Frank Dean Talks about Historic Preservation

On Nov 18 at the Old Presidio Golf Club Frank Dean, a superintendent of the National Golden Gate Recreation Area spoke to a small audience on the role of the National Park Service in historic preservation and in education in history at national parks and the challenges it faces.

While the talk focused on the treatment of historical properties by the National Park Service on a largerscale the audience seemed more interested the Presidio Trust’s plans for development as well as the National Park Service’s role in the Presidio.

The Presidio Historical Association hosted the talk, which began with an introduction by the association’s president, Gary Widman. Widman made an announcement that the Presidio Trust is still planning on building a hotel in the main post area as well as tearing down the bowling center and building something new in its location.

Dean, who 30 years ago gave tours of the Presidio as an interpretive park ranger, has found himself coming full circle to again work in the same location.

Dean said that working with the Presidio Trust has been a unique process. Noting that they have a different mission then the National Park Service and that they have to cover their costs. The park service was given Area A, which includes Crissy Field and they were given interpretation, park rangers explaining the history of the park, they also have formal programs in place. However Dean says that he “would like to spice it up a bit.”

He said that the Presidio Trust wants to see an agreement in broad terms about what will happen at a site, but the National Park Service whose opinion holds some weight needs more information, “ we can’t approve anything without knowing more.”

As far as main post planning goes Dean said, “keep it constructive, keep it positive.”

Lucia Bogatay, a member of the audience, asked if the Presidio Trust were to give the Presidio back to the park service, would they want it back?

Dean replied by saying that, “it looks good, I don’t always agree with them [the Presidio Trust] but they have done good things.” He continued by saying that the trust has legal flexibilities that the National Park service does not have.

To questions about creating a modern visitor center in the Presidio Dean responded by saying that they need to get back to the main post. A visitor center was located in building 102 on the main post but they moved out for retrofitting, which became too expensive. The visitor center for the Presidio is temporarily located in the Officer’s Club.

Dean also spoke about there being 12 national registered properties, 739 historical structures and 61 archeological sites within the National Golden Gate Recreation Area, which includes the Presidio.