Op-Ed | Urban Gateways, Woven Into Daily Life

The Golden Gate Bridge never fails to take my breath away. It's both a symbol of home and a reminder of the gateways between national parks and local communities.

Earlier this year, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum signed Secretarial Order 3434, Strengthening Coordination with Gateway Communities. For me, this policy feels less like a new directive and more like a recognition of what I get to see and live every day as CEO of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. I work alongside the National Park Service(NPS) in one of the largest and most complex gateway communities in the country at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA).

Gateway communities are the front doors of our National Park System, and the Bay Area is fortunate to have many. From Alcatraz to 82,000 acres including iconic sites like Muir Woods, Crissy Field, and the Presidio, these GGNRA parklands are a bus, bike, or boat ride away for many living in San Francisco and neighboring areas. Daily life and national park experiences come together in urban gateway communities: Where else can you jog to a national historic landmark or enjoy a ranger talk before picnicking with friends or heading back to work?

At the Parks Conservancy, I see our role as a connector, especially since the economic benefits of living near national parks and green spaces haven't always translated into hospitality or inclusion. Too often we see green gentrification, where improved neighborhoods become more desirable, driving up housing costs and displacing low-income residents and people of color.

We work with NPS, local governments, transit partners, and community groups to push back against these inequities and keep parks welcoming and accessible for all. Our program Linking Individuals to their Natural Community (LINC) includes youth from low-income, BIPOC, and immigrant communities across the Bay Area, creating opportunities to explore the outdoors and envision pathways into nature-based careers. Over six weeks, participants take part in service learning through trail work, wildlife monitoring, and exploring parklands, blurring the line between neighborhood and national park and deepening their ties to both. Along the way, they also build meaningful and lasting connections with new mentors, peers, and professionals in the field.

It works: In surveys, youth reported a 40 percent increase in feelings of welcome and belonging in the GGNRA from the start of the summer to the end.

When most people think of gateway communities, they picture rural areas or towns at the boundary where national parks begin, like Three Rivers outside Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks here in California or Springdale near Zion National Park in Utah. In those places, the parks may help define community identity and drive seasonal visitation and economic opportunity.

Here in the Bay Area, the picture is very different. Unlike the “wild” of national parks often marked by remote boundaries and fences, our urban parks flow into the rhythm of life. They serve as urban gateways for millions of people in the diverse communities of San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo counties, becoming part of daily routines as much as destinations. From Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC, to Gateway National Recreation Area in New York and New Jersey, to Pullman National Historical Park in Chicago, cities across the country are redefining the role of national parks.

The Parks Conservancy embraces the opportunity to meet communities where they are and build connections to ensure everyone feels included. Our work to help build Presidio Tunnel Tops, co-created with the community and now hosting almost 2 million visitors annually, is one of the most impactful ways we connect people to parks.

A quick ride on the 30 Stockton bus now brings kids and seniors from Chinatown to Presidio Tunnel Tops and Crissy Field, turning a neighborhood bus trip into direct access to national park experiences. One of the first things visitors see when they step off the bus is a playground—a feature you’d expect in a neighborhood park, not a national park. That was intentional: when Presidio Tunnel Tops was built, we listened to tour communities, and this was one of the most requested elements. It signals to families, first-time visitors, and even the youngest community members “this place is for you.”

Together, these connections show how urban gateway communities continue to become more powerful models of equity, belonging, and shared stewardship. This is the spirit of We the Parks, a reminder that these places thrive when all of us feel at home in them.