Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy - Presidio Trust

“The Parks Conservancy is nationally acclaimed forits significant and creative role in enlivening historiclandmarks, buildings and sites with vibrant uses, qualityinterpretation and creative programming. I haveadmired its work for decades—and know that whateverthe Conservancy touches will result in somethingof quality, distinction and public appeal to the localcommunity and visitors from around the world.Options for the FutureThe Presidio Exchangecould be operated andgoverned in a variety ofways depending on thescale of ambition, paceand available resources.2. Joint Venture of Parks Conservancy andPresido Trust: Reflecting the PresidioTrust’s fundamental goal to “save an historicAmerican place and transform it to servenew national purpose,” this unique facilityaligns with Presidio Trust efforts to encouragestewardship, welcome the public andmake an impact beyond its boundaries. Assuch, the Trust is well-positioned to take alead role in guiding the evolution of thefacility. A joint venture of the Parks Conser-Around the country, nonprofit entities and jointventures have frequently played a major rolein enlivening public spaces, such as the RoseKennedy Greenway in Boston, Central Park andBrooklyn Bridge Park in New York, MillenniumPark in Chicago and Grand Park in Los Angeles.Programmatic EntitiesAlong with the three operating and governanceoptions above, the Presidio Exchange would alsodevelop two programmatic entities:TASK 4:OPERATION ANDGOVERNANCERichard MoePresident emeritus, National Trust for Historic PreservationThree primary options are possible:1. Creation of a Focused Operating andGoverning Entity: Throughout the country,parks and other public entities have creatednonprofit entities to assume unique publicpurposes. The Presidio Exchange lends itselfto that opportunity, bringing in Board andstaff with the specific skills, expertise, connectionsand philanthropic ability to bringthe idea to reality. This entity could be incubatedby the Parks Conservancy and/or thePresidio Trust—or perhaps serve as a subsidiaryof the Conservancy.vancy and Presidio Trust (and potentially theNational Park Service) could achieve a unifiedand spectacular result.3. Management by the Parks Conservancy:The Parks Conservancy has a long historyof delivering programs within the Presidioand Golden Gate National Parks and cultivatingpartnerships with institutions locally,regionally, nationally and internationally.With a proven record of collaboration withthe Presidio Trust and National Park Service,the Conservancy could assume operatingresponsibility, mapping the business plan fora financially sustainable operation.An Exchange Affiliate program would houseand nurture the many institutions that wouldenergize the facility through collaborativeprogramming.An Exchange Advisors program would includesubject matter experts in public programmingto help ensure a vital, relevant and high-qualitymix of offerings.Welcoming the PublicThe Presidio Trust, National ParkService and Parks Conservancy arecollaborating on the design andimplementation of a new visitorcenter near the Commissary site.A similar partnership can fulfill thevision for the Presidio Commonsand Presidio Exchange.1819