For Immediate Release
November 3, 2015
Dedication Ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015
San Francisco, CA: Just in time for the holiday season, visitors will be treated to postcard-perfect views of the majestic Golden Gate Bridge from the south side of the revamped Battery East Vista. This project was made possible through the generous support of The Tiffany & Co. Foundation with a $1M grant.
The new Battery East Vista—above Fort Point National Historic Site—features a picnic area with seating, bicycle parking, interpretive signage, improved wayfinding information, a revamped parking area, and enhanced visitor connections to two breathtaking trails in the Presidio: San Francisco Bay Trail in the Presidio and the California Coastal Trail. And, of course, panoramic views of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge!
“The Presidio is a place for all to enjoy,” said Chris Lehnertz, General Superintendent, Golden Gate National Parks. “The new trail system being created is to showcase the Presidio as one of America’s great national parks with many layers of cultural heritage and stunning views of the bay, ocean, parkland, and city.”
“The Battery East Vista overlook is the capstone overlook in the Presidio revitalization plan with seven signature overlooks in the Presidio that offer breathtaking vistas of the parks,” said Greg Moore, President & CEO of the Parks Conservancy. “Thanks to generous donors like The Tiffany & Co. Foundation helping us achieve several goals of the overall Presidio project, pedestrians and cyclists will now have safer, more accessible, and enjoyable paths. And visitors can pause to take in stunning views at scenic overlooks including the new the Battery East Vista.”
There will be three guided 1 hour public tours with a NPS ranger on Saturday, November 21 at 10 am, 11:30 am, and 1 pm featuring a brief summary of the cultural history of the Battery East project area, natural restoration of the Presidio Bluffs, and a walk along the San Francisco Bay Trail to the Fort Point overlook area that will end with a walk under the iconic Bridge to join the Coastal Trail.
PRESIDIO TRAILS, BIKEWAYS, AND OVERLOOKS
The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (Parks Conservancy), in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), and The Presidio Trust, is working to advance our “Trails Forever” initiative to create a world-class trail system and implement landmark Coastal Trail projects throughout the parks, in support of our mission to preserve the Golden Gate National Parks, enhance the experiences of park visitors, and build a community dedicated to conserving the parks for the future.
National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior charged with managing the preservation and public use of America’s most significant natural, scenic, historic, and cultural treasures. The NPS manages the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, as well as 401 other park sites across the U.S. www.nps.gov/goga.
About the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is the nonprofit membership organization that supports the Golden Gate National Parks—the most visited unit in the national park system in the U.S. Since 1981, the Parks Conservancy has provided over $362 million in aid for site transformations, trail improvements, habitat restoration, research and conservation, volunteer and youth engagement, and interpretive and educational programs. Conservancy funded projects, in partnership with the National Park Service and Presidio Trust, are visible across the parks’ 80,000 acres—including the Presidio, Crissy Field, Muir Woods, Lands End, Alcatraz, and more. The Conservancy’s work is made possible through the dedication of its members and donors; contributions from foundations, businesses, public agencies, and generous individuals; as well as earned income from visitor services. Learn more at parksconservancy.org.
About The Tiffany & Co. Foundation
Established in 2000, The Tiffany & Co. Foundation provides grants in environmental conservation, working to preserve the world’s most treasured landscapes and seascapes. The Foundation’s programs promote responsible mining, healthy marine ecosystems and the enhancement of urban environments through strategic design improvements in new and existing parks. For more information on The Tiffany & Co. Foundation, please visit www.tiffanyandcofoundation.org.
About the Presidio Trust
Responsible for the transformation of the Presidio from an historic Army post into a premier national park that is financially self-sustaining, the Presidio Trust is leading the nation’s largest historic preservation project, restoring the park’s buildings and landscapes, and creating innovative programs. For more information, visit www.presidio.gov.
