Places we’re inspired by: The Presidio
Recently, we’ve shared the works of a variety of wonderful authors who have been a source of inspiration for Willamette Falls Trust. Today, we share with you about a place we’re inspired by: The Presidio in San Francisco, a city whose very foundation can be found in Clackamas County. How? San Francisco’s original land plat — or map of the land — was filed in 1849 in Oregon City which had the closest federal land office. Today, you can find it in the Museum of the Oregon Territory.
Managed by the Presidio Trust, a partnership between the National Parks Service and the Golden Gate Conservancy, the Presidio spans 1,491 acres, emphasizing public access across what was once a restricted army base by integrating thoughtful economic development, historic and cultural interpretation, and habitat restoration. These map directly to the core values of the Willamette Falls public riverwalk that Willamette Falls Trust elevates by animating our vision for a world-class experience at the Falls.
Public and private developments intermingle at The Presidio. The Letterman Digital Arts Center—a 23 acre-campus constructed in partnership with filmmaker, George Lucas, is headquarters to Lucasfilm, drawing people from around the world with its iconic film memorabilia, props and costumes. At the same time, the Presidio Tunnel Tops project makes room for kids and kids-at-heart, replacing “a freeway with free play.”
Sculptures like “Spire” by renowned landscape artist, Andy Goldsworthy, capture the imagination of those wandering the grounds. Sculpted from dying cypress trees saved during the Presidio’s reforestation efforts, and with new trees planted all around it, the artist’s vision for this piece is that one day it will disappear completely into a forest of trees.
A building dating back to 1776, now known as the Presidio Officer’s Club, hosts thousands of visitors as a cultural destination and a sought-after dining experience in its restaurant. Public events are held daily, including a weekly picnic on the former parade grounds that routinely draws almost 1000 local residents, with a free bus service from downtown streamlining public access. All told, the public-private partnership managing the Presidio oversees 1,400 residences, 200+ businesses, 3.8M commercial square feet, 2.1M residential square feet and 700+ buildings.
The Presidio’s overarching focus on creating a cohesive public experience in the park, particularly for local children and families, resonates deeply with us here at Willamette Falls Trust. We’re inspired to see how we can integrate best practices from the Presidio into the community-inspired plans for Oregon City and the public riverwalk.
As we continue to stay home and save lives, we’d love to know what places inspire you the most — leave your thoughts on our Facebook page or by replying to this email. We’d love to hear from you.
