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Illustration of the future lawn at Outpost Meadow. Credit: James Corner Field Operations.

Outpost Meadow

We’re expanding Presidio Tunnel Tops to include a new picnic area and green gathering space.

Construction Begins in Mid-September

In mid-September 2023, the Outpost Meadow project begins with the removal of a small, non-historic former refrigerator building that’s attached to the northeast corner of Sports Basement (which was a commissary when the Presidio was a U.S. Army post). Don’t worry – Sports Basement isn’t going anywhere. Both it and the Outpost playground will remain open, and parking will be available. See below for details.
We’re expanding Presidio Tunnel Tops to offer more of what you’ve told us you need – picnic and gathering space for family and friends.

We’ll create Outpost Meadow by transforming a 1.5-acre section of the parking lot next to Sports Basement into a gathering space with bay and bridge views.

It will include shaded wheelchair-accessible picnic tables, grills, a lawn for relaxation and play, bike parking, water fountains, and access to Presidio Pop Up food trucks.

Construction begins in September 2023. The completed picnic area opens in late summer 2025. Sports Basement and the Outpost playground will be open during construction, and parking will remain available. When completed, the Outpost Meadow area will include about the same number of designated parking spaces.

We’re delighted to create a welcoming and comfortable place for families and friends to enjoy the park.

Making Outpost Meadow at Presidio Tunnel Tops

We’re building on the success of Presidio Tunnel Tops by adding more space and amenities to help visitors enjoy a great day in the park.

Before view of the Outpost Meadow site as seen from Veterans Overlook.
Before and after view of the Outpost Meadow site as seen from Presidio Tunnel Tops.

Designed with Community Input

Presidio Tunnel Tops was created following years of planning. The Presidio Trust, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and National Park Service hosted public workshops around San Francisco and invited online comments to learn what would make the national park site welcoming for everyone. More than 10,000 people participated. 

Outpost Meadow provides more of what we heard visitors needed, like shaded picnic areas. It will also fill in gaps we’ve seen since Presidio Tunnel Tops opened by adding more bike parking and places for groups to gather.

Plan view of the Outpost Meadow project area.
“From above” view of the Outpost Meadow site when it’s complete.

Supporting Nature & the Environment

Outpost Meadow will have big environmental benefits. We’re converting 1.5-acres from asphalt into a permeable surface with coastal habitat for native plants and animals. That means the land can absorb water, reducing flooding during storms. The project will also improve water quality in San Francisco Bay by redirecting a portion of the stormwater away from storm drains and into on-site retention basins. 

Outpost Meadow Features
  • Accessible picnic tables, benches, and grills 
  • Lawn to relax and play 
  • Bike parking
  • Access to Presidio Pop Up food trucks 
  • Open space + natural habitat 
  • About the same level of designated parking spaces at completion

PROJECT UPDATE: FALL 2023

The Outpost Meadow project begins in September with the removal of a small, non-historic building on the northeast side of Sports Basement.

An image showing the location of Building 653 next to Sports Basement at Crissy Field.
Building 653 is shown in yellow

In mid-September 2023, the Outpost Meadow project begins with the removal of a small, non-historic former refrigerator warehouse. This building is located at the northeast corner of Sports Basement, which was a commissary when the Presidio was a U.S. Army post.

Don’t worry – Sports Basement isn’t going anywhere. Both it and the Outpost playground will remain open, and parking will be available. The demolition will not affect the operating hours of either destination.

It will take just a couple of weeks for the small structure to come down. Then, over the following months we’ll repair the exterior of Sports Basement and add new designated parking spaces on the north side of the building.

These early steps get us ready to break ground on the Outpost Meadow picnic area in early summer 2024. We expect to welcome visitors to the completed Outpost Meadow in late summer 2025. If you have any questions, please email at presidio@presidiotrust.gov.

Outpost Meadow Design

Illustration: Birds-Eye view of Outpost Meadow looking north
Birds-Eye view of Outpost Meadow looking north.
Illustration: Birds-Eye view of Outpost Meadow looking east
Birds-Eye view of Outpost Meadow looking east.
Carousel image
Outpost Meadow as seen from Veterans Overlook.

Questions about Outpost Meadow

If you have a question about the Outpost Meadow project, please contact us at presidio@presidiotrust.gov.

Main Parade Lawn and Montgomery Street Barracks. Photo by Charity Vargas.