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Links
Greenbelt Alliance works in partnership with other organizations to protect
open space and promote livable communities. Here are some of the Web sites
of our partners and other Web resources that have informed our work. You
can find links to more partners on the partner pages of the regions.
A link to an organization does not imply that Greenbelt Alliance endorses
or agrees with the policies of that organization. Click
here for our complete Links Policy.
Link Index
Land Trusts and Open Space Districts
Land Protection Activist Groups
Smart Growth, Green Building and Policy Organizations
Housing Advocates
Parks, Trail Guides & Outdoor Recreation
Transportation Advocates
Transportation Agencies and Information
Land
Trusts and Open Space Districts/Authorities
American Farmland Trust
American Farmland Trust is a private, nonprofit organization founded in
1980 to protect our nation's farmland. AFT, a Washington D.C. based organization,
works to stop the loss of productive farmland and to promote farming practices
that lead to a healthy environment.
American Land Conservancy
San Francisco based land trust and conservation organization that
seeks to protect rivers, riparian corridors, wildlife habitat, wetlands,
and historical areas. ALC also works on water rights & in-stream flow
protection, endangered species issues, easements to preserve agricultural
uses, public access/use, and public recreational lands acquisition.
Bay Area Open
Space Council
The Bay Area Open Space Council is a collaborative program of public and
non-profit agencies and organizations, providing regional leadership and
expertise for the preservation and professional management of important
open spaces in and around the cities of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Laguna de
Santa Rosa Foundation
Works to preserve and restore the richness of the Laguna's natural resources,
and to provide opportunities for the public to learn about the ecology
and cultural history of the Laguna and enjoy its beauty.
Land Trust Alliance
Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is the Washington D.C. based
national leader of the private land conservation movement, promoting voluntary
land conservation across the country and providing resources, leadership
and training to the nation's 1,200-plus nonprofit, grassroots land trusts,
helping them to protect important open spaces. The Land Trust Alliance
provides direct grants to land trusts, training programs, technical assistance,
and one-on-one mentoring to help land trusts build organizations that
are equipped to protect open space.
Marin Agricultural Trust
(MALT)
Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) was the first land trust in the United
States to focus on farmland preservation. Founded in 1980 by a coalition
of ranchers and environmentalists to preserve farmland in Marin County,
California, MALT acquires agricultural conservation easements on farmland
in voluntary transactions with landowners and encourages public policies
that support and enhance agriculture.
Marin County
Open Space
In 1972, the people of Marin voted to form and to fund the Marin County
Open Space District for the purpose of acquiring and managing areas of
natural landscape within the county. Wherever possible, a "light on the
land" approach is preferred to excessive human intervention. This reduces
management costs and ensures that open space areas are maintained in a
fashion consistent with their wild and natural character and ensures the
protection of environmental integrity through time.
Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District
The District's purpose is to create a regional greenbelt of open space
lands, linking District preserves with other public parklands. The District
also participates in cooperative efforts such as the Bay Trail, the Ridge
Trail, and the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, with an overall regional trail
system that includes District lands as well as trail and open space easements
over privately owned lands.
Napa County Land
Trust
The Land Trust of Napa County works to protect the natural diversity,
scenic open space and agricultural vitality of Napa County by preserving
lands with significant conservation values for present and future generations
and by fostering an appreciation and understanding of the natural environment.
Peninsula Open
Space Trust (POST)
The Peninsula Open Space Trust is a nonprofit land trust dedicated to
preserving the beauty, character, and diversity of the San Francisco Peninsula.
Since its founding, POST has protected more than 40,000 acres of SF Peninsula
open space.
Santa Clara
Open Space Authority
Santa Clara's Open Space Authority is dedicated to preserving, protecting
and managing, for the use and enjoyment of all people, a well-balanced
system of urban and non-urban areas of outstanding scenic, recreational
and agricultural importance. The Santa Clara County Open Space Authority
is comprised of the cities of Campbell, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Santa Clara
and San Jose, as well as unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County not
within the Midpeninsula Open Space District.
Sempervirens Fund
The purpose of Sempervirens Fund, based in Mountain View, CA, is to preserve
and protect the natural character of California's Santa Cruz Mountains
and to encourage appropriate public enjoyment of this environment. We
seek to achieve this purpose by acquiring suitable land in a working partnership
with the State of California and other public and private agencies; by
completing Big Basin Redwoods and Castle Rock state parks; by fostering
public participation in activities such as reforestation and trail projects;
and by linking parks and open spaces to provide an integrated parkland
system.
Solano Land Trust
Solano Land Trust is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is
the preservation of agricultural lands, open space, and natural resources
through the acquisition of land and conservation easements, education,
and land management.
Sonoma County
Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
The District conserves farmland, greenbelts between cities, wildlife habitat,
and land for public recreation in Sonoma County.
Trust for Public Land
Land conservation is central to TPL's mission. Founded in 1972, the Trust
for Public Land is the only national nonprofit working exclusively to
protect land for human enjoyment and well-being. TPL helps conserve land
for recreation and spiritual nourishment and to improve the health and
quality of life of American communities. TPL creates urban parks, gardens,
greenways, and riverways; builds livable communities by setting aside
open space in the path of growth; conserves land for watershed protection,
scenic beauty, and close-to-home recreation; safeguards the character
of communities by preserving historic landmarks and landscapes.
Land Protection Activist
Groups
Committee for
Green Foothills
The Committee for Green Foothills works to protect and preserve the hills,
forests, creeks, wetlands, and coastal lands of the San Francisco Peninsula
through grass-roots activism, education, and advocacy. Work focused in
San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.
Community Alliance with
Family Farmers
Founded in 1978, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers is a nonprofit
member-activist organization. CAFF political and educational campaigns
are building a movement of rural and urban people who foster family-scale
agriculture that cares for the land, sustains local economies, and promotes
social justice. Members are urbanites, farmers, environmentalists, rural
activists, students, and anyone concerned with the social and environmental
dimensions of agriculture.
Golden Gate
National Parks Conservancy
The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to protecting the Crissy Field area. It was the group that initially
raised funds to convert Crissy Field from an army airfield to a National
Park.
Napa County Farm
Bureau
The Napa County Farm Bureau is a grass roots organization which began
over 75 years ago, to represent agriculture throughout the county. Their
membership totals over 1,100 local farmers and ranchers, including individuals
involved in production agriculture and non-farm members. They are a voluntary,
non-profit, non-governmental organization whose basic goal is to ensure
the proper political, economic, and social climate for the continuation
of agriculture. Although often taken for granted, their strong agricultural
heritage has contributed significantly to this country’s standard of living.
Today, they strive to preserve the land and the policies that allow us
to maintain the quality of life we have come to enjoy in our county.
Save the Bay
Save The Bay (Save San Francisco Bay Association) seeks to preserve, restore
and protect the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta Estuary
as a healthy and biologically diverse ecosystem essential to the well-being
of the human and natural communities it sustains.
Save Mount Diablo
Save Mount Diablo's mission is to secure through acquisition, protection
and preservation, the open space necessary to support the full range of
biological diversity and to insure the integrity of Mount Diablo's natural
beauty. Save Mount Diablo creates dedicated open space from land acquired
through gifts, purchases and cooperative efforts with public and private
entities; educates the public about threats to the mountain; works with
landowners to preserve their property while realizing economic benefits;
works in partnership with Mt. Diablo State Park, East Bay Regional Park
District, and other organizations to increase open space; monitors land
use planning; aids in the restoration of habitat and the preservation
of rare species; offers technical advice to agencies and neighborhood
groups with regard to securing open space; and works diligently to raise
the funds necessary to support Save Mount Diablo's mission.
Save Open Space and
Agricultural Resources (SOAR)
SOAR is a Ventura County, Southern California based group. They have been
actively involved in the initiative process in Southern California and
are dedicated to restricting sprawl and saving precious natural land and
resources.
Sierra Club—California
For over a century, the Sierra Club has played a key role in protecting
more than 132 million acres in America's national park and wilderness
areas. To achieve its conservation goals, the Sierra Club works aggressively
to influence policies and decisions affecting the environment of North
America and the rest of the world. As issues broaden, the Sierra Club's
goals broaden. John Muir never worried about ozone depletion or acid rain,
yet these problems now threaten the parks and wilderness areas he and
early Club members helped protect. Environmental issues start in our backyard
and reach around the planet—global warming and the protection of
tropical rainforests are now major concerns. You can also find information
on local Sierra Club hikes on the Marin
chapter page, the Redwood
chapter page, and the San
Francisco chapter page.
Smart Growth, Green Building
and Policy Organizations
Bay Area:
Association of Bay Area
Governments (ABAG)
The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) is one of more than 560
regional planning agencies across the nation working to help solve problems
in areas such as land use, housing, environmental quality, and economic
development. It was established in 1961 to protect local control, plan
for the future, and promote cooperation on areawide issues. Through its
role as an association of cities and counties, ABAG has been designated
by the state and federal governments as the official comprehensive planning
agency for the Bay Area. Its locally adopted Regional Plan provides a
policy guide for planning the region's housing, economic development,
environmental quality, transportation, recreation, and health and safety.
The Bay Area Alliance
for Sustainable Communities
The Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable Communities is a unique group of business, environmental, social equity and government stakeholders who come together to develop and implement solutions for an improved quality of life in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. The coalition encourages its members to implement the multi-stakeholder strategies (see the Compact for a Sustainable Bay Area) developed for increasing the region's sustainability. For a comprehensive list of actions that anyone living or working in the Bay Area can take to improve regional sustainability, view Make a Difference.
Bay Localize
Bay Localize is building a more self-reliant, sustainable, and socially just Bay Area. The group works to catalyze a shift from a globalized, fossil fuel-based economy that enriches a few and weakens most, to a localized green economy that strengthens all Bay Area communities. They develop tools that identify local opportunities, connect grassroots groups and policymakers, and advance projects that enhance regional self-reliance, sustainability, and equity. Bay Localize is a project of the Earth Island Institute.
Livable City
Livable City works to create a San Francisco of great streets and complete neighborhoods, where walking, bicycling, and transit are the best choices for most trips, where public spaces are beautiful, well-designed, and well-maintained, and where housing is more plentiful and more affordable.
San Francisco Planning
& Urban Research Association (SPUR)
The San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) is a
San Francisco public policy think tank. Through research, analysis, public
education, and advocacy, SPUR promotes good planning and good government.
SPUR brings together neighborhood leaders, government officials, business
leaders, planners, architects, students, and activists—the full range
of people who care about San Francisco—to debate, learn, and plan
for the needs of the city as a whole.
Silicon Valley Manufacturing
Group
The Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group (SVMG) is organized to involve
principal officers and senior managers of member companies in a cooperative
effort with local, regional, state and federal government officials to
address major public policy issues affecting the economic health and quality
of life in Silicon Valley. Currently, SVMG addresses the following five
core issues: affordable housing, comprehensive transportation, reliable
energy, quality education and a sustainable environment.
Urban Ecology
Urban Ecology is an Oakland-based nonprofit that believes that vibrant,
successful cities are not only possible but necessary for the health of
society and our planet. UE plans and designs cities that sustain the people,
natural resources, and economy necessary for everyone to thrive.
Urban Map
Urban Map, created by Urban Land Institute San Francisco, makes it easy to find all useful Bay Area land use data in one place. It provides links to zoning, parcels and other information compiled by county (click on the region in the lower right hand corner). The goal is to promote smart growth in the Bay Area and to make it easier to research particular neighborhoods or properties for those looking to develop infill projects.
California:
California Center
for Regional Leadership
The California Center for Regional Leadership is a statewide nonprofit
organization established to support, facilitate, and promote innovative
regional solutions for our major economic, environmental, and societal
challenges, to help achieve a more sustainable California. CCRL works
with a network of collaborative regional organizations from throughout
California, and works on behalf of this network to encourage and enable
effective regional strategies by local and state government. Smart growth
is one aspect of their work.
Northern CA Architects
/ Designers / Planners for Social Responsibility
Architects / Designers / Planners for Social Responsibility is a 501c3
non-profit organization which currently has four active chapters. It has
a sixteen year history of educating design professionals and the public
about critical social and environmental issues. Although established with
a disarmament focus, during the last nine years ADPSR has expanded its
concerns to include the protection of the natural and built environment,
and the promotion of ecologically and socially responsible development.
Other States:
1000 Friends of Minnesota
1000 Friends of Minnesota is working on behalf of Minnesota's citizens
to protect the state's environment. 1000 Friends seeks to balance growth
and conservation. Programs are based on the premise that economic health
can only remain strong when Minnesota's people and its environment are
healthy and strong.
1000 Friends of Oregon
1000 Friends of Oregon is a nonprofit charitable organization, founded
as the citizens' voice for land use planning that protects Oregon's quality
of life from negative effects of growth. 1000 Friends of Oregon works
to conserve Oregon's productive farm, forest and range lands, promote
compact, livable cities with affordable housing, greenspaces and transportation
choices, and defend the opportunities for citizens to participate in the
planning decisions affecting Oregon through a combination of advocacy,
education and research.
Florida Internet Center
for Understanding Sustainability (FICUS)
FICUS is a joint effort between the Florida Center for Community Design
and the University of South Florida's School of Architecture and Community
Design. This resource offers information on what constitutes a sustainable
community, on transportation and sustainability, on population and resource
use, on Florida's energy and ecosystems, and on environmental education.
Futurewise
Futurewise (formerly 1000 Friends of Washington) is a statewide public
interest group working to promote healthy communities and cities while
protecting farmland, forests and shorelines today and for future generations.
Futurewise is the only statewide group in Washington working to ensure
that local governments manage growth responsibly. Founded in 1990, Futurewise
has established an impressive track record on growth management issues
as the state's primary advocate for smart growth policies.
Sustainable
Seattle
Sustainable Seattle is a volunteer network and civic forum concerned with
promoting sustainable development on the local level in Seattle, Washington.
The site includes Indicators of Sustainability, on Seattle's efforts to
define ways to measure progress toward sustainability, as well as a Directory
of Sustainability-Promoting Organizations.
Tahoe
Center for a Sustainable Future (TCSF)
TCSF is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to facilitating information,
resources, education and training to achieve a sustainable future in the
entire Lake Tahoe Region. At this site, learn specific details about the
concept of sustainability, and about TCSF, its mission and its vision.
National:
Blue Earth Alliance
Blue Earth Alliance is dedicated to helping photographers pursue documentary
projects about endangered environments, threatened cultures and social
issues.
Congress for the New Urbanism
Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) is a San Francisco-based non-profit
organization that was founded in 1993. CNU works with architects,
developers, planners, and others involved in the creation of cities and
towns, teaching them how to implement the principles of the New Urbanism.
These principles include coherent regional planning, walkable neighborhoods,
and attractive, accommodating civic spaces.
Environmental
Building News
Environmental Building News offers articles, reviews, and news stories
as a prime resource on energy-efficient, resource-efficient, and healthy
building practices.
GreenInfo Network
The mission of GreenInfo Network is to bring the power of computer
based mapping to non-profits, public agencies and other public interest
organizations. These groups are more able to effectively show the relationships
between issues, people and places through GIS mapping projects.
Institute
for Urban and Regional Development, UC Berkeley
The Institute of Urban and Regional Development (IURD) serves faculty
and students of the University of California, Berkeley, conducting research
into processes of urban and regional growth and decline, and effects of
governing policies on the patterns and processes of development. Offers
information on sustainable development and regulation of urban growth
and land use, the social and economic impacts of changes in urban life
with a focus on inner city inequality, evolving patterns of suburbanization
and central city reconstruction, transportation alternatives, including
high-speed rail and transit-based options.
Island Press
Island Press is a nonprofit organization that publishes books on environmental
issues. It provides solutions-oriented information to professionals, public
officials, business and community leaders, and concerned citizens who
are shaping responses to environmental problems. It has recently developed
a section containing current information on sprawl issues as well as links
to major sprawl websites.
Joint Venture:
Silicon Valley Network
Joint Venture strives to build a sustainable community that competes globally.
The organization mobilizes people from business, labor, government, education,
and all segments of the community to identify and to act on regional issues
to sustain our innovative economy, increase productivity and broaden prosperity;
protect the environment and promote livability; and connect people to
opportunities through shared solutions and regional stewardship for a
vital and vibrant community.
Local Government Commission
(LGC)
A non-profit membership organization in Sacramento, California, LGC is
composed of forward-thinking, locally elected officials, city/county staff,
and other interested individuals. LGC assists local governments with the
implementation of innovative policies and programs that lead to efficient
use of civic, environment and economic resources. LGC developed the Ahwahnee
Principles for resource-efficient local and regional land use planning.
The Center for Livable Communities is a national initiative of the Local
Government Commission (LGC) based in Sacramento, CA. The Center for Livable
Communities helps local governments and community leaders adopt programs
and policies that expand transportation alternatives, reduce infrastructure
costs, create more affordable housing, improve air quality, preserve natural
resources, conserve agricultural land and open space, and restore local
economic and social vitality.
National Center for Appropriate
Technology
NCAT has developed and operated an Internet site on sustainable development
for the U.S. Department of Energy. The site features daily news, recent
articles and publications on sustainable development, a selection of model
city codes and ordinances that promote sustainable development, two slide
show tutorials on sustainable development, and a description of sustainable
development "success stories" from across the United States,
as well as a searchable database of more than 1000 organizations that
can provide technical, financial and information assistance on topics
related to sustainable development.
National Trust for Historic
Preservation—Main Street Project
Since 1980, the Washington D.C.-based National Main Street Center has
been working with communities across the nation to revitalize their historic
or traditional commercial areas. Based in historic preservation, the Main
Street approach was developed to save historic commercial architecture
and the fabric of American communities' built environment, but has become
a powerful economic development tool as well. The Main Street program
is designed to improve all aspects of the downtown or central business
district, producing both tangible and intangible benefits. Improving economic
management, strengthening public participation, and making downtown a
fun place to visit are as critical to Main Street's future as recruiting
new businesses, rehabilitating buildings, and expanding parking. land
development, and information technology applications in urban development.
Planners Web
Planning Commissioners Journal companion Web site, based in Burlington,
VT. Contains city and planning resource information tailored toward planning
commissioners and other government officials.
Smart
Communities Network
Offers a menu of information and services on how your community can adopt
sustainable development as a strategy for well-being. Read about other
communities that have discovered the benefits of sustainable development;
locate technical and financial resources that can help your community
plan and carry out sustainable development projects; and access model
codes and ordinances other communities have used to implement sustainable
development.
Smart Growth Network
In 1996, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency joined with several
non-profit and government organizations to form the Smart Growth Network
(SGN). The SGN works to encourage development that serves the economy,
community and the environment. It is a forum for: raising public awareness
of how growth can improve community quality of life; promoting smart growth
best practices; developing and sharing information, innovative policies,
tools and ideas; and cultivating strategies to address barriers to and
advance opportunities for smart growth.
Sprawl Watch
The Sprawl Watch Clearinghouse mission is to make the tools, techniques,
and strategies developed to manage growth, accessible to citizens, grassroots
organizations, environmentalists, public officials, planners, architects,
the media and business leaders. The Clearinghouse identifies, collects,
compiles, and disseminates information on the best land use practices,
for those listed above.
United States Green Building
Council
The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation's foremost coalition of
leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings
that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to
live and work.
Urban
Land Institute
The mission of the Urban Land Institute is to provide responsible leadership
in the use of land in order to enhance the total environment. ULI strives
to bring together the people able to influence the outcome of important
issues related to land use and the built environment; communicate land
use knowledge to increase ULI's influence on land use policy and practice;
and continue to provide relevant and current information about land use
and real estate development to all members and stakeholders.
Housing Advocates
California
Housing Law Project
The California Housing Law Project is an advocacy organization that lobbies
in the California State Legislature for affordable housing and tenants
rights for low income people, the disabled, elderly, homeless and farmworkers.
HousingSCC.org
This is a website where you can search for subsidized housing in Santa
Clara County. This housing is available for rent that is lower than market-rate,
for people who make less than the local median income.
Location
Efficient Mortgages
The Location Efficient MortgageCM, or LEMCM, is an innovative, new mortgage
product designed to meet the homeownership needs of people who would like
to purchase a home in an urban neighborhood and who would be willing to
rely on public transportation and to use locally available services and
amenities rather than own a personal vehicle.
Non-Profit
Housing Association of Northern California (NPH)
NPH is a nonprofit corporation formed in 1979 by nonprofit housing development
sponsors in Northern California. NPH is a membership association made
up primarily of nonprofit organizations sponsoring, developing, owning,
or managing rental or cooperative housing for low income people. Membership
is open to all supporters of nonprofit housing. NPH strives to preserve,
develop, and manage quality housing, along with appropriate supportive
services, to improve the lives of those in need, as well as revitalize
and enhance communities and neighborhoods, through the support and promotion
of nonprofit housing development corporations.
San Francisco Housing
Action Coalition (SFHAC)
SFHAC advocates for the creation of well-designed, well-located housing
that meets the needs of present and future residents of San Francisco.
Parks, Trail Guides & Outdoor
Recreation
Bay Area
Backcountry
The Bay Area Backcountry site is a catalog of places to hike and camp
in the Bay Area. It also contains information about state and regional
parks with contact information.
Bay Area Hiker
Bay Area Hiker is a major online guide to hiking in the San Francisco
Bay Area. J.V. Littell has created this work-in-progress site to fully
explore hiking in the San Francisco Bay Area. Featured hikes range from
Napa County in the north to the southernmost portion of Santa Clara County.
Each hike has its own page.
Bay Area Ridge Trail
Council
The Bay Area Ridge Trail Council plans, promotes, and constructs the Bay
Area Ridge Trail, a 400-mile multiple-use trail connecting parks and preserved
open spaces along the ridgelines surrounding California's San Francisco
Bay.
Berkeley Path
Wanderers Association
Berkeley Path Wanderers Association is a 500+-member nonprofit group dedicated
to the maintenance and preservation of the wonderful stairs, ramps, and
footpaths that crisscross Berkeley. As part of that effort, we have recently
published the third edition of our easy-to-read map, Berkeley's Pathways,
which shows all 140 of those public walkways. We also run free guided
walks twice a month, both to introduce people to the path system in Berkeley
and neighboring communities and to encourage everyone to walk whenever
possible.
California Alpine Club
The California Alpine Club's mission is to explore, enjoy and protect
the natural resources of our land, including wildlife, forests and plants,
water and scenic values; to support and promote educational programs on
these and related topics; and at all times to protect and, as far as we
are able, to improve the environment in which we live.
California State Parks
California Department of Parks and Recreation manages more than 260
park units, which contain the finest and most diverse collection of natural,
cultural, and recreational resources to be found within California. State
park units include underwater preserves, reserves, and parks; redwood,
rhododendron, and wildlife reserves; state beaches, recreation areas,
wilderness areas, and reservoirs; state historic parks, historic homes,
Spanish era adobe buildings, including museums, visitor centers, cultural
reserves, and preserves; as well as lighthouses, ghost towns, waterslides,
conference centers, and off-highway vehicle parks. Get maps and information
on hours, fees, and park details online.
Coastwalk
Coastwalk is a nonprofit dedicated to creating a coastal trail that stretches
from Oregon to Mexico, called the California Coastal Trail. They have
arranged access through national, state, and regional parks and private
land to allow hikers to enjoy the beauty of the coast.
Crissy Field
San Francisco's Crissy Field, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation
Area, underwent a major habitat restoration effort a few years ago. The
Web site lists available activities, including guided tours, classes,
activities for families and kids, environmental summer camps, and more.
East Bay Regional Parks
District
East Bay Regional Parks District acquires, develops, manages, and maintains
a high quality, diverse system of interconnected parklands which balances
public usage and education programs with protection and preservation of
our natural and cultural resources. EBRPD manages 92,000 acres (50,000
in Alameda County; 42,000 in Contra Costa County), 59 regional parks,
recreation areas, wilderness, shorelines, preserves and land bank areas,
29 regional inter-park trails, and 1,000 miles of trails within parklands.
Golden Gate National
Recreation Area
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is the largest urban
national park in the world. It comprises numerous sites, including Alcatraz,
Marin Headlands, Fort Funston, Fort Mason, as well as Muir Woods National
Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, and the Presidio of San Francisco.
The website has in-depth details on each location within the park, visitor
information, virtual tours, and photographs.
The Green Gate
The Green Gate is a site run by the Natural Resources Defense Council,
or NRDC. It has a wealth of information on the health of the San Francisco
Bay Area environment. The site brings together information on environmental
"indicators" in five categories (air, water, wildlife, urban
living, and health). It also offers a hiking guide and transit advice
on ways to get outside and enjoy the Bay Area's many natural wonders.
The Green Gate covers the nine counties of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Marin
County Parks, Open Space, and Cultural Services
Find information about Marin County Parks, including maps, trails, and
hours. In addition to parks and open space, the department manages Marin
Center (and the Marin Center Box Office), Marin Civic Center Concessions,
and the Marin County Conventions and Visitors Bureau.
Neighborhood
Parks Council
The Neighborhood Parks Council is a coalition of over 100 community-based
park groups actively involved in improving and restoring neighborhood
parks in San Francisco. The Council provides a forum for sharing information
and experience among the groups, arranges educational presentations and
workshops for building group effectiveness, and seeks to increase public
and private support and commitment to the restoration and improved maintenance
of our neighborhood parks, playgrounds and recreation facilities.
San Francisco Bay
Trail
The Bay Trail provides easily accessible recreational opportunities for
outdoor enthusiasts. Commute alternatives are provided for cyclists, and
the trail also connects to numerous public transportation. The Bay Trail
will eventually cross the major toll bridges in the Bay Area. Access to
commercial, industrial and residential neighborhoods and points of historic,
natural and cultural interest are included. The Bay Trail consists of
paved multi-use paths, dirt trails, bike lanes, sidewalks or city streets
signed as bike routes. It also connects to trails that lead inland.
San Francisco Parks
& Recreation
The Recreation and Park Department's mission is to rejuvenate the human
spirit by providing safe and pristine parks, quality programs and employees
that demonstrate their commitment to customer satisfaction. Learn about
programs and activities on their Web site.
San
Mateo County Parks
Through stewardship, the San Mateo County Park and Recreation Division
preserves natural and cultural treasures, and provides safe, accessible
parks, recreation and learning opportunities to enhance the community's
quality of life. Information on parks, including trails and maps, can
be found on their site.
Santa Clara County
Parks
The mission of the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department
is to provide, protect and preserve regional parklands for the enjoyment,
education and inspiration of this and future generations. Information
and maps for the parks on their site.
Solano
County Regional Parks
Basic information for Solano County Parks is included.
Sonoma
County Regional Parks
The Sonoma County Regional Parks Department provides outstanding recreational
opportunities. Fishing, camping, swimming, picnicking, trails for horseback
riding, hiking or bicycling, quiet coves, sandy beaches, inspiring views,
redwood groves, meadows dotted with oaks, sports fields are available.
A map of all the parks and community buildings operated by the Sonoma
County Regional Parks is located on the site.
Transportation
Advocates
City CarShare
City CarShare offers the mobility of driving while minimizing the expense
and the environmental impacts of owning a car.
Metropolitan Transportation
Commission (MTC)
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is the transportation
planning, coordinating and financing agency for the nine-county San Francisco
Bay Area. MTC functions as both the regional transportation planning agency—a
state designation—and for federal purposes, as the region's metropolitan
planning organization (MPO). As such, it is responsible for the Regional
Transportation Plan, a comprehensive blueprint for the development of
mass transit, highway, airport, seaport, railroad, bicycle and pedestrian
facilities.
Surface Transportation
Policy Project
The goal of The Surface Transportation Policy Project is to ensure that
transportation policy and investments help conserve energy, protect environmental
and aesthetic quality, strengthen the economy, promote social equity,
and make communities more livable. STPP emphasizes the needs of people,
rather than vehicles, in assuring access to jobs, services, and recreational
opportunities.
Transportation
and Land Use Coalition
The Transportation & Land Use Coalition is a ground-breaking partnership
of more than 80 groups working to maintain the region's renowned high
quality of life, achieve greater social equity, and protect our natural
environment. TALC works closely with Greenbelt Alliance to promote these
principles through a broad range of activities: policy analysis and recommendations,
public education, research, grassroots action and more. TALC campaigns
for smart growth, affordable housing, a better regional transportation
plan, transportation justice, and bicycle and pedestrian access.
Transportation
Agencies and Information
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