Crissy Field

About

The restoration of Crissy Field in the Presidio seems nothing short of miraculous. Newcomers to this shoreline just east of the Golden Gate will no doubt be impressed by the beautiful natural setting. Those of us who remember what Crissy Field used to look like, and visited during the transition, are aware that the new Crissy Field took years to create. Crissy Field had been abused for years. The dunes and marsh of Indian days were leveled and filled (with garbage) so San Francisco could host the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Later, Crissy Field hosted military aircraft. In 1998 restoration began. Volunteers removed exotic vegetation and planted natives. Barren strips of pavement were removed and a lagoon and tidal marsh were constructed. Now water sparkles in the marsh, and shorebirds dig through the mud while pelicans fly over the waves. Dunes, supplemented with native plants, are showcases for lupine, buckwheat, and sand verbena blossoms...