Press Coverage Archives
- Birding on Alcatraz (KALW Local Public Radio, April 2, 2013)
Alcatraz Island is famous mainly for one thing: its prison. But it’s also a good place to lay eggs. - The ultimate urban playground (SF Gate, March 31, 2013)
This 80,000-acre urban park is one of the nation's largest and the most beautiful. Spanning 70 miles, it's rich in history, plant life and wildlife. It's also a major feat of rehabilitation and restoration. - Living Memories From The Last Days Of Alcatraz (National Public Radio (NPR), March 31, 2013)
Fifty years ago, the notorious Alcatraz prison shut its gate behind guard Jim Albright as he escorted the last inmate off the island on March 21, 1963. - 50 Year Anniversary Since the Final Escape From Alcatraz (FOX News Latino, March 24, 2013)
Alcatraz Island, home to its namesake famous prison off the San Francisco Bay, welcomed back its last inmates for the 50th anniversary of the closure of one of the most notorious penitentiaries in the world. - Alcatraz: 50 Years Without Prisoners (The Weather Channel, March 22, 2013)
The National Park Service marked the 50th anniversary of the closure of the Alcatraz federal penitentiary on Thursday with an exhibit of recently discovered photographs of the prison's final day on March 21, 1963. - San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge tours return for second year (Los Angeles Times Travel, March 22, 2013)
Tours of the Golden Gate Bridge inaugurated during its 75th anniversary in 2012 are back for a second season starting April 1, 2013. - Former Alcatraz residents return to island for 50th anniversary of closure (San Jose Mercury News, March 21, 2013)
Alcatraz Island, which hosted its last inmate 50 years ago today, was also home to prison workers and their families who returned to the island this morning to mark the anniversary and recount their lives there. - Science on the SPOT: The Glowing Millipedes of Alcatraz (KQED QUEST, March 19, 2013)
Over a million visitors tour Alcatraz every year, but a recent discovery has revealed another attraction that lives within the shadows of this historical prison: glowing millipedes of Alcatraz. - Alcatraz prison's '63 death sentence (SF Gate, March 19, 2013)
Thursday is a red-letter day in the history of Alcatraz Island - the 50th anniversary of the day the prison closed. It was the end of one era and the beginning of another. - 49 places in San Francisco that you might have missed (LA Times Travel, February 24, 2013)
From NightLife at the Academy to free walking tours to Japantown and beyond, 49 spots in San Francisco that are new, newly transformed or underappreciated. Time to explore! - Alcatraz pays tribute to Indian occupation (SF Gate, January 14, 2013)
Alcatraz has more stories than its dark past as America's most feared prison. One part of its history is the Indian occupation from the winter of 1969 to the spring of 1971, when a band of American Indians seized the island after the prison closed. They hoped to turn it into an Indian cultural center, or perhaps a small university devoted to native studies. - Alcatraz: Millions Flock to Get Inside Infamous Prison's Walls (Voice of America, August 16, 2012)
Off the coast of San Francisco, millions of people pay to go to prison. They come to the island of Alcatraz to tour the dark cells of probably the most infamous American prison. - Lands End San Francisco (The Huffington Post, April 30, 2012)
New Visitor Center Lookout Unveiled At SF's Best Viewpoint - Rugged Lands End Lookout Deserves its Own Look (San Francisco Chronicle, April 29, 2012)
Rooted into locale, the Lands End Lookout is a remarkable urban encounter with the natural forces that still shape this region. - Visitor's Center to tell story of Lands End (SF Examiner, April 23, 2012)
A state-of-the-art visitor's center will open this weekend at Lands end in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. - Army of Volunteers Maintains Bay Area's Backyard (San Francisco Chronicle, March 10, 2012)
The Parks Conservancy in partnership with the National Park Service engaged 34,484 volunteers who put in 513,884 hours in 2011 alone. That kind of work would cost $10.9 million on the open market. - Alcatraz at night offers an eerie experience (The Oakland Press, August 19, 2011)
Most of the more than one million tourists who visit the famous former prison annually never get to experience Alcatraz Island at night or see its spooky, decrepit hospital ???experiences unique only to the night tour. - Goldsworthy plots the curves of his linking logs (San Francisco Chronicle Datebook, July 30, 2011)
Andy Goldsworthy plots the curves of new Presidio creation - New Presidio trail honors S.F.'s maritime past (San Francisco Chronicle, July 19, 2011)
A newly built trail and boardwalk on the southern edge of the Presidio is as much a window into San Francisco's maritime history as it is a path through restored sand dunes and coastal habitat. - Crissy Field 'magical' 10 years after restoration (San Francisco Chronicle, May 31, 2011)
May 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the $34 million restoration of Crissy Field, a 1.3-mile stretch of shoreline between the new Crissy Field Center on the east and the Warming Hut on the west - one of the great vistas anywhere. - Alcatraz, a blooming garden spot (Los Angeles Times, May 22, 2011)
The flower beds that once served as colorful buffers for the notorious former prison site known as the Rock have been restored thanks to the efforts of the Alcatraz Historic Gardens Project. - Spotted Owls Face New Threat (KQED QUEST, May 2, 2011)
Spotted owls are one of the most iconic threatened species in the West. But despite two decades of work to bring them back, their numbers are still declining. That may be due in part to a new threat - not from humans, but from other owls. - Spotted Owls Face New Threat (KQED QUEST, April 29, 2011)
Spotted owls are one of the most iconic threatened species in the West. But their numbers are still declining that may be due in part to a new threat ??? not from humans, but from other owls. - Profile: Frank Dean, GGNRA superintendent (San Francisco Chronicle, April 17, 2011)
Frank Dean, General Superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, is the head man at the biggest urban park in the country. - Green Volunteering Guide (FunCheap SF, March 21, 2011)
Looking for ways to volunteer in San Francisco to help keep the city green? - Shhh, and Not Because the Fauna Are Sleeping (New York Times, February 21, 2011)
Muir Woods National Monument Rediscovers its Natural Soundscape. - 15 Months Later, Rediscovered San Francisco Plant Thrives (KQED QUEST, January 19, 2011)
A Miracle of Survival! A Franciscan Manzanita--a species thought to have been extinct in the wild for almost 70 years--is rediscovered at a construction site near the Golden Gate Bridge. - A Crissy Field Workout (7x7 SF, December 26, 2010)
Eat too much this holiday season? Burn some of it off with this Crissy Field workout. - Marin creek being restored to bring back coho (San Francisco Chronicle, November 12, 2010)
Marin creek's $13 million restoration should give boost to coho - Jail Birds and Prison Plants (The Weekend Sherpa, October 7, 2010)
Take a walk on Alcatraz's wild side and hike the Agave trail. - Best of the West: National Park Beaches (CNN Travel, August 30, 2010)
List of 10 scenic spots to swim, float and soak in the sun at the West's amazing national parks. Golden Gate National Parks' Crissy Field is ranked "best for a city stroll." - Expanding the Palette (National Parks Conservation Association, June 25, 2010)
As America???s population become more diverse, will its changes be reflected in park visitors? - Muir Woods National Monument Exploration (KQED QUEST, June 15, 2010)
The redwoods in Muir Woods provide ideal Coho Salmon habitat, providing woody debris to protect young salmon in the creeks and keeping them shaded and cool. But the Coho in Muir Wood???s Redwood Creek are endangered, and local biologists and volunteers are working to protect the salmon and restore their habitat. - Woman who called Alcatraz home back for visit (San Francisco Chronicle, June 11, 2010)
Betty Lou Vickery, 93, lived on Alcatraz when it was a military prison, visits the Island again. - Seed lab sprouts up at Presidio Park nursery (San Francisco Examiner, May 16, 2010)
The Presidio Nursery gets a new seed and plant lab, marking the first step towards a new stewardship and sustainability Center. - Newly Refurbished Rob Hill Campground in the Presidio is Too Cheap and Too Popular (San Francisco Citizen, May 4, 2010)
Rob Hill Campground--San Francisco's only overnight urban campground. - San Francisco Bay Area: Cavallo Point Achieves LEED Gold Certification (Los Angeles Times Travel, February 10, 2010)
Cavallo Point???the Lodge at the Golden Gate just earned LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold (the second-highest level of certification, after platinum) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The Gold certification applies to the entire lodge project, including its historic and new buildings and the overall site. The project???s green elements include its use of solar panels in its metal roofing; low-VOC glues, paints and carpets, and materials such as bamboo and recycled wood. - Go Crissy! Green Education Gets a Grand Re-opening (San Francisco Bay Guardian Arts and Culture Blog, February 2, 2010)
A chance to celebrate the Crissy Field Center???s work to bring our kids closer to nature at the reopening of the Center???s interim facilities at Crissy Field East Beach. - The New Crissy Field Center Blends Green Design With a Hands-on Outdoor Experience (Examiner.com, January 19, 2010)
The Crissy Field Center???s new interim facility at Crissy Field East Beach harmonizes user experience with its eco-features. Over more than 7,200 square feet, the building includes a science lab, a media lab, a youth leadership room, a sustainable arts room, and the Beach Hut snack bar much in the spirit of the beloved Warming Hut Caf?? and Bookstore. - Crissy Field Center Moves Quickly Into New Home (sfgate.com, December 28, 2009)
The new interim Crissy Field Center facility at the eastern edge of Crissy Field traveled from conception to near-completion in just nine months. The project was put on the fast track after the starting date for one of the Bay Area???s largest and most anticipated public works projects???the reconstruction of the Doyle Drive/Presidio Parkway approach to the Golden Gate Bridge???was moved forward to the summer of 2009 from its original start date in 2011. - 2009 Take Pride In America National Award Winners Announced (U.S. Department of the Interior, May 29, 2009)
The 2009 Take Pride in America National Award was awarded to recipients in 10 different categories. The Parks Conservancy was recognized as an outstanding federal program and Terry Kreidler with the Golden Gate National Parks was a recipient in the federal land manager category. - Visitors to Nation???s Parks Need to Represent the New America (New America Media, April 30, 2009)
New America Media, in its mission to "expand the news lens through ethnic media," covers the "Parks For All" conference on April 22 and highlights ongoing efforts to reach out to communities that historically have not visited the national parks and to tell their untold stories. - Mori's Story: Creating Habitat and Community in Pacifica (Bay Nature , April 30, 2009)
The magazine Bay Nature covers the remarkable restoration work at Mori Point, which features a profusion of spring wildflowers; habitat for rare, threatened, and endangered species; breathtaking vistas from coastal bluffs; and an astonishing community stewardship effort led by the Parks Conservancy. - Bay Area Parks Receive Millions in Stimulus Cash (KTVU, April 23, 2009)
Responding to news of stimulus money tabbed for Golden Gate National Parks, KTVU visits Dias Ridge in the Marin Headlands???site of future trail and habitat work. The segment includes on-site interviews with Sharon Farrell of the Parks Conservancy and Steve Griswold with the National Park Service. - National Parks Get Stimulus Relief (KGO-TV, April 22, 2009)
- Audio: Diversity and National Parks (KQED Forum, April 21, 2009)
Michael Krasny of KQED Forum chats with filmmaker Ken Burns and other featured speakers at "Parks For All," a conference that looked at diversity issues in the national parks, in conjunction with outreach related to Burns's upcoming documentary "The National Parks: America's Best Idea." - Burns Aids Effort to Make Nature Appeal to Kids (San Francisco Chronicle, April 21, 2009)
The Chronicle previews a visit by filmmaker Ken Burns and co-producer Dayton Duncan for "Parks for All," a conference on engaging all communities in national parks. Hosted by the Parks Conservancy and KQED, the event launches "Untold Stories," an outreach initiative to support Burns's forthcoming documentary "The National Parks: America's Best Idea." - Audio: Diversity and National Parks (KQED Forum, April 21, 2009)
Michael Krasny of KQED Forum chats with filmmaker Ken Burns and other featured speakers at "Parks For All," a conference that looked at diversity issues in the national parks, in conjunction with outreach related to Burns's upcoming documentary "The National Parks: America's Best Idea." - Earth Day Celebrated Across City (San Francisco Chronicle, April 19, 2009)
In its coverage of Earth Day-related community events, the Chronicle highlights Crissy Field Center's "Earth Stroll", an opportunity for families to walk Crissy Field, participate in eco-games, learn about the environment, and enjoy a beautiful spring day. - Earth Day Celebrated Across City (San Francisco Chronicle, April 19, 2009)
In its coverage of Earth Day-related community events, the Chronicle highlights Crissy Field Center's "Earth Stroll", an opportunity for families to walk Crissy Field, participate in eco-games, learn about the environment, and enjoy a beautiful spring day. - 'Voluntouring' with Lands End Volunteers (NBC Bay Area, February 1, 2009)
Doug McConnell and Mary Babbitt, hosts of "Where to Go with a Little Dough," take viewers to Lands End, where volunteers enjoy beautiful views and great camaraderie, all while helping restore native habitat in the Golden Gate National Parks. With interviews with Parks Conservancy staff. - Thousands Serve on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (San Franciso Chronicle, January 20, 2009)
More than 1,300 community members pitched in across the Golden Gate National Parks, inspired by Dr. King's spirit of service and by President Obama's call to renew America's promise from coast to coast. The Chronicle mentions the Parks Conservancy's role in organizing an overwhelming turnout of Bay Area volunteers. - Locals Answer Obama's Call to Service (KGO, ABC 7, January 19, 2009)
ABC 7, covering Bay Area service projects on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, reports from beautiful Crissy Field, where 70 community members helped grow their national park by weeding invasive species. The project was one of many volunteer opportunities throughout the Golden Gate National Parks on Obama's special Day of Service. - Volunteers Are 'the Very Soul' of the GGNRA (San Francisco Chronicle, December 1, 2008)
An in-depth Chronicle article showcases the record-breaking, unprecedented levels of volunteer support in the Golden Gate National Parks, and the reasons why so many volunteers come back again and again to the programs of the Parks Conservancy and its partners. - Gardens on Alcatraz Island Blooming Again (San Francisco Chronicle, September 2, 2008)
The Chronicle showcases the remarkable revitalization of the historic gardens on Alcatraz, an effort spearheaded by the Garden Conservancy, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and the National Park Service. After 40 years of neglect, volunteers are helping bring color and vibrancy back to the Rock. - Fort Baker Rejoins Life as a Public Showcase (San Francisco Chronicle, June 13, 2008)
In advance of the ribbon-cutting on June 14, the Chronicle features on its front page an in-depth look at the remarkable rehabilitation and transformation of Fort Baker from military post to a beautiful national park that "looks like something out of a postcard." - Presidio Opening its Vistas to the Public (San Francisco Chronicle, June 8, 2008)
In advance of the opening of the new Crissy Field Overlook, this article updates progress on how the Haas, Jr. Fund gift to the Parks Conservancy is creating a world-class trail network and spectacular "contemplative spaces" in the Presidio. - KQED Quest Exploration: Crissy Field (QUEST, KQED , June 1, 2008)
KQED's Quest takes visitors on a virtual tour of Crissy Field. Starting at Crissy Field Center, this multimedia tour reveals the natural beauty and ecological intricacies of a special place. - Cavallo Point Lodge Boosts Fort Baker's Revival (Marin Independent Journal, May 27, 2008)
This front-page article in the Marin IJ covers the public opening of the Cavallo Point lodge, and elaborates on its role in the historic revitalization and restoration of Fort Baker to enhance visitor experiences within the Golden Gate National Parks. - Crissy Field Center Honoring Community Heroes (San Francisco Chronicle, May 10, 2008)
The Chronicle profiles the Crissy Field Center's 2008 Community Heroes Award recipients, four inspiring Bay Area individuals and organizations working to improve their environments. - Abused Mori Point Leaps Back to Life (San Francisco Chronicle, April 26, 2008)
In conjunction with a community celebration of Mori Point on April 26, this article covers the revitalization of this stunning promontory and vital ecosystem. It also describes the efforts of the Parks Conservancy, National Park Service, and volunteers to protect and preserve the unique habitat at Mori Point. - A National Park with Golden Gate Views (New York Times, April 6, 2008)
San Francisco Bay???s first national park lodge is to open on June 1 at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge. - The Grand Walk (The Weekend Sherpa, March 6, 2008)
One of the most scenic and stunning trails in the West can be traversed without leaving San Francisco. This 6-mile "Grand Walk" hugs the coastline from the Cliff House to Fort Mason. - Muir Woods Named to National Register of Historic Places (San Francisco Chronicle, January 10, 2008)
This Chronicle article covers the Muir Woods Centennial by focusing on its new place on the National Register of Historic Places. The designation recognizes Muir Woods' enduring significance as "the birthplace of the modern conservation movement." - Muir Woods Celebrates 100th Birthday (KGO, ABC 7, January 9, 2008)
ABC 7 reports from Muir Woods National Monument on the Centennial festivities. The segment captures the sights and sounds of a memorable celebration honoring William Kent's gift and the timeless redwood giants. - Famed Redwood Forest Celebrating Centennial (KTVU, Channel 2, January 9, 2008)
KTVU News covers the Muir Woods Centennial celebration with a closer look at the William Kent story and his legacy of philanthropy and conservation. The segment features interviews with Kent's grandchildren. - Muir Woods Celebrates First 100 Years as National Monument (San Francisco Chronicle, December 17, 2007)
Recognizing Muir Woods??? Centennial Year, the Chronicle takes an in-depth look at the national monument???s past, present, and future???with special emphasis on the ecological complexities and challenges in the Redwood Creek watershed. - Oiled Hawks Released in Headlands to Smiles (Marin Independent Journal, December 13, 2007)
The Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, a Parks Conservancy program, helps in the recovery of two red-tailed hawks contaminated from the Cosco Busan oil spill in November. - Lands End Labyrinth (The Weekend Sherpa, December 13, 2007)
Perched on a small plateau off the main Coastal Trail, the labyrinth in San Francisco's Lands End is an inviting outdoor creation: a simple strolling circuit with unmatched views of the Marin Headlands and Golden Gate Bridge. - Youths Connect with Nature through Crissy Field Center Programs (San Francisco Chronicle, October 22, 2007)
An international model for environmental education, Crissy Field Center brings outdoors experiences and ecological awareness to underserved youth. Through innovative Parks Conservancy programs, young people overcome "nature deficit disorder" by reconnecting with the environment. - Top Secret No More, Restored Fort Opens Doors (San Francisco Chronicle, October 15, 2007)
Thanks to a generous bequest from the late Chuck Wofford and the efforts of volunteers and staff, the Parks Conservancy and National Park Service unveiled the newly refurbished Battery Townsley. The top-secret facility in the Marin Headlands, an anchor of American coastal defenses during World War II, was restored after years of neglect and is now open for tours. - Inside a Landmark Public-Private Partnership (San Francisco Business Times, October 12, 2007)
The lead story in a special "giving guide" showcases the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. Their 21-year partnership is a model of public-private collaboration, built on a shared vision that has "raised the bar of what these National Parks can be." - On the Lookout for Raptors (Marin Independent Journal, October 7, 2007)
Experience the sights, sounds, and science of hawk-watching with the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO) in the Marin Headlands. The GGRO, a volunteer-driven program of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, monitors and bands raptors during their fall migration to assess the health of bird populations. - Plants that Make the Birds Feel At Home (San Francisco Chronicle, August 23, 2007)
The San Francisco Chronicle profiles Mark and JoAnn Zlatunich, who have transformed their backyard into native habitat for flora and fauna. Parks Conservancy volunteers learn about and participate in habitat restoration and native-plant propagation. - Grown with Care: Headlands Nursery Restores Native Plants (Marin Independent Journal, August 18, 2007)
Celebrating its 10-year anniversary this month, the Marin Headlands Nursery has grown almost 300,000 plants in the last decade. Volunteers at this facility, one of five Parks Conservancy native plant nurseries, help bring native green back to the Rodeo Valley and Fort Baker???and even the historic gardens of Alcatraz. - The Haas Legacy (San Francisco Chronicle Magazine, July 1, 2007)
In this in-depth profile about the sustained and active philanthropy of the Haas family, San Francisco Chronicle Magazine highlights a legacy of giving that includes major contributions to the Parks Conservancy that transformed???and continue to transform???Crissy Field and the Presidio. - Lands End Gets a Facelift (QUEST, KQED, May 29, 2007)
The land north of the Cliff House near the old Sutro Baths is getting a multi-million-dollar facelift by the National Park Service and local philanthropists. This historic area in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge will get new trails, catwalks and other features, making it more accessible to millions of visitors. - New Parts of Alcatraz Revealed to Public (NPR, All Things Considered, May 8, 2007)
Officially, Alcatraz is a national park. The non-profit Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy has renovated the site and opened new areas to the public for the first time. - Upgraded Alcatraz Breaks Out the Excitement (San Francisco Chronicle, April 27, 2007)
It is springtime on Alcatraz, and for the first time in years the flowers are blooming in a garden once tended by some of the most dangerous prisoners in the country. - Hands On (The Weekend Sherpa, April 19, 2007)
Volunteer with the Golden Gate National Parks. - A Big Gift for Presidio: $15 Million for Park (San Francisco Chronicle, April 11, 2007)
The Haas, Jr. Fund's donation will go to scenic overlooks, 24 miles of trails and the city's only campground to help turn former Army base into recreation destination - $100 Million Raised In 25 Years For Parks Conservancy (KGO, ABC 7, December 13, 2006)
At a time when many national parks are eliminating programs and delaying maintenance, our own Golden Gate National Recreation Area is flourishing. Part of the reason is a non-profit group now celebrating its 25th anniversary. A look at one of the Park Service's most successful partnerships.
The Conservancy's Public Agency Partners
