Twenty-five years ago, Bay Area leaders, urban planners, and citizens were faced with replacing seismically unsafe Doyle Drive that divided the Presidio. Thanks to the vision of landscape architect Michael Painter, the elegant at-grade Presidio Parkway is nearly complete, creating 14 acres of new Presidio parkland above two tunnels – and allowing the Presidio’s waterfront to be reconnected to its historic core. Tunnel Tops was on display in The Studio from January 16 to February 21, 2018.
Presidio Tunnel Tops is an exhibition tracing the genesis of the design for these new parklands in one of the most stunning locations in the world. Beginning with a request for proposals from design firms around the world, this complex project has been developed through in-depth consultation with subject specialists and input from the public.
James Corner Field Operations – the firm behind New York’s High Line – was selected as the lead designer in 2014. For the next year, staff engaged in a public outreach effort that helped shape the design. Groundbreaking is anticipated in 2018.
The Presidio Tunnel Tops will be a destination where visitors can connect with nature, enjoy the outdoors, and be inspired by 360-degree views. For its Marin neighbors, it will create a new view of the Golden Gate, offering recreational opportunities for families and enlivening the journey downtown. In short, it will be a welcoming civic place for all.
The exhibition includes images of the five original team submissions; renderings of the “before and after” views from key spots in the park; and highlights of the current design. In addition to the acreage atop the tunnels, the Tunnel Tops site will feature Playscape, an outdoor area for play amidst the coastal dunes that will occupy 2.5 acres of the Youth Campus, home of the Crissy Field Center. Filmed interviews with project participants and a summary of “what we learned” from the community engagement process will also be featured.
This exhibition at the Marin Art and Garden Center was presented through the generosity of the Presidio Trust and its staff. Special thanks to Michael Boland, Chief of Park Development & Operations, and Noreen Hughes, Project Manager.
The Presidio Trust is the lead agency for the Presidio Tunnel Tops Project, directing the planning, design, and construction effort and managing community outreach and engagement. The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the non-profit partner to the Trust and the National Park Service, serves as the philanthropic and community engagement partner and supports park restoration and enhancement, education, and visitor service projects and programs. The National Park Service is engaged as the manager of the adjacent parklands at Crissy Field and as a partner in interpretation, visitor services, and programming.
