San Francisco's Presidio Earns Fifth 'Green Flag' Award

The Presidio has been honored with the Green Flag Award for the fifth year in a row. The award is the most universally recognized international standard of quality for parks and green spaces.

1 minute read

January 29, 2024, 10:00 AM PST

By Clement Lau


Green lawn with historic buildings and Golden Gate Bridge in background in Presidio national park site in San Francisco, California.

A Beautiful World / Adobe Stock

Located within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Presidio is one of America’s most visited national park sites. Spanning 1,500 acres next to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, the Presidio is among the most biologically diverse parks in the country. 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 just received the prestigious Green Flag Award status which is the internationally recognized standard for parks and green spaces. The iconic park is the only site in the U.S. to be accredited with the award, joining more than 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.

The Presidio first earned the Green Flag Award in 2019. It received its annual assessment in January 2023 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. In recent years The Presidio has seen major improvements completed such as the Presidio Tunnel TopsQuartermaster Reach, and Battery Bluff.

Thursday, January 25, 2024 in Green Flag Award

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of park ranger in green jacket and khaki hat looking out at Bryce Canyon National Park red rock formations.

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions

Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

February 18, 2025 - National Parks Traveler

Paved walking path next to canal in The Woodlands, Texas with office buildings in background.

Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50

A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.

February 19, 2025 - Greg Flisram

Small rural USPS post office in manufactured one-story grey building with American flag in front.

Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes

Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.

February 12, 2025 - Cowboy State Daily

Chicago

Test News Post 1

This is a summary

April 8 - 2TheAdvocate.com

test alt text

Test News Headline 46

Test for the image on the front page.

March 5 - Cleantech blog

Military humvee driving through gate at Fort Indiantown Gap Natl Guard training center in Pennsylvania surrounded by winter trees and dead leaves.

Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species

The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.

February 24 - Esri Blog