CAPITAL PROJECT PROGRAM

Shaping a Collective Vision: Designing a Tunnel Top National Park with Community

I joined the Presidio Trust to support the Design phase of a $118 million national park planned over new highway tunnels at the Golden Gate Bridge. I strategized public outreach and led city-wide engagement in collaboration with James Corner Field Operations, aligning multi-agency priorities and synthesized feedback of over 10,000+ people into actionable research. I personally documented every single form of feedback!

After 7 years of design and construction, the Presidio Tunnel Tops opened in 2022.

 
PRESIDIO TRUST
PARKS CONSERVANCY
FIELD OPERATIONS
NPS
 
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: The New Presidio Parklands Project transformed the public land above the US Route 101 highway tunnel into a 13-acre national park. Photo: Field Operations for The Presidio Trust

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: The New Presidio Parklands Project transformed the public land above the US Route 101 highway tunnel into a 13-acre national park. Photo: Field Operations for The Presidio Trust

Early in my career in 2015, I spearheaded community design programs synthesizing feedback from over 10,000+ participants at 34+ workshops to shape the future of this tunnel top parkland.

Early in my career in 2015, I spearheaded community design programs synthesizing feedback from over 10,000+ participants at 34+ workshops to shape the future of this tunnel top parkland.

STEP 1, IMAGINE: As part of a global RFP (Request for Proposal), James Corner Field Operations was selected as the Landscape Architect to execute collective imagination.

STEP 1, IMAGINE: As part of a global RFP (Request for Proposal), James Corner Field Operations was selected as the Landscape Architect to execute collective imagination.

STEP 2, DESIGN: I spoke in Mandarin and English and helped connect our agency to multi-lingual community members throughout San Francisco. Picture, a pamphlet I scanned to share how folks learned more about this park design project.

STEP 2, DESIGN: I spoke in Mandarin and English and helped connect our agency to multi-lingual community members throughout San Francisco. Picture, a pamphlet I scanned to share how folks learned more about this park design project.

Presidio Trust Design Lab schematic design review.

Presidio Trust Design Lab schematic design review.

Youth engagement and partnership at the Golden Gate Parks Conservancy.

Youth engagement and partnership at the Golden Gate Parks Conservancy.

YMCA Chinatown Mandarin-Chinese outreach.

YMCA Chinatown Mandarin-Chinese outreach.

Example of research questions.

Example of research questions.

The tunnels that lead you to the Golden Gate Bridge.

The tunnels that lead you to the Golden Gate Bridge.

A park made for and by the people.

A park made for and by the people.

 

My interview feedback example. / Video editing by Melissa Peabody.

 
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • The Presidio Trust is the lead agency for this project, directing the planning, design, and construction effort and managing community outreach and engagement.

    The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the nonprofit 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 services projects and programs.

    The National Park Service is engaged as the Manager of the adjacent parklands at Crissy Field as a partner in interpretation, visitor services, and programming.

    James Corner Field Operations is the landscape architect.