San Francisco Presidio wins another Green Flag Award
The Green Flag Award is the most widely recognised international benchmark for parks
The Presidio of San Francsico is celebrating another year of prestigious Green Flag Award status – the internationally recognized standard for parks and green spaces.
The iconic park remains the only site in the United States to be accredited with the award, joining over 2,500 winners across 17 countries around the globe. Applicants in Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Scandinavia, and the United Arab Emirates all work towards the same extensive criteria to demonstrate their parks and green spaces are meeting good standards of management and maintenance for people and planet.
Image 1: Main Post. Credit: Presidio Trust
Michael Boland – Chief Park Officer for the Presidio Trust said:
“We are so honoured to maintain this recognition from our international community of park makers,” said Michael Boland, chief park officer for the Presidio Trust. “We are grateful to share the values of providing access to nature for all and striving to create a healthier planet.”
Founded in 1996 in the United Kingdom, the aim of the Green Flag Award is to ensure that everyone has access to a quality green space to enable healthy lifestyles and stronger communities. To see a full list of Green Flag Award winning parks, visit: http://www.greenflagaward.org/award-winners/
The Presidio first earned the Green Flag Award in 2019. In January it received its annual assessment by a professional judge who inspected the Presidio’s facilities for quality, condition, and ongoing maintenance. They also looked at the provision for the community and the ongoing progress in relation to biodiversity, environmental sustainability, and heritage.
Image 2: Visitor centre. Credit: Charity Vargas
In recent years The Presidio has seen major improvements completed such as the Presidio Tunnel Tops, Quartermaster Reach and Battery Bluff, as well as the new strategy and branding charter of “Forever Park” which aspires to preserve the Presidio as a national park site in perpetuity.
Carl McClean – International Development manager for the Green Flag Award said:
“The Presidio continues to lead the way in the parks sector in the United States by adopting this internationally recognised standard and has now inspired others to apply in 2024.”
“Everybody involved in managing and maintaining the Presidio deserves congratulations and recognition. From the volunteer stewards to the Presidio GO shuttle drivers – all of you make this park a fantastic place to visit, work and live. Well done!”
About the Presidio and the Presidio Trust
The Presidio is one of America’s most visited national park sites, located within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2022. Spanning 1,500 acres next to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, the Presidio is among the most biologically diverse parks in America. Historically a home to native peoples and a military post under three flags, its facilities have been reinvented as museums, restaurants, hotels, homes, and offices. The Presidio Trust is the federal agency that stewards the Presidio, in partnership with the National Park Service and with support from the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. The Trust sustains the Presidio by leasing homes and workplaces and offering visitor amenities. Learn more at presidio.gov.
About the Green Flag Award
The Green Flag Award is a non-profit international accreditation program that recognizes and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces. The Green Flag Award is managed by the UK environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under license from the UK Government Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and delivered in partnership with our network of national operators around the world.
To find out more, or apply for an Award, whichever country you are based in - explore the Green Flag Award website: www.greenflagaward.org or alternatively click here for a contact form.
