Presidio Taking it to the Streets

Presidio of San Francisco (August 28, 2008) — The Presidio is bringing its trails and outdoor adventures to the streets of San Francisco this weekend. As part of the city’s Sunday Streets program, the Presidio Trust is creating an interactive park experience at the Ferry Building Plaza that will include a mock trail simulating the Presidio’s great outdoors.

“The mayor’s program celebrates health and recreation in San Francisco. As a sponsor of Sunday Streets, we’re excited to tell the community about the national park in their backyard,” said Allison Stone, an environmental planner with the Presidio Trust who’s helping to implement the park’s aggressive trails expansion program. “With miles of trails and bike lanes and nearly 1,000 acres of open space, the Presidio has so many opportunities to explore and enjoy.”

The Presidio boasts a dozen major trails criss-crossing the park from the bay to the bluffs, and from the city to the Golden Gate Bridge. Perfect for bike riding, a morning run, or a leisurely stroll, each trail reveals a different aspect of the Presidio’s character and history. Scenic overlooks draw visitors to breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin headlands, the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco skyline. Improvements now underway will nearly double the Presidio’s trail system over the next 3-5 years.

The Presidio is also home to the only overnight group campground within San Francisco. A little-known treasure, Rob Hill Campground sits atop the Presidio’s highest point, overlooking Baker Beach and the Pacific. The campground is also the backdrop for the Camping at the Presidio program, which provides overnight camping experiences for children and youth who might not otherwise have the opportunity to visit a national park. A gift from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund has made it possible to revitalize Rob Hill Campground and expand the trail system. The campground improvements will be ready in time for the 2009 season.

In addition to the trails system, the Presidio Sunday Streets display will showcase other indoor and outdoor healthy amenities, such as playing fields, beaches, swimming pools, and playgrounds. Also, many of the 200 organizations that call the Presidio home offer fun and healthy ways to experience the park. For those who want to give something back, the Presidio offers multiple opportunities to volunteer.

Come be a part of the Presidio’s interactive trail experience during San Francisco’s Sunday Streets celebration this Sunday, August 31 and Sunday, September 14 from 9 am to 1 pm at the Ferry Building Plaza. Or visit to learn how to visit on your own.

Sunday Streets is a pilot program that will bring free and fun physical activity space to San Francisco neighborhoods Sunday mornings this summer and fall. These Sunday morning activities will create a route for thousands of local families, kids and adults, to walk, jog, bike and take part in group exercise events along the route. Sunday Streets is an innovative way to bring open space to neighborhoods that currently lack such space and to demonstrate the benefits of increasing recreational opportunities in San Francisco.

The Presidio Trust was established by the United States Congress in 1996 to manage the Presidio of San Francisco, a former army base located at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. The 1,500-acre site contains the infrastructure of a small city as well as expansive open space, a 300-acre historic forest, spectacular views, and rare and endangered plants and wildlife. It comprises nearly 6 million square feet of buildings, including 469 historic structures that contribute to its status as a National Historic Landmark District, making it unlike any other national park. In establishing the Trust, Congress mandated that it make the park financially self-sufficient by 2013. The Trust is the only federal agency with this mandate.”