Three Bay Area Members of Congress today introduced legislation to expand the boundaries of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) in San Mateo County, Marin County, and San Francisco. The legislation would add close to 1,300 acres of undeveloped land to the park area – over 1,000 acres in Pacifica, 155 acres in Marin County, and 2 acres in San Francisco. An important component of the addition of these areas is that about one-half of the total cost of acquiring these new lands will be donated by local community and environmental organizations.
The legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Tom Lantos (D-San Mateo County and San Francisco), Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), and Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma). Joining as cosponsors of the legislation are Tom Campbell (R-Campbell), Anna G. Eshoo (D-Atherton), Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), George Miller (D-Martinez), Fortney H. "Pete" Stark (D-Fremont), Ellen Tauscher (D-Pleasanton), and Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena).
Identical legislation was introduced today in the Senate by California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.
The legislation introduced today is similar to H.R. 168, the "Golden Gate National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Act," which Congressman Lantos introduced in January of last year. That bill applied only to the addition of lands in San Mateo County. The new GGNRA Boundary Adjustment Act includes the additional tracts of land in Marin County and San Francisco.
"The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a wonderful national treasure," said Congressman Tom Lantos, "and we in the Bay Area are truly fortunate to have these awesome open spaces and parklands. Adding these new lands to the GGNRA will provide increased visual protection of existing natural vistas, allow better access for visitors to the park, and insure better management and preservation of these fragile natural areas. It is essential that we protect these critical natural areas and that we pass them on for the benefit of our children and our grandchildren."
"Although small in total acreage, urban parcels loom large in a city like San Francisco," said Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, "where the value of land and the density of population are both high and the availability of open space is rare. I am pleased to be working with my neighboring colleagues, Tom Lantos and Lynn Woolsey, to bring these important properties into the GGNRA family of parks."
Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey welcomed the legislation: "Adding Marincrest to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area benefits everyone – children, the environment and all of us in the North Bay. Now, the park and its treasures will be more accessible, especially for the people of Marin City. That means that more families and children can make use of and learn from this wonderful park."
"This legislation rightly expands one of our nation's most beautiful environmental jewels -- The Golden Gate National Recreation Area," Senator Dianne Feinstein said. "Together, these parcels offer beautiful vistas, sweeping coastal views and the preservation of unique ecosystems with added public access. Under the bill, roughly half of the total cost of purchasing these lands will be donated by the local community and all land transactions must involve a willing seller."
At the direction of the Congress, National Park Service officials in the Bay Area prepared a Boundary Study to evaluate the desirability of adding lands in Pacifica to the GGNRA. Areas that would be added to the GGNRA in San Mateo County are those recommended for inclusion in this study. The addition of these new areas to the GGNRA has been supported by the Pacifica City Council, the GGNRA and Point Reyes National Seashore Advisory Commission, the Marin County Board of Supervisors, and the Marin County Open Space District.
