. Preliminary data have confirmed three bat species in the Presidio.

Forestry: As part of the ongoing Redwood reforestation project, 100 young Coast Redwoods will be planted this fall along Arguello Boulevard south of Thomas Avenue. 100 young Monterey Cypress will be planted this fall in the third phase of the Julius Kahn reforestation project. 100 young Monterey Cypress will be planted this fall in the fourth phase of the West Pacific reforestation project.

Landscape: Crews will put the finishing touches on a major expansion and upgrade of the Rob Hill Campground, San Francisco’s only overnight campground, which is scheduled to re-open in time for the 2010 season.

Park visitors are encouraged to help restore and enhance the Presidio’s natural areas. The Trust offers a broad range of weekly and monthly volunteer opportunities, everything from habitat restoration to trail maintenance and reforestation. In addition groups and organizations including businesses, churches, schools and others can schedule their own group service days. For more information on volunteering at the Presidio visit Volunteer or contact the volunteer coordinator at (415) 561-5333 or email volunteer@presidiotrust.gov.

The Presidio Trust was established by the United States Congress in 1996 to oversee the Presidio of San Francisco, an urban national park located at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. The 1,500-acre site contains expansive open space and spectacular views, a 300-acre historic forest, and rare and endangered plants and wildlife. It also comprises nearly 6 million square feet of buildings, including 469 historic structures that contribute to its status as a National Historic Landmark District.