Parks We Love: Crissy Field
Occupying 100 acres of open, outdoor space along San Francisco Bay with sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Crissy Field is a beloved community treasure, with a rich historical past.
Aerial View on Crissy Field, US Army Air Field (1921–1923) showing pilot quarters, hangars and airfield with barracks. Courtesy: US Army / National Archives
The site was once covered with saltmarsh and sand dunes, and a seasonal home of the Ohlone/Costanoan people, who harvested fish and shellfish along the shores of the estuary. In the mid-1700s Spanish settlers arrived, taking the land for grazing livestock and growing crops, and building a military garrison at the entrance of the bay. Usage of the site continued to change over the years, until in the 1920s it became an active U.S. military airfield. However, foggy weather, strong winds, and construction of the bridge (1933-1937) contributed to difficult flying conditions, and it ceased to operate as a "first-line air base" in 1936.
The land was transferred to the National Park Service (NPS) in 1994 and a restoration effort launched three years later, funded by family foundations, NPS, and members of the public. Thousands of tons of hazardous materials were removed from the site, and acres of natural habitat were restored, including dunes and tidal marsh. More than 100,000 native plants were replanted and through these efforts a reported 17 fish species and 135 bird species were observed returning to once-contaminated land and water. Today the restored landscape is visited by an estimated 1.2 million people each year, who enjoy its walking and biking trails, beaches, restored saltmarsh, and recreational facilities. At one end of the park an educational center for youth hosts camps, field trips and other programs, working with schools and community centers in underserved areas, and offering programming for free or at a low cost.
With its expansive green lawn sweeping down to the restored beaches and wetlands on the shore of the Bay, the park offers a natural respite from a bustling urban center. In an interview with the San Franciscio Chronicle shortly after the park opened in 2001, the project’s principal designers, George Hargreaves and Mary Margaret Jones, described it as a place for the community—one that incorporated and restored natural elements while also preserving its history.
"This is the front yard of San Francisco," said Hargreaves. "Crissy Field is common ground we all share. In a way, it provides community.” Touching on the natural elements Jones noted, “It's rare to have such a powerful natural system in such an urban location...Usually, tidal marshes are far removed from urban areas. Here, a lot more people will see it."
Though COVID-19 has impacted normal programming and camp schedules, “San Francisco’s front yard” typically hosts numerous outings and hands-on experiences for the community, with an emphasis on local youth. The varied and extensive landscape still offers a variety of outdoor activities for families, individuals and groups throughout the seasons. A courtyard at the heart of the park includes open space for community events and features a barbecue area for meals. Access to the water from sandy shores has fostered a community of kite-surfers, and a wharf at one end of the park welcomes fishing and crabbing. Trails throughout the park are popular with hikers, walkers, and bikers.
Now, more than 20 years old, the park’s "next chapter" has launched. Dubbed "Crissy Field Next" the initiative is headed by The National Park Service, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and the Presidio Trust as a multi-year community engagement effort to revitalize sections of the park but also gather input from the community on how to make the space more inclusive and welcoming.
Community sessions and open house days have gathered initial community feedback from over 1,000 people. So far recommendations for the next round of designs include improved picnic areas and restrooms, a more balanced relationship between the marsh and historic airfield to improve function and access, and an upgraded bird blind and marsh viewing area.
“When we began the transformation of Crissy Field 20 years ago, we knew it was a special place worth saving, but what we didn’t realize was how important a role Crissy Field would play for San Francisco residents and visitors alike,” noted Greg Moore, Parks Conservancy President & CEO in a press release.
Jean Fraser, CEO of the Presidio Trust, added; “We are excited to champion Crissy Field in its next chapter, and hope through this process that we come up with more ways to connect visitors with this beloved bayfront area and the rest of the 1,500-acre Presidio."
To learn more about the history of Crissy Field, click here.
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About this series: The Trustees’ Boston Waterfront initiative is a bold, new vision for establishing a resilient urban waterfront. Yes, the vision is big, and new for Boston, but we have the benefit of following in the footsteps of those who have paved the way. Many waterfront parks designed for resilience have emerged over the past few decades all along the world’s coastlines and are models to emulate and learn from. The lessons learned from these pioneering open spaces—in science, design, and beyond—have and will continue to provide The Trustees and our partners with an expansive knowledge base for planning practices as we progress toward our vision for iconic, public open spaces on the Boston Waterfront. Click here to see past posts in our ‘Parks We Love’ series.
Thumbnail Photo by Cedric Letsch on Unsplash