Presidio Tunnel Tops Links San Francisco Parks Above Seven Lanes of Traffic

Encompassing 14 acres, the project spans a major parkway and includes a two-acre children’s play area, trails, several overlooks, and gathering spaces from picnic areas to a campfire circle.

1 minute read

July 18, 2022, 11:00 AM PDT

By Clement Lau


People walking on a concrete pathway at Presidio Tunnel Tops with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background

Presidio Tunnel Tops / Presidio Tunnel Tops, San Francisco

Construction of the Presidio Tunnel Tops is a complicated effort that began in 2018. The $98-million project is funded primarily through philanthropic donations raised by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy’s capital campaign. The park was designed by James Corner Field Operations, which is best known for New York’s High Line.

With an area of about 14 acres, the project spans over Presidio Parkway, a major highway, and includes miles of underground utilities and infrastructure. It offers a two-acre children’s play area, trails, several overlooks, and gathering spaces from picnic areas to a campfire circle. The project also involves a seismic upgrade to a historic building to serve as the home for Crissy Field Center, two new learning labs, and a public Field Station for youth and their families. Mountains of soil were imported to grow beautiful new gardens planted with nearly 200,000 native and drought-tolerant plants.  

The project will open to the public starting Sunday, July 17, 2022 and is set to become the latest attraction for both residents and visitors to the Bay Area.

Saturday, July 16, 2022 in CNN

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

"Altadena - Not For Sale" yard sign in front of burned down house after Eaton Fire in Altadena, California in January 2025.

Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations

Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.

July 7 - Dwell

Dense multistory residential buildings in hilly San Francisco, California.

Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean

Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?

July 7 - The San Francisco Standard

Blue self-driving Ford Transit van shuttle in Jacksonville, Florida.

Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US

A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.

July 7 - Smart Cities Dive

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA