Landscape architecture firm James Corner Field Operations (JCFO) has been chosen to create a thirteen acre public park next to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, US.

New York-based practice JCFO is best known for leading the design and development of the of the New York High Line in collaboration with Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Piet Oudolf as well as working on several other large scale park projects, including the South Park at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, used for the 2012 Olympic Games.

JCFO fought off stiff competition from several international architecture firms to win the Presidio Park job - these include West 8, CMG, Olin and Snøhetta.

As a collaboration between the Presidio Trust, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and the National Parks Service (NPS) the Presidio Parklands Project has been a long time coming.


Rendering of the proposed new park

Originally a military dumpsite, Crissy Field, part of the 13 acre (5.2 hectare) stretch, was transformed in 2001 into a shoreline park that is used by more than one million visitors a year. The proposed plans to create the new parkland include replacing Doyle Drive, an elevated highway with covered tunnels allowing a new connection between the historic Main Post and Crissy Field, opening up the entire area.

"I feel both honoured and humbled by the challenge," said James Corner, founder and director of JCFO. "This is an extremely significant opportunity for the people of San Francisco to create a dramatic new legacy for future generations."

Public consultation is expected to start in early 2015, with the New Presidio Parklands Project expected to be complete by 2018.