Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy

Programs: Park enhancements, restorations, and stewardshippark enhancements, restoration and stewardship encompass building and maintaining multi-use (pedestrian, bike, equestrian) trails, restoring sensitive ecosystems, protecting endangered species, growing native plants, rehabilitating historic structures, constructing overlooks, installing visitor amenities, and creating new park experiences for the entire community. The most significant project in progress is the presidio tunnel tops project, which will connect crissy field and the main post to create a world-class public space welcoming people of all backgrounds. The parks conservancy built and maintained a world-class system of trails; restored sensitive ecosystems; grew native plants for park projects; enhanced visitor amenities; rehabilitated historic structures; and worked to ensure the vitality of rare, threatened, and endangered species. The following list represents selected highlights from 2017. 2017 accomplishments* energized the support of the philanthropic community to realize the vision for the presidio tunnel tops, a new 14-acre parkland featuring gathering spaces, overlooks and trails, and an enhanced and expanded "youth campus" for experiential learning. * attained approval for basic design of new alcatraz embarkation experience, while shepherding multi-agency agreements to advance the planning process. * garnered recognition for the historic alcatraz quartermaster warehouse rehabilitation, as it was named 2017 project of the year by the international concrete repair institute. * completed critical repair and resurfacing work on the crissy promenade to improve durability and sustainability of the beloved waterfront trail that serves over 1 million visitors each year. * supported the construction of an accessible new segment of trail to the summit of hawk hill in the marin headlands, as part of ongoing restoration and improvement efforts. * cleared overgrown vegetation along east black point at fort mason, initiating a rehabilitation and stewardship program aimed at bringing back historic walkways, stairs, and overlooks. * continued a multi-year effort to restore historic stone steps on the historic dipsea trail. * collaborated with the national park service (nps) to remove highly invasive cape ivy from rodeo valley to protect habitat for threatened and endangered species. * offered vital support on collaborative efforts to bring endangered species back from the brink: the franciscan manzanita in the presidio, the coho salmon of the redwood creek watershed, and the mission blue butterfly on milagra ridge. * convened the first-ever one tam science summit in october 2016, in conjunction with the release of measuring the health of a mountain: a report on mt. Tamalpais' natural resources, as part of the conservancy's galvanizing role in the multi-agency tamalpais lands collaborative. * received the california state parks' dewitt award for partnership, and the marin conservation league environmental leadership award, for the conservancy's one tam work. * studied and presented restoration possibilities for mt. Tamalpais' west peak to the marin municipal watershed district and other community organizations and forums. * cataloged over 700,000 images through one tam volunteer participation in the wildlife picture index project, accumulating an unprecedented inventory of species on mt. Tamalpais. * grew 104,615 plants (comprising 159 species) in native plant nurseries for 47 restoration projects across the national parklands at golden gate. * completed major upgrades to facilities at the oceana nursery at oceana high school in pacifica, to better support restoration activities and educational opportunities in san mateo county. * logged 24,785 raptor sightings (of 18 different species) and banded 1,121 raptors through the efforts of 290 community volunteers in the 35th year of the golden gate raptor observatory.

park interpretation and visitor servicespark interpretation and visitor services include the operation and delivery of tours of alcatraz island and muir woods; sales of interpretive publications, theme-related sales items and products from interpretive demonstrations; and the production of trail signage and free publications to enhance the park visitor experience. The conservancy staffed visitor services and delivered interpretive tours at alcatraz island, muir woods, the golden gate bridge, and across the parklands; produced park-themed publications and products; and provided trail signage and free publications to enhance the visitor experience. The following is a sampling of visitor services and interpretation accomplished in 2017. 2017 accomplishments* greeted and welcomed approximately 6 million visitors at eight park information and visitor centers, including facilities at muir woods, alcatraz, and the golden gate bridge. * designed, constructed, and opened the william penn mott, jr. Presidio visitor center in a converted historic guardhouse, through a tri-agency collaborative effort that was honored with a national park service partnership award. * developed and released 94 new publications and interpretive items to help visitors better understand their parks and remember their experiences. * dispatched the roving ranger mobile trailhead to 67 community events across the bay area, where staff shared the resources and joy of the parks with 8,882 people. * engaged 14,948 community members through one tam hikes, talks, and special events, and outreach by 21 volunteer ambassadors and the one tam roving ranger. * led 193 tours (totaling 13,239 visitors) of the alcatraz historic gardens, through volunteers in the gardens program that continues to bring that botanical treasure to vibrant life. * supported volunteer docents who add rich interpretive and experiential value at fort point, point bonita, muir woods, the nike missile site, and other sites. * engaged visitors, especially children, in a new way through storywalks in the marin headlands, presidio, and lands endwhere people can traverse a trail while reading the pages of storybooks on temporary signs. * delighted about 100,000 visitors with art in the parks experiences, including the home land security exhibition, a capella and jazz performances at lands end, as well as the portal at crissy fieldan immersive, interactive, multimedia connection with people around the world. * held 119 park academy classes and workshops, which deepened park knowledge and skills of 1,548 volunteers, members, staff, and interns.

youth, volunteer, and community programsyouth, volunteer and community programs include programs conducted at the crissy field center (an urban environmental education center) and the institute at the golden gate, through the conservancy's other various programs, and under the auspices of the park youth collaborative. The conservancy offered education, stewardship, and community engagement programs to connect young people and the general public with their golden gate national parks. This encompasses the work of the crissy field center (an urban environmental education center), institute at the golden gate, park stewardship, volunteer programs, one tam, and more. The following is a sampling of education and community engagement accomplished in 2017. 2017 accomplishments* sustained the success of the partnership with san francisco public library, including a nature-themed summer reading program, storywalks, and shuttles. * facilitated trips to the parks for 1,404 visitors, through 26 shuttle trips arranged in partnership with the san francisco public library and a variety of community organizations. * organized 27,103 community volunteers through partnership programs with the nps and presidio trust; their 459,423 total hours of volunteer service had a value of over $11 million. * served, alongside other youth-oriented park partners, about 60,000 schoolchildren and teens, empowered by a newly launched "one-stop" online portal of programmingparkyouthexchange. Coma park youth collaborative project led by the parks conservancy. * engaged 18,019 kids and adults through 405 programs facilitated by the crissy field center, the conservancy's urban environmental education center. * brought 4,721 participantsmany of them first-time campersto rob hill campground through the camping at the presidio program. * encouraged and cultivated the leadership skills of youth, including 24 participants in i-yel (inspiring young emerging leaders) and 38 high schoolers in linc (linking individuals to their natural community). * inspired 64 middle-school students through urban trailblazers, an intensive park-based summer program designed as their "first internship" experience. * deepened and broadened meaningful connections to the national parks through the crissy field center's summer camps, school programs, educator trainings, and community outreach. * utilized the parks as a "learning laboratory" for 58 san francisco high schoolers conducting independent ecological research in project wise (watersheds inspiring student education). * connected 235 interns with learning and job opportunities throughout the parks, including academic internships in partnership with local colleges. * played a leading role, through the institute at the golden gate, in coordinating park prescription day activities across the country, including a signature event at crissy field. * launched a park prescription toolkit, a roadmap for healthy parks healthy people partnerships, a collaboration handbook for urban-based initiatives, and a climate education web site (bayclic. Org) through the catalyzing efforts of the institute at the golden gate.